Expert: Daniel Mazur - 6/29/2009

Question
Hi Daniel, firstly just want to thank you for your time.
I'm currently a 4th year experimental physics student at the
Natioal University of Ireland in Galway. I wish to study a
masters course in physics at the Charles University in
Prague and saw that you have done so already. My question
is, are the entrance exams difficult ( because I, like a lot
of fellow bachelor students, have done a lot of cramming for
exams and a lot of information has since left my brain!) and
do they vary from field to field, eg. geophysics to quantum
physics?? Also, is there anywhere I can obtain a copy of
previous entrance exams ? Any help would be very much
appreciated!

Thanks again,
Jonathan

Answer
Hello Jonathan,

as I understand it, applying for Master's program in Physics you take entrance exam in Physics only. It is written and currently consists of 4 problems to solve valued 100 points altogether. The pass mark is 40 points. The problems are at the level of difficulty of Bc. final exams, they can be from any undergraduate physics (using corresponding maths) subject and there is no specialization distinction. One has to re-learn stuff for that exam, I believe it is the same everywhere - I experienced it in Chicago, when studying for the Ph.D. qualifying exam.

The internet resources seem to be in Czech only, so I suggest you contact the Study and student affairs via a contact at http://www.mff.cuni.cz/toUTF8.en/fakulta/struktura/stud.htm
They will tell you all the details and give you the forms. As far as I know, no official collection of past entry exam problem exists at the bachelor-to-masters level. I suggest that you write to matfyzpress@mff.cuni.cz, they should be able to tell you for sure about any official publication. Otherwise, the Study and student affairs would know about any unofficial materials. One problem is that foreign students are in a vast minority at Cuni, so the problem solvers that exist are in Czech language... I would heartily recommend you just buy a problem solver for Masters/doctorate qualifying exams in Physics suitable for any University in any English-speaking country. Physics is the same everywhere in the Universe and colleges don't differ much in what they include in undergraduate courses. I think that 40% pass mark should not be too difficult to beat with a reasonable amount of preparation.

We can discuss this more, should you have more questions, don't hesitate t ofollow up.
Cheers,
Daniel