UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
MSC DEGREE IN PHYSICS BY RESEARCH
PROGRAMME OF STUDIES
(for courses commencing in October 2008 or after)
The Course shall be offered in areas of study in which the Faculty can offer expert
guidance and supervision and subject to the availability of resources as determined by
the Department of Physics.
Students are required to write a dissertation, to which 85 credits are assigned, based
on research work of an advanced or original nature performed by students during the
Course and the presentation of their findings and conclusions in a scholarly manner.
The student will also undertake a Seminar Assignment to which 5 credits shall be
assigned.
Students are required to register for the following study-units:
Year
Compulsory Unit (All students must register for this unit)
PHY5008
Physics Seminar
5 credits
Semester 1, 2 &3 (Oct-Jan, Feb-May, June-Sep)
Compulsory Unit (All students must register for this unit)
PHY5108
1
Dissertation in Physics1
85 credits
TOTAL
90 credits
The research will be carried out over three contiguous semesters which will normally include the
summer period and a minimum duration of thirteen months full-time. In the case of part-time students,
the minimum duration will be a minimum of 26 months.
Research Areas
Research area (generic)
Monitoring and modelling
of indoor and outdoor air
quality
Atmospheric pollution;
GAW station
Climate Change
Seismology
Geophysics
Applied electromagnetics
Instrumentation
Astronomy and
Astrophysics
Research activity (specific)
airborne particulate matter; street canyon air quality modelling
and monitoring; computational fluid dynamics; wind flow and
turbulence in confined environments; indoor air quality
modelling and monitoring; statistical analysis of air quality
data
measurement of background concentrations of O3, CO, SO2
and PM10; measurement of urban concentration of O3;
measurement and relay of weather parameters
regional climate modelling; climate impact studies
monitoring of earth tremors; earthquake detection and
localisation; tectonic evolution; seismicity of the
Mediterranean
geological formations; remote sensing of geological
formations; data analysis and processing of geophysical data
measurement and modelling of electromagnetic fields (EMF)
in the environment; EMF health risk assessment;
electromagnetic compatibility; measurement of permittivity in
biological tissue; medical applications of microwaves
development of novel sensors in collaboration with industry
radio astronomy; galaxy formation and development
Applicants interested in pursuing an M.Sc. by research with the Department of
Physics are to consult with staff members of the department before submitting their
application and research proposal. If required, the process may be coordinated by
contacting the Head of Department.
Note. This course of study is governed by “The General Regulations for
University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 and by the Bye-Laws of 2008 For the
degree of M.Sc. under the auspices of the Faculty of Science.