Physics with Study in New Zealand MPhys

Programme structure

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

In Year 1 you will develop your understanding of physics and become familiar with a variety of basic mathematical tools. The concepts and phenomena you’ll meet are many and varied, but are united by the underlying principles of physics. In a typical week you will spend 15 hours in a formal teaching environment, and be expected to spend a further 20 hours in independent study. You’ll have four hours of lectures in physics, two in mathematics, one tutorial, six hours in the teaching laboratories and two hours in problem-solving classes.

Year 2 provides a firm foundation of physics, and the principles that constitute the framework of the subject. The use of mathematics gives these principles a precise form and provides physicists with the ability to make detailed quantitative predictions. This year focuses on four main cornerstones of physics: condensed matter, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and thermodynamics. These provide the core of most of physics and of our understanding of the evolution of our universe. The other modules in your second and subsequent years draw in part on your knowledge of this core.

Year 3, and Year 4 (MPhys only) of the programme allow you to apply the core principles in a broad range of important areas, such as Nuclear and High-Energy Particle Physics and Statistical Physics, plus advanced electromagnetism, quantum physics and condensed matter physics. There are numerous options in theoretical physics for you to choose such as Quantum Many Body Theory, and Relativity and Cosmology. You can also choose to study technologically-important areas such as Quantum Optics and Photonics, and Physical Methods in Biology and Medicine, and active research areas such as Galaxies and High Energy Astrophysics, and Nanostructures and Graphene Science. (Options are dependent on the programme of study).

The final year(s) of the programme also involve substantial project work. On the BSc programmes you will undertake extended experiments utilising a suite of equipment that includes an atomic force microscope, an infra-red spectrometer, and our own observatory and radio telescope. You also have the opportunity to undertake team-based work tackling a real-world problem proposed by local business or industry. As part of the MPhys programme, you will be ‘adopted’ into one of our research groups, working in a small group (typically three or four, but with individual roles), to undertake a project for at least one academic year. You will select your preferred project from a list of short research proposals freshly written by the academics each year. The projects are original and open-ended, i.e., they each focus on a previously unstudied piece of physics. You will meet with your supervisor (a professor or lecturer) once a week to discuss progress and future work. You are also encouraged to attend research seminars from visiting speakers, attend the weekly group meetings, and integrate and socialise with the PhD students and researchers.

Year 1 modules

Module Name

Code

MPhys/BSc Physics

MPhys/BSc Physics w/ Astrophysics

MPhys Physics w/ Professional Experience

MPhys Physics w/ Study Abroad

BSc Mathematics & Physics†

Intro. to Astrophysics

PHY1021

C

C

C

C

IT & Astro Skills

PHY1029

C

O

O

IT & Electronics

PHY1028

C

O

O

Mathematics

PHY1025

PHY1026

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

Modules from Maths

various

C†

Practical Phys. & IT

PHY1030

C

Practical Physics

PHY1027

C

C

C

C

Properties of Matter

PHY1024

C

C

C

C

C

Vector Mechanics

PHY1022

C

C

C

C

C

Waves and Optics

PHY1023

C

C

C

C

C

Year 2 Modules

Module Name

Code

MPhys/BSc Physics

MPhys/BSc Physics w/ Astrophysics

MPhys Physics w/ Professional Experience

MPhys Physics w/ Study Abroad

BSc Mathematics & Physics†

Analytical & Chaotic Mchncs

PHY2032 O

O

O

O

O

Condensed Matter I

PHY2024

C

C

C

C

O

Elective(s)*

various

O

O

O

Electromagnetism I

PHY2021

C

C

C

C

C

Quantum Applications...

PHY2031

O

O

O

O

Maths w/ Phys. Applications

PHY2025

C

C

C

C

O

Modules from Mathematics

various

C/O†

Observing the Universe

PHY2030

O

C

O

O

O

Practical Physics II

PHY2026

C

C

C

C

O

Quantum Mechanics I

PHY2022

C

C

C

C

C

Sci. Programming in C

PHY2027

O

C

O

O

The Physics of Living Systems

PHY2029

O

O

O

O

Thermal Physics

PHY2023

C

C

C

C

O

Year 3 Modules

Module Name

Code

MPhys/BSc Physics

MPhys/BSc Physics w/ Astrophysics

MPhys Physics w/ Professional Experience

MPhys Physics w/ Study Abroad

BSc Mathematics & Physics†

Applying Physics (BSc Project)

PHY3150

O

O

Elective (MPhys Physics only)*

various

O

Electromagnetism II

PHY3051

C

C

C

C

Energy and the Environment

PHY3067

O

O

O

Galaxies & High-Energy Astro.

PHY3066

O

C

O

General Problems

PHY3053

C

C

Methods of Theoretical Phys.

PHY3062

O

O

O

Modules at Year Abroad Host

various

C

Modules from Mathematics

various

C/O†

Nanostructures & Graphene

PHY3064

O

O

O

Nuclear & High En. Part. Phys.

PHY3052

C

C

C

Principles of Theoretical Phys.

PHY3068

O

O

O

Professional Experience

PHY3306

C

Project(s)

PHY3122 (MPhys) PHY3138 (BSc)

C

C

C

C

C

Quantum Mech. II

PHYM002

C (MPhys)

C (MPhys)

C

Stars

PHY3063

O

C

O

The Biophysics of Cells and Tissues

PHY3061

O

O

O

Ultrafast Physics

PHY3069

O

O

Year 4 Modules (MPhys degrees only)

Module Name

Code

MPhys Physics

MPhys Physics w/ Astrophysics

MPhys Physics w/ Professional Experience

MPhys Physics w/ Study Abroad

An option from the Year 3 list

various

O

O

Computational Physics ...

PHYM004

O

O

O

O

Condensed Matter II

PHYM003

C

C

C

C

Independent Study

PHYM005

O

O

O

O

Nuclear & High En. Part. Phys.

PHY3052

C

C

Phys. Methods in Bio. & Med.

PHYM008

O

O

O

O

Project

PHYM009

C

C

Project (Year Away)

PHYM010

C

C

Qntm Many-Body Theory

PHYM013

O

O

O

O

Quantum Mechanics II

PHYM002

C

Quantum Optics & Photonics

PHYM015

O

O

O

O

Relativity and Cosmology

PHYM006

O

C

O

O

Solar/Extra-Solar Planets...

PHYM012

O

C

O

O

Statistical Physics

PHYM001

C

C

C

C

* An ‘elective’ is an unspecified module that allows the student to broaden their education by taking a module from another discipline e.g., philosophy, or a foreign language

† BSc Mathematics and Physics students take Numbers, Symmetries and Groups and Probability and Discrete Mathematics in year 1, and Linear Algebra in year 2 as compulsory modules. In years 2 and 3 there are a large number of options to choose from in Mathematics, ranging from Mathematical Theory of Economics, to Mathematics: History and Culture, to Mathematics of Climate Change. See www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/maths for more information.