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Sumesh Erikandath from India has always wanted to test his limits by earning the highest degree he could reach. This was the key reason he signed up for the MSc NanoBio Science at University College Dublin (UCD) – which set him up to secure his current PhD position.
“The postgraduate degree from UCD, my other master’s in chemistry, and previous experience working in the construction industry – everything helped me to get this job,” he says.
Stories like his are common at UCD. Ireland’s most international university is ranked among the top 1% of higher education institutions in the world and its School of Physics holds a global reputation for research and teaching.
Research areas at this top-ranked school are dynamic and broad, ranging from the fundamentals to applied physics. At the Centre for Quantum Engineering, Science, and Technology (C-QuEST), the Centre for Physics in Health and Medicine (CPHM), and the Centre for Space Research (C-Space), physics research crosses disciplines.
These centres are interdisciplinary and are complemented by Physics spaces to enhance your learning. The school has various facilities around the College of Science, which is amid a massive upgrade to become one of the largest and most diverse science facilities in Europe by 2026.
The School of Physics facilities and staff will support you in all of the school’s degree programmes – especially those in the broader area of Physics of Life and Nanoscale Science. UCD offers MSc programmes in Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics, Computational Physics, NanoBio Science, or Nanotechnology – all of which are led by a strong faculty with networks across the globe and who are committed to guiding and supporting you to reach your career goals.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse range of courses I took as part of my programme. I explored a variety of areas including Particle Physics, Biophysics, Quantum Physics and even some Astrophysics!” says Hooriah Lodi, a former MSc Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics student.
“The programme equipped me with a solid foundation in theoretical knowledge while also helping me build practical skills in the field,” says Hooriah Lodi, a former MSc Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics student who is now a PhD candidate at UCD. “My course modules, along with my research on the Light Harvesting Complex (LHCII) Protein Core, provided me with rigorous training for my upcoming career trajectory. My experience has helped me foster a problem-solving mindset, significantly promoting critical analysis and analytical thinking.”
No matter which master’s degree you choose to pursue, all prepare you for careers in industry. The bio-pharmaceutical, telecommunications, data mining and analysis, IT consulting, and green technologies industry sectors often recruit UCD Physics graduates. These postgraduate degrees can also act as stepping stones for you to continue pursuing research at a PhD level in UCD or other top institutions around the world.
The School’s commitment to ensuring you achieve your full potential during and after attending UCD can be seen in its Careers Network. You can explore career options, meet with consultants, build soft skills, and, most importantly, connect with alumni who are industry professionals who can guide and advise you towards your goals. With a platform dedicated to setting your professional path, your UCD degree is seen and noticed by the right recruiters – little wonder then than UCD is the highest-ranked university in Ireland for employment outcomes.
A UCD Physics graduate has greater odds of landing high-skilled roles thanks to another key factor: Ireland is home to many of the world’s largest companies. Sixteen of the top 20 global technology companies are based there. This opens up opportunities for internship positions and chances to mingle with some of the top players in the industry. Getting to UCD is not a hassle either as public transport is frequent and convenient – as are Dublin city’s links to the rest of Europe.
UCD Physics graduates are employed by top organisations abroad as well, such as Airbus (Germany), the University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, and University of Idaho. MSc Computational Physics graduate Ovidiu Alexandru Petrisor chose to remain at UCD, for a PhD funded by the Irish Research Council.
Many graduates, local and international, stay because of the reasons mentioned above. But what they’re truly charmed by is the country’s welcoming hospitality. International students can remain here longer through the Third Level Graduate Programme. This scheme allows non-EU students who graduate from third-level courses in Ireland to get an extension of their permission to reside in the country and seek employment in the country.
“Ireland offers several advantages which make it a desired destination for international students, including me,” Lodi says. “Apart from the famous Irish conviviality, it is also the only English-speaking country in the Europe Union with an outstanding education system.”
While Rongcheng Gan picked UCD’s MSc Nanotechnology graduate for its customisable curriculum and supportive professors and peers, this graduate found the location just as important. “Ireland’s history, cultural richness, and natural beauty is a big draw for international students,” says Gan.
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