Physics

Each of the four blocks per year comprises course units that tie in together because they are either mainly physics-oriented or provide essential tools for physicists, such as the course units in mathematics or programming.The programme also allows for a dynamic life outside study hours. I am an active member of two committees of the FMF, the study association for Physics and Mathematics. I try to keep an active social life and always enjoy going out with friends. I also spend time taking part in cultural or sports-oriented activities, such as going to the theatre, reading, jogging, and sometimes travelling.After my studies, I plan on staying in academia, and so a career in research or teaching seems particularly appealing to me at the moment.

It did not require any advanced mathematics and it also explored interesting concepts about the perception of time.
In the second year, quantum mechanics was taught. This required a bit more work but the insights that were obtained were very interesting and strange. These subjects stood out since they really changed the way that I saw the world around me.The most difficult subjects for me were some of the course units in mathematics. Not because they were particularly hard but because I could not immediately see why I needed to learn those subjects. However, later in my studies, these subjects came back and their value became clear.Besides studying Physics, I joined the Mayday student sailing society. I do recommend joining some kind of student or sports organization when starting your student life in Groningen. It is a great way to make friends quickly and to make the most out of student life. I also worked as a teaching assistant (TA) for a programming course unit on Python. TA jobs let you work in the field of your interest and provide a decent salary.I will do my Master’s degree programme in Applied Physics. The other Master’s programmes are more research oriented. However, I would like to go into industry after my studies. Applied Physics seems to be the programme that best suits that interest, while still teaching subjects in physics that I find interesting.

These tags work through small antennas and chips that are worked into every piece of clothing. Each piece of clothing has a unique number that can also be used for inventory management and data analysis.I work on the software for these tags and the corresponding anti-theft gates, which actually has a lot more to do with physics and astronomy than you might think because this software uses radio antennas. We might not be picking up signals from light years away but many principles are the same. What I like about this work is the fact that it’s useful and can be used in the real world. There’s plenty to discover and develop, and that’s what I find most important in a job.My tip for prospective students: make sure to go on company visits. Many companies are looking for science graduates but they don’t always know how to get in touch with you. So, if you see an interesting company, just give them a call and I’m sure you’ll be invited to come around for a chat.

I like it here; I like the idea of working on an unsolved problem. And we have a close-knit research team; we have lunch together every day.’Machteld Kamminga - PhD student at Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials