The higher professional course in Engineering Physics leads to a job as an applied physicist.
Through research and experimentation, this graduate amasses knowledge and information
that contribute to solutions for technological problems and provide opportunities for new
technological developments.
The working methods of applied physicists are characterised by the fact that they operate at the interface of theory, modelling and experimentation. They try to establish a link between the results of these approaches, verifying theories by means of experimentation wherever possible. Engineering physics as a professional field is continuously developing. A thorough knowledge and understanding of the theory of the basic sub-fields within physics is needed in order to operate in the field as an applied physicist. An applied physicist has an understanding of key physical concepts and can apply them in practical situations. The most important skills required of an applied physicist consist of the ability to carry out research, make model-based calculations and to set up, prepare and conduct experiments.
Physics-related issues arise in a variety of fields of activity, including sensor technology, photonics, nanotechnology, sustainable energy and medical technology
National Education Programme
Body of Knowledge & Skills
Knowledge
Physics
- Classical mechanics
- Electromagnetism
- Quantum mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Waves and vibration
- Optics
- Properties of matter: elementary components and their interactions
- Atomic physics
- Nuclear and particle physics
- Acoustics
- Materials
- Fluid dynamics
Mathematics
- Calculus: elementary analysis and (linear) algebra
- Laplace and Fourier transforms
- Statistics and probability theory
Engineering
- Measurement and control technology
- Vacuum technology
- Energy engineering
- Electronics and signal processing
- Micro- and nanotechnology
- Laser technology
- Programming and data acquisition
Skills
- General skills: communication and collaboration, project-based work, systematic approach to
problems - Skills relevant to the experimental approach: building and managing test rigs and measurement systems, performing data acquisition for measurement system, programming, software
including Labview, Excel, Matlab, programming languages - Skills relevant to the model-based approach: using calculation and simulation software,
designing a calculation or simulation program, programming, software including Matlab/
Simulink, Maple, Comsol Multiphysics, Ansys
The Body of Knowledge and Skills is a summary of graduates’ basic knowledge and basic skills which has been prepared by the HBO-programmes in consultation with the professional field. These are obtained during the first two years of education.
Institutions and professional fields
Institutions offering the programme keyboard_arrow_down
- Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Delft
- Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede
Illustration of professional field keyboard_arrow_down
Occupations, jobs and roles for graduates are mostly to be found in the following professional domains. A few examples are given for each domain.
Research and development
Grote bedrijven hebben meestal een goed geëquipeerde R&D-afdeling, waar research en productontwikkeling door verschillende groepen worden beoefend. In de R&D-omgeving is de technisch natuurkundige betrokken bij de ontwikkeling van nieuwe of de verbetering van bestaande producten, methoden en processen door middel van het uitvoeren van experimenteel of modellerend onderzoek.
- Engineering Physics researcher
- Project or development engineer
- Engineering Physics designer
- Photonician
- Metrologist
Engineering and manufacturing
Dit is het vervolgtraject op R&D. De technisch natuurkundige werkt hier samen met andere technici aan het productieproces om een nieuw product of nieuwe technologie daadwerkelijk te realiseren en op de markt te krijgen (fabricage, testen, kalibreren en service en onderhoud).
- Metrologist/test engineer
- Product developer
- Process engineer
- Quality engineer
Commerce and customer service
In de commerciële sector is de technisch natuurkundige vooral werkzaam als productspecialist. De technisch natuurkundige vind je ook op ondersteunende technische afdelingen van bedrijven en instellingen of als adviseur bij ingenieursbureaus.
- Medical physicist
- Service engineer
- Building physicist
- Radiation expert
- Audiologist
- Meteorologist
- Energy engineer
- Adviser/consultant
Typical course books keyboard_arrow_down
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physic, D.C. Giancoli
- Optics, E. Hecht
- Warmteleer voor technici, A.J.M. van Kimmenaede
- Regeltechniek voor HTO, J. Schrage, H. van Daal
- Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, D. C. Montgomery, G.C. Runger
- Polymeren, van keten tot kunststof, A.K. van der Vegt, L.E. Govaert
- Multiphysics Modeling Using COMSOL 4, R.W. Pryor
- OPTO-electronics: An introduction, J. Wilson, J.F.B. Hawkes
- Introductory Digital Signal Processing with Computer Applications, P.A. Lynn, W. Fuerst
- Fundamentals of Thermal Fluid Sciences, Y.A. Cengel, R.H. Turner e.a.
The list of typical textbooks serves as an illustration to give an impression of the level at which the subject is taught in the study programme.