The mission of the Physics Department within the School of Sciences and Humanities is to provide Nazarbayev University students with the skills and tools to develop the underlying technologies and support knowledge necessary for the technological-industrial infrastructure. A career in physics is exciting because physicists are trained to be natural problem solvers and creative thinkers. Economy is undergoing a transformation that reflects worldwide trends – the know-hows and technical innovations become the most important asset. In order to develop the necessary underlying technologies to support this transformation, highly skilled physicists and engineers are required.

If you like the freedom of active discovery, the power of invention, the language of mathematics, and a good-sized paycheck, then physics is a great career choice.

Our faculty members conduct cutting-edge research and publish in internationally recognized journals in the following areas: Laser Spectroscopy and Nonlinear Optics (Jean-Jacques Zondy), Laser-based material science (Zhandos Utegulov), Quantum Metamaterials (Constantinos Valagiannopoulos), Nanophotonics (Alexander Tikhonov), Ultrafast Photonics, Tunable Photonic Oscillatorsm, and Applied Nonlinear Dynamics (Vassilios Kovanis), Solitons and Topological Photonics (Anton Desyatnikov), Quantum Information and Communication (Aikaterini Mandilara), General Relativity, Cosmology, Black Holes (Daniele Malafarina), General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Quantum Field Theory (Michael Good), Atomic and Molecular Physics, Quantum Chemistry (Sergiy Bubin), Computational and Theoretical Astrophysics, Radiation Transport (Ernazar Abdikamalov), Statistical Mechanics and Complex Systems (Thomas Oikonomou).

Directed research opportunities exist including research internships within Nazarbayev University, National Laboratory Astana, and many foreign universities. Contact members of the physics department for details on becoming a physics major and choosing a research area that interests you. The two year 120 ECTS MSc Program in Physics is designed to train students as competent physicists who would continue either with their Ph.D. studies for future academic appointments or turn to professional careers in industry within research and development companies, or in public sector.

The students will gain profound systematic knowledge in physics and develop the ability to identify and use theoretical knowledge in the context of real-life phenomena and engineering applications in technology innovation and entrepreneurship. The graduates are expected to acquire advanced analytical, mathematical, computational and experimental skills corresponding to the subjects of their Master projects. Students are expected to become exposed to the international research environment. The program is designed to take advantage of the faculty expertise and the laboratory resources of the School of Sciences and Humanities, and Nazarbayev University Research and Innovation System.

Requirements

1. An undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and a graduate/postgraduate degree (if applicable) in a relevant discipline with a minimum CGPA of 2.75 out of a 4.00.
During the application period final year students may submit official current transcript for consideration.

2. High level of English proficiency.

The absolute minimum requirement for English language proficiency test reports for admission to the program is:

1) Overall IELTS test score of 6.5 (with sub-scores no less than 6.0) or the equivalent TOEFL score as posted on the ETS website;

2) Candidates with not sufficient IELTS score may be admitted to the ZERO-year program: The absolute minimum requirement for English language proficiency test report for conditional admission (ZYGP) is an overall IELTS test score of 5.5, with no more than one sub-score of 5.0, or the equivalent TOEFL scores as posted on the ETS website;

3) Applicants, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test report if:

– one of their earlier academic degrees was earned in a country with English as the language of official communication, academic instruction and daily life.

– an undergraduate and/or graduate degree was earned in a program which was officially taught in English.

– an applicant is an NU graduate.

3. High motivation and strong interest in the program as outlined in a statement of purpose;

4. A curriculum vitae;

5. Two letters of recommendation.

Application package checklist:

1. Complete Application form;

2. National ID (for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and passport (for international applicants);

3. Official document confirming name change (if applicable);

4. Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree diploma with transcript;
During the application period final year students may upload official current transcript for consideration.

5. IELTS or TOEFL certificate valid as of date of online documents submission;

6. Document confirming English as the language of instruction (only for applicants who earned their degree in a program which was taught in English and request an exemption from submitting IELTS or TOEFL).
Applicants should provide a detailed certificate/reference from the university indicating the number and list of subjects completed in English.

7. Curriculum vitae (up to 1 page);

8. GRE/GMAT certificate valid as of date of online documents submission (if applicable, not mandatory but recommended);

9. Statement of purpose (up to 1 page);

10. Two confidential letters of recommendation (at least one academic reference) written within the last 12 months (to be provided by referees electronically or in hard copy after receiving an email request);

11. Consent for Applicant’s personal data processing (according to the template in applicant’s personal account).

Important:

All required documents indicated above (excluding letters of recommendation) must be uploaded by candidates to the Personal account before the indicated deadline.
All submitted documents shall be in English or with notarized English translation.
Submission of a complete application package does not guarantee admission to the Program.
Applicants recommended for admission must provide hard copies of all documents as requested by the Admissions Department within established period of time.
Applicants who obtained their degree diplomas/certificates from foreign education institutions must request their official transcripts to be sent directly to the University: 010000, Astana, Kabanbay Batyr Ave., 53, Nazarbayev University, Admissions Department.

Graduates of the program will have advanced research skills that will enable them to make significant ongoing contributions in technologically diverse environments, both in Kazakhstan and abroad.

The 1st year of the program consists of compulsory core courses designed to give a solid fundamental knowledge. Students choose elective courses in the beginning of 2nd year to specialize in the area of their interest. The focus of the last semester is Thesis work.Initial Placement Test. Students take initial test after admission to the program that evaluates the students and advises them on the course materials to follow. Tests basic Physics knowledge (Classical mechanics, Classical electrodynamics, Quantum mechanics, Statistical physics).

24 ECTS credits of MSc-level basic physics courses: Classical mechanics, Classical electrodynamics, Quantum mechanics, Statistical physics (These courses can be partially or fully substituted by research and/or specialized elective courses).

24 ECTS credits for electives: taken from Physics or other electives of SSH.

6 ECTS credits for innovation and entrepreneurship.

36 ECTS credits for research courses, i.e. seminar, research project and thesis proposal development.

30 ECTS credits for the Masters thesis.