Physics

Description

We are committed to excellence in research and teaching and provide an in-depth understanding of modern physics.

A degree in physics is not just about learning facts – physicists are skilled at studying new systems and understanding how to explore them and model their behaviour. Problem-solving skills are greatly valued by employers and are firmly embedded in our undergraduate teaching.

Our distinctive BSc Physics programme will provide you with a rigorous education in modern physics.

You will learn the core tools of relativity, quantum mechanics and electromagnetism, and how these theories can describe the universe precisely, from galaxies to subatomic particles. You will also push the boundaries of design of materials and technology, from nanotechnology and superconductivity to photonics.

You will develop problem-solving skills through problem-solving classes and micro-projects, in which you will design your own experiments.

Key areas of study include:

• planetary dynamics
• relativity
• light as an electro-magnetic wave
• quantum mechanics
• quantum theories of matter and atoms
• nuclear and particle physics

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 16320 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

Students undertake three years of study. Each year there are compulsory modules. However, the degree has been designed to maximise student choice by allowing you to tailor the degree structure to suit your own interests.

Year 1

Semester 1

Compulsory Core Modules

• PHYS1015 Motion and Relativity
• PHYS1017 Physics Skills 1
• PHYS1022 Electricity and Magnetism

Compulsory Modules

• MATH1006 Introduction to Mathematical Methods

Optional Modules

• ARCH1001Human Origins
• ARCH1057The Development of Archaeological & Anthropological Thought
• ARCH1062Wonderful things: World history in 40 objects
• CHEM1012Introduction to Chemistry
• CRIM1003Introduction to Criminology
• EDUC1036An Introduction to Teaching Teachers
• EDUC2031Lifelong Learning: Systems and Structures
• GEOG1003Society, Culture and Space
• HUMA2013How the Arts Work: a practical introduction to cultural economics
• MATH1048Linear Algebra I
• PAIR1002Political Systems
• PAIR1004Introduction to Political Theory
• PHIL1003Introduction to Early Greek Philosophy
• PHIL1005Ethics
• PHIL1006Introduction to Political Philosophy
• PHIL1016Reason and Argument
• PHYS1004Introduction to Photonics
• PHYS1005Introduction to Astronomy and Space Science
• UOSM2013Pathological Mechanisms of Disease
• UOSM2015Sustainability in the Local and Global Environment
• UOSM2020Economics with Experiments
• UOSM2022Social Enterprise
• UOSM2023Portus Field School
• UOSM2027Health Policy and Economics
• UOSM2030Body and Society
• UOSM2033Living and Working on the Web

Semester 2

Compulsory Core Modules

• PHYS1011 Waves, Light and Quanta
• PHYS1013 Energy and Matter
• PHYS1019 Physics Skills 2

Compulsory Modules

• MATH1007 Mathematical Methods For Physical Scientists

Optional Modules

• ANTH2001Cosmology, Ritual and Belief
• CRIM1004Criminal Justice Studies
• CRIM2004Criminological Psychology
• EDUC1035Primary Education: systems and structures
• EDUC1041Secondary Education: Systems and Structures
• ENGL2081Romance in a Material World, 1570-2011
• GEOG1002Geomorphological Processes
• GEOG1011Dangerous World
• HUMA1026Castles in Medieval Society
• MATH1049Linear Algebra II
• PAIR1001Introduction to International Relations
• PAIR1003Issues in Contemporary Politics
• PAIR2016Public Policy Analysis
• PHIL1002Knowledge and Mind
• PHIL1019Puzzles about Art and Literature
• PHIL1020Faith and Reason
• PHIL1021Existentialism and its Origins
• PHIL2034Philosophy of Science
• PHYS1008Physics of The Solar System
• PHYS1026Introduction to the Nanoworld
• PHYS2015Introduction to Energy in The Environment
• PSYC1009Psychology of Social and Individual Wellbeing
• PSYC2006Behavioural Neuroscience
• PSYC2007Developmental Psychology
• PSYC2018Perception
• SOCI2003Gender & Society
• SOES1009The Living Earth
• SPAN2013Latin America and Latin Americans Through Film
• UOSM2000Work and Employment in Theory and Practice
• UOSM2002Design Skills for Presentations and Maps
• UOSM2004Global Health
• UOSM2005Living with Environmental Change
• UOSM2007Digital Humanities: Critical Thinking in the Information Age
• UOSM2008Living and Working on the Web
• UOSM2009Ethics in a Complex World
• UOSM2010Global Challenges
• UOSM2011The Management of Risk and Uncertainty
• UOSM2012Online Social Networks
• UOSM2016The Human Brain and Society
• UOSM2017Intercultural communication in a global world
• UOSM2018Understanding Modern China
• UOSM2021More or Less
• UOSM2024The Arab World in and Beyond the Headlines
• UOSM2025Tall Tales: Unpicking the Secrets of Buildings
• UOSM2026Jekyll and Hyde: an exploration of ethics in science
• UOSM2028How Musical Instruments Work
• UOSM2031Engineering Replacement Body Parts
• UOSM2032Making Sense out of senses: How the Brain Works

Full Academic Year

Compulsory Modules

• PHYS1028Personal Tutorial (Physics)

Year 2

Semester 1

Compulsory Core Modules

• PHYS2003 Quantum Physics
• PHYS2022 Physics from Evidence I
• PHYS2023 Wave Physics

Optional Modules

• ARCH1001Human Origins
• ARCH1057The Development of Archaeological & Anthropological Thought
• ARCH1062Wonderful things: World history in 40 objects
• CHEM1012Introduction to Chemistry
• CRIM1003Introduction to Criminology
• EDUC1036An Introduction to Teaching Teachers
• GEOG2027Geographies of Wellbeing
• HUMA2013How the Arts Work: a practical introduction to cultural economics
• ISVR3063 Musical Instrument Acoustics
• LAWS3089Miscarriages of Justice
• LAWS3101International Criminal Law: Confronting History and Ourselves
• MATH2015Mathematical Methods For Scientists
• MATH2045Vector Calculus and Complex Variable
• PAIR1002Political Systems
• PAIR1004Introduction to Political Theory
• PAIR3027Political Behaviour
• PHIL1003Introduction to Early Greek Philosophy
• PHYS2013Galaxies
• UOSM2013Pathological Mechanisms of Disease
• UOSM2015Sustainability in the Local and Global Environment
• UOSM2020Economics with Experiments
• UOSM2022Social Enterprise
• UOSM2023Portus Field School
• UOSM2027Health Policy and Economics
• UOSM2030Body and Society
• UOSM2033Living and Working on the Web

Semester 2

Compulsory Core Modules

• PHYS2001 Electromagnetism
• PHYS2006 Classical Mechanics
• PHYS2024 Quantum Physics of Matter

Optional Modules

• ANTH2001Cosmology, Ritual and Belief
• CRIM1004Criminal Justice Studies
• EDUC1041Secondary Education: Systems and Structures
• HUMA1026Castles in Medieval Society
• ISVR3061 Human Responses to Sound and Vibration
• LAWS3094Transitional Justice: Law, War & Crime
• LAWS3098Violence and Sex in Law, Literature and Culture
• MATH2038Partial Differential Equations
• PAIR1001Introduction to International Relations
• PAIR1003Issues in Contemporary Politics
• PAIR2016Public Policy Analysis
• PAIR3025Public Policy Analysis
• PHIL1002Knowledge and Mind
• PHYS2007Medical Physics
• PHYS2009Practical Photonics
• PHYS2015Introduction to Energy in The Environment
• PHYS3019Communicating and Teaching and The Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme
• PSYC1009Psychology of Social and Individual Wellbeing
• PSYC2006Behavioural Neuroscience
• PSYC2007Developmental Psychology
• PSYC2018Perception
• SOCI2003Gender & Society
• SOCI3074Collective Action and Social Change
• SOES1009The Living Earth
• SPAN2013Latin America and Latin Americans Through Film
• UOSM2000Work and Employment in Theory and Practice
• UOSM2002Design Skills for Presentations and Maps
• UOSM2004Global Health
• UOSM2005Living with Environmental Change
• UOSM2007Digital Humanities: Critical Thinking in the Information Age
• UOSM2008Living and Working on the Web
• UOSM2009Ethics in a Complex World
• UOSM2010Global Challenges
• UOSM2011The Management of Risk and Uncertainty
• UOSM2012Online Social Networks
• UOSM2014Piracy, Security and Maritime Space
• UOSM2016The Human Brain and Society
• UOSM2017Intercultural communication in a global world
• UOSM2018Understanding Modern China
• UOSM2021More or Less
• UOSM2024The Arab World in and Beyond the Headlines
• UOSM2025Tall Tales: Unpicking the Secrets of Buildings
• UOSM2026Jekyll and Hyde: an exploration of ethics in science
• UOSM2028How Musical Instruments Work
• UOSM2031Engineering Replacement Body Parts
• UOSM2032Making Sense out of senses: How the Brain Works

Year 3

Semester 1

Compulsory Core Modules

• PHYS3018 Bachelor of Science Project

Compulsory Modules

• PHYS3004 Crystalline Solids
• PHYS3008 Atomic Physics

Optional Modules

• EDUC2031Lifelong Learning: Systems and Structures
• GEOG3051Mediterranean Environments and Culture
• HUMA2013How the Arts Work: a practical introduction to cultural economics
• ISVR3063 Musical Instrument Acoustics
• ISVR6130 Signal Processing
• LAWS3089Miscarriages of Justice
• LAWS3101International Criminal Law: Confronting History and Ourselves
• MATH2015Mathematical Methods For Scientists
• MATH2045Vector Calculus and Complex Variable
• MATH3018Numerical Methods
• PAIR3027Political Behaviour
• PHYS2013Galaxies
• PHYS3003Light and Matter
• PHYS3011Photons in Astrophysics
• PHYS6003Advanced Quantum Physics
• PHYS6005Cosmology and the Early Universe
• PHYS6012Coherent Light, Coherent Matter
• PHYS6024Lasers
• UOSM2013Pathological Mechanisms of Disease
• UOSM2015Sustainability in the Local and Global Environment
• UOSM2020Economics with Experiments
• UOSM2022Social Enterprise
• UOSM2027Health Policy and Economics
• UOSM2030Body and Society
• UOSM2033Living and Working on the Web

Semester 2

Compulsory Modules

• PHYS3002 Nuclei and Particles
• PHYS3017 BSc Final Year Synoptic Examination

Optional Modules

• ANTH2001 Cosmology, Ritual and Belief
• CRIM2004 Criminological Psychology
• ENGL2081 Romance in a Material World, 1570-2011
• GEOG3023 River Basin Management
• GEOG3041 Geographies of Nature
• GEOG3048 Aeolian Processes and Geomorphic Modelling
• ISVR3061 Human Responses to Sound and Vibration
• ISVR6138 Biomedical Application of Signal and Image Processing
• LAWS3094 Transitional Justice: Law, War & Crime
• LAWS3098 Violence and Sex in Law, Literature and Culture
• MATH2038 Partial Differential Equations
• MATH3006 Relativity, Blackholes and Cosmology
• PAIR2016 Public Policy Analysis
• PAIR3025 Public Policy Analysis
• PHIL2034 Philosophy of Science
• PHYS2007 Medical Physics
• PHYS2009 Practical Photonics
• PHYS2015 Introduction to Energy in The Environment
• PHYS3007 Theories of Matter, Space and Time
• PHYS3009 Applied Nuclear Physics
• PHYS3010 Stellar Evolution
• PHYS3019 Communicating and Teaching and The Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme
• PHYS6004 Space Plasma Physics
• PHYS6011 Particle Physics
• PHYS6014 Nanoscience: technology and advanced materials
• PHYS6017 Computer Techniques in Physics
• PSYC2006 Behavioural Neuroscience
• PSYC2007 Developmental Psychology
• PSYC2018 Perception
• SOCI2003 Gender & Society
• SPAN2013 Latin America and Latin Americans Through Film
• UOSM2002 Design Skills for Presentations and Maps
• UOSM2004 Global Health
• UOSM2005 Living with Environmental Change
• UOSM2007 Digital Humanities: Critical Thinking in the Information Age
• UOSM2008 Living and Working on the Web
• UOSM2009 Ethics in a Complex World
• UOSM2010 Global Challenges
• UOSM2011 The Management of Risk and Uncertainty
• UOSM2012 Online Social Networks
• UOSM2014 Piracy, Security and Maritime Space
• UOSM2016 The Human Brain and Society
• UOSM2017 Intercultural communication in a global world
• UOSM2018 Understanding Modern China
• UOSM2021 More or Less
• UOSM2024 The Arab World in and Beyond the Headlines
• UOSM2025 Tall Tales: Unpicking the Secrets of Buildings
• UOSM2026 Jekyll and Hyde: an exploration of ethics in science
• UOSM2028 How Musical Instruments Work
• UOSM2031 Engineering Replacement Body Parts
• UOSM2032 Making Sense out of senses: How the Brain Works

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 580

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

GCSE Mathematics and English at grade C or above

A Levels:

AAA, including AA in Mathematics and Physics

English Language Requirements:

If English is not your first language, you will be required to pass an approved English test. We normally ask for a score of IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 580.

Alternative Qualifications:

We welcome applications from candidates offering qualifications other than A and AS levels (including BTEC, European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate and Scottish Highers). You will be expected to attain an equivalent standard to an A level applicant.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applications from international students. For information on applying, visit the International Office website.

Mature Applicants:

We welcome applications from mature students. If you will be over 21 at the start of your proposed degree programme, you are eligible for exemption from our normal entry requirements. However, you will be required to provide evidence of having completed recent study (eg Access, Return to Study, Open University foundation courses) and of your capacity to pursue the course.

Selection Process:

We select students on the basis of a UCAS application and an invitation to visit the department.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Southampton.

Accreditation

Our BSc Physics is accredited by the Institute of Physics.