Physics on Course Physics Courses in Higher and Further Education PHYSICS ON COURSEPHYSICS 2009 THE INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT T: 020 7470 4800 F: 020 7470 4848 E: [email protected] W: www.iop.org 2009 • 5A Research Rating - equal 6th Physics Department in the UK • “Excellent” Rating in the Teaching Quality Assessment • Over £5 million of Research Funding in last 3 years • Young, friendly, approachable teaching staff • Scholarships of up to £3,000 available • Spectacular beach-side location in compact campus close to magnificent Gower Peninsula • 2nd cheapest University Accommodation in the UK SWANSEA UNIVERSITY PRIFYSGOL ABERTAWE • 5A Research Rating - equal 6th Physics Department in the UK • “Excellent” Rating in the Teaching Quality Assessment • Over £5 million of Research Funding in last 3 years • Young, friendly, approachable teaching staff • Scholarships of up to £3,000 available • Spectacular beach-side location in compact campus close to magnificent Gower Peninsula • 2nd cheapest University Accommodation in the UK SWANSEA UNIVERSITY PRIFYSGOL ABERTAWE Physics on Course Physics Courses in Higher and Further Education PHYSICS ON COURSEPHYSICS 2009 THE INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT T: 020 7470 4800 F: 020 7470 4848 E: [email protected] W: www.iop.org 2009 PHYSICS ON COURSE 2009 PHYSICS COURSES IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND COMMENCING 2009 I NSTITUTE OF P HYSICS i © 2008 The Institute of Physics ISSN: 0959-826-X Produced for the Institute of Physics by Trio Offset Ltd, Surrey. Tel: 020 8640 7983 Designed and Printed in the UK by Trio Offset Ltd, Surrey. Tel: 020 8640 7983 Executive Editor: Leila Solomon This is one of a number of education and careers publications from the Education Department of the Institute of Physics. Some are mentioned in the text. Education Department The Institute of Physics 76 Portland Place London W1B 1NT Tel: 020 7470 4800 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.iop.org ii I NSTITUTE OF P HYSICS CONTENTS Introduction 1 Getting on course 2 Using the guide Who are we? Why study physics? 4 What is physics? What do physicists do? What are physics courses like? 5 Degree courses MPhys and MSci: the extended courses Foundation courses Access to HE Courses The European Dimension HND and HNC What you need to get in 8 What about my maths? What funding is available 9 Sponsorship Gap Year (The Year in Industry) Careers with physics 10 The language of higher education 14 Guide to Terminology and Abbreviations 29 Explanatory notes to tables Detailed Course Information 30 Departmental information 72 Index to entries 128 Index to advertisers Inspirational Reading Booklist 130 I NSTITUTE OF P HYSICS iii Thinking about Physics? The Institute of Physics is the leading professional body actively working to promote developments in physics both in the UK and internationally. We work on behalf of physicists world wide, supporting their work, encouraging young people to consider physics and raising awareness of the value of physics to society. We have a fascinating and diverse membership of some 34,000 members, ranging from university students through qualified professionals in all disciplines to the still interested and involved retired community. Student Membership and Nexus Activities The Institute actively supports students through its student wing, Nexus. From September 2008 on, everyone on an accredited or recognised undergraduate degree course in Physics (or a closely related subject) can sign up for free electronic membership of the Institute and Nexus, for the duration of their course. Student members receive all the usual benefits of an IOP membership, as well as specific benefits through Nexus, which supports Student Physics Societies throughout the UK and Ireland, and organises a number of events. Membership Benefits include: * Trips and events organised and supported by Nexus * Online access to Physics World – the monthly journal that keeps you up to date with developments in physics * Online Members Network to interact with other student members, discuss, blog, and stay updated about society and Nexus events * Information on Universities, Discounts, Funding and Careers, including individual careers advice * Free membership of a specialist subject group * Automatic membership of the International Association of Physics Students, which organises events and encourages international student contacts If you would like more information about joining the Institute of Physics, visit www.iop.org and select ‘Supporting students with Nexus’, or you can also write to [email protected] with questions or to request information. iv I NSTITUTE OF P HYSICS INTRODUCTION BY HEATHER REID As a weather forecaster for BBC Scotland, primarly because I enjoyed atmospheric physics during my final year at university. physics impacts every day of my working life. I was recruited by the Met Office, initially to work within the satellite research From the rocket technology that launches a team, but decided to embark on a further six months study which eventually made weather satellite into a polar or geostationary me a qualified forecaster. orbit, to the telemetry that collates millions of Being in the right place at right time took me back to Scotland to join the BBC weather observations each day. news team, where I have both forecast and presented the weather since 1994. My From the multi-processor supercomputer that job as a TV weather forecaster has created a platform to try my hand at other models the time evolution of the weather things, contributing to science festivals, supporting the science centre network and systems, to the graphics programme which even joining the Council of the Institute of Physics. translates the raw numbers into a visual I hope that your Physics degree opens the doors that it has done for me. representation of the forecast. And of course the TV studio itself complete with its data This booklet details the various degree courses for which physics is a central projection screens, remote cameras and digital component. Choosing a university is an important decision. In my case I chose editing suites. somewhere I wanted to live and where I could study a good variety of interesting subjects. My degree then led to an exciting and challenging career that is still On a more general level - physics provides the answers to why the sky is blue and evolving. to whether lightning really can strike twice in the same place. I wish you every success both in your degree and beyond. MP3 players, mobile phones, the internet; physics is also the key to many of today's must have products. However, physics is also the intellectual challenge of discovering the fundamental rules by which the universe works. It is the hunt for building blocks of nature, the development of renewable energy sources and the search for life on other planets. Physics has to be one of the most far-reaching and varied subjects in the world! It's also not the easiest of subjects, and that is exactly the point. Be successful in your physics studies and no potential employer will doubt that you have the ability, both in intellect and hard work, to make a real contribution to their organisation. Physics is the subject from which graduates enter all aspects of our 21st Century knowledge based economy. A degree in physics demonstrates ones ability to reduces problems to their components and then apply logic, supported by calculation, to their solution. My own Physics degree was followed by an MSc in satellite image processing, I NSTITUTE OF P HYSICS 1 GETTING ON A COURSE The physicists’ claim that “Physics is at the heart of everything” is largely true. We use the basic ideas – matter, force, energy, and so on – to explain almost every What is the aspect of our world from the smallest parts of our bodies to the great clusters of Institute of Physics? galaxies. Physics is relevant to almost every human activity - jobs and careers; hobbies, interests, and leisure pursuits; and the systems that modern technology The Institute of Physics is an organisation for physicists, with some offers which can improve our health and well-being. Such is the importance of 34 000 members including student members. The Institute supports its members physics now and for the future that we need more young people to study physics. and others in their work by a variety of means including meetings and conferences, journals and other publications, advice on careers, and many other In preparing this guide our aim is to show the great variety of physics courses that services including an award-winning web-site. The student members section is a are on offer. Physics on Course is the most comprehensive guide available, and particularly active one as you will see if you turn to page iv. we hope that you will make time to explore its contents fully. Many university entries include references to web-sites from which more information can be This annual guide to physics courses in higher education, which the Institute has gleaned. published now for over 16 years, is just one aspect of our advice service. If you have comments on its effectiveness, we will be pleased to receive them. If you’re thinking of a full-time higher education course in the UK or Republic of Ireland with physics as at least a major part of it, read on. You will find all sorts of We are grateful to all those who have contributed to the writing and interesting options and possibilities, including spending part of a course studying production of the 2009 and previous editions. Thus, thanks are due to physics in a European university, or further afield. Graeme Sibley of Trio Offset Ltd, who has made a significant contribution to the final stages of development of this guide and to a number of University Even if you don’t plan to make physics your main course of study in higher Admissions Tutors who have commented on the pages that follow.