Topic outline
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Aims of the Programme
We aim to:
- Teach physics of high quality within an excellent research environment;
- Recruit students able to benefit from a university education;
- Provide a Programme that enables students with a variety of educational backgrounds to pursue physics as a subject;
- Provide access to such variety of modules, including those from other disciplines, as to enable students to tailor their studies to their own needs and interests;
- Instill in our students an understanding of the working of the physical world;
- Encourage students to develop transferable skills that are applicable to a variety of careers;
- Provide a Programme that prepares students, where appropriate, for a range of professional careers in physics.
- Provide opportunities for students to appreciate the beauty of physics and to develop a desire for learning.
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How Will You Learn?
Our Programme is constructed within a modular course structure in which each student takes eight or nine modules per year. Our overall strategy is to achieve a balance, appropriate to the aims of each course unit, between teaching (lectures; practical laboratory work; small-group tutorials) and learning by students (peer discussion; exercise classes; coursework and essay assignments; independent work in laboratories and computer studies; teach-yourself computer packages and the Internet; videos; textbooks and supplementary reading).
Exercise classes or laboratories are provided for all compulsory modules which are used to develop the specific skills needed. Two general physics laboratories are used to develop experimental skills, including the acquisition of data and the analysis of uncertainties of observation. In addition students learn to write a scientific account of their experimental observation. Finally, a compulsory independent project is used to develop students' investigative and communication skills.
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How Will You Be Assessed?
Assessment is by a mixture of continuous assessment and formal written examinations at the end of each year. We use a variety of in-course assessments to enable students to get quick feedback as to their performance. These include weekly coursework (marked and returned on a weekly basis), essay assignments, mid-term tests carried out in a lecture slot, performance in exercise classes and tutorials, laboratory and project reports.
These in-course assessments are combined with formal final written examination results and oral examinations (on project modules) to produce the final mark for each course unit. The precise
mixture of in-course and final exam marks to give the overall mark varies between different course units and is specified in the detailed course unit description given in the Student Handbook and on the relevant QMPlus module web page.
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How is the Programme Structured?
The programme consists of compulsory and elective modules. All undergraduate students at Queen Mary take 120 credits a year. A BSc degree consists of 360 credits. Most modules are worth 15 credits which means that students normally take 8 modules a year. In your third year students normally study for a project worth 30 credits. Students are required to take all modules marked as ‘compulsory’. Where modules are indicated as "elective" or "suggested" or "optional" students may choose whether or not to take the module. Where there is space in the curriculum students make take up to 15 credits per academic year from another School at Queen Mary. Students who chose this option are responsible for finding their own modules and complying with all registration requirements. Finally, the programme includes one compulsory non credit bearing (study only) module in years 1 & 2 of the programme: SPA3000 Basic Mathematical Techniques & SPA5000 Communication Skills for Physicists.
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What Are the Entry Requirements?
Overall tariff score required: 320 points.
A-level: grade A or B in physics and mathematics or vice versa and a B in any other subject except General Studies.
International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall with 6 in both HL(Higher Level) Physics and HL Mathematics.
European Baccalaureate: 75 % overall 7/6 in maths/physics in any order.
Access courses to HE (Higher Education) with speciality in Maths, Physics or Science: 60 credits overall, to include 45 credits at level 3, with al least 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit, which must include both Maths and Physics.
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2021/22 STRUCTURE
Module Code Module Name Period Level Credit Selection Status Year 1 Semester 1 SPA4103 Scientific Measurement SEM1 4 15 Compulsory SPA4121 Mathematical Techniques I SEM1 4 15 Compulsory SPA4401 Classical Physics SEM1 4 15 Compulsory SPA4402 Modern Physics SEM1 4 15 Compulsory Year 1 Semester 2 SPA4101 Our Universe SEM2 4 15 Compulsory SPA4122 Mathematical Techniques 2 SEM2 4 15 Compulsory SPA4210 Electric and Magnetic Fields SEM2 4 15 Compulsory SPA4601 Professional Skills for Scientists SEM2 4 15 Compulsory Year 2 Semester 1 SPA5319 Quantum Mechanics A SEM1 5 15 Compulsory SPA5219 Thermodynamics SEM1 5 15 Compulsory SPA5666 Introduction to Scientific Computing SEM1 5 15 Compulsory SPA5302 Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics SEM1 5 15 Elective SPA5218 Mathematical Techniques 3 SEM1 5 15 Elective Year 2 Semester 2 SPA5222 Electromagnetic Waves and Optics SEM2 5 15 Compulsory SPA5228 Condensed Matter A SEM2 5 15 Compulsory SPA5241 Planetary Systems SEM2 5 15 Compulsory SPA5307 Stars SEM2 5 15 Compulsory Year 3 Semester 1 SPA6311
Physical Cosmology SEM1 6 15 Compulsory SPA6308
Spacetime and Gravity
SEM1 6 15 Compulsory SPA5218 Mathematical Techniques 3 SEM1 5 15 Elective SPA6328 Statistical Data Analysis SEM1 6 15 Elective SPA6413 Quantum Mechanics B SEM1 6 15 Elective SPA6913 Physics Review Project YEAR 6 15 Compulsory Year 3 Semester 2 SPA6403 Statistical Physics SEM2 6 15 Compulsory SPA6305 The Physics of Galaxies SEM2 6 15 Compulsory SPA6306 Elementary Particle Physics SEM1 6 15 Elective SPA6325 Quantum Mechanics and Symmetry SEM2 6 15 Elective SPA6913 Physics Review Project YEAR 6 15 Compulsory Year 4 Semester 1
SPA7018U
Relativistic Waves and Quantum Fields
SEM1
7
15
Elective
SPA7023U
Stellar Structure and Evolution
SEM1
7
15
Elective
SPA7019U
Relativity and Gravitation
SEM1
7
15
Elective
SPA7022U
Solar System
SEM1
7
15
Elective
SPA7024U
Functional Methods in Quantum Field Theory
SEM1
7
15
Elective
SPA7027U
Differential Geometry in Theoretical Physics
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INK7001U
Theory of Complex Networks
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INK7003U
Elements of Statistical Learning
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INK7020U
Lie Groups and Lie Algebras
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INK7022U
Mathematical Methods for Theoretical Physics
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INK7066U
Modelling Quantum Many-Body Systems
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INK7067U
Advanced Condensed Matter
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INK7069U
Dark Matter and Dark Energy
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INR7003U
Particle Accelerator Physics
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INR7008U
Superfluids, Condensates and Superconductors
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INR7012U
Physics at the Nanoscale
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INR7014U
Statistical Data Analysis
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INU7001U
Advanced Quantum Theory
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INU7003U
Atom and Photon Physics
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INU7017U
Particle Physics
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INU7031U
Molecular Biophysics
SEM1
7
15
Elective
INU7071U
Galaxy Dynamics, Formation and Evolution
SEM1
7
15
Elective
SPA7015U
Physics Investigative Project
YEAR
7
30
Core
Year 4 Semester 2
SPA7001U
Advanced Quantum Field Theory
SEM2
7
15
Elective
SPA7004U
Astrophysical Plasmas
SEM2
7
15
Elective
SPA7006U
Electromagnetic Radiation in Astrophysics
SEM2
7
15
Elective
SPA7009U
Extrasolar Planets and Astrophysical Discs
SEM2
7
15
Elective
SPA7010U
The Galaxy
SEM2
7
15
Elective
SPA7028U
Advanced Cosmology
SEM2
7
15
Elective
SPA7031U
Supersymmetric Methods in Theoretical Physics
SEM2
7
15
Elective
SPA7032U
Introduction to Strings and Branes
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INK7002U
Equilibrium Analysis of Complex Systems
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INK7004U
Dynamical Analysis of Complex Systems
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INK7005U
Mathematical Biology
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INK7032U
Standard Model Physics and Beyond
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INK7034U
String Theory and Branes
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INK7037U
Theoretical Treatments of Nano-Systems
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INK7048U
Photonics and Metamaterials (Advanced Photonics)
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INK7054U
Supersymmetry
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INR7007U
Statistical Mechanics
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INU7014U
Molecular Physics
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INU7016U
Order and Excitations in Condensed Matter
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INU7022U
Quantum Computation and Communication
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INU7026U
Space Plasmas and Magnetospheric Physics
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INU7045U
Planetary Atmospheres
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INU7056U
Advanced Physical Cosmology
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INU7067U
Advanced Topics in Statistical Mechanics
SEM2
7
15
Elective
INU7089U
Physical Models of Life
SEM2
7
15
Elective
SPA7015U
Physics Investigative Project
YEAR
7
30
Core
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Programme-specific Rules and Facts
This programme does not follow the standard QM progression criteria.
Progression from year one to year two requires a minimum of 90 credits, progression from year two to year three requires a minimum of 195 credits and an average grade above 60% and progression from year three to year four requires a minimum of 315 credits and an average grade above 60%.
If students fail to reach these academic hurdles they are transferred to the BSc Astrophysics or BSc Physics programme.
In order to be awarded an MSci students must have passed 420 credits. The final degree classification is determined by the college mark which is a weighted average of the first, second third and fourth year averages in the ratio 1:3:6:6 respectively.
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YEAR ABROAD
Students on this programme have the option to take up a non-credit bearing Study Abroad Year that does not count towards the final degree award, but provides experience studying at a partner institution in another country.
To be eligible to go abroad during your fourth year of study, students must achieve an overall average weighted grade of 70 or above in years 1, 2 and 3. Any students who do not meet this progression hurdle, will be transferred to the MSci equivalent.
If you are interested in the Year Abroad programme or have any queries, you should contact Dr Matt Buican in the first instance.Please note, you will be required to complete a Change of Programme Form in order to transfer onto the Year Abroad programme.