Date of
Revision
Date of
Previous
Revision
Programme Specification
A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be
registered.
All programmes of the University are subject to the University’s Quality Assurance
and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.
Programme Title
Programme Code
Final Award
Physics with
Astrophysics
PHY-BSCS, PHY-SAPH
BSc Honours
(exit route if applicable for
Postgraduate Taught
Programmes)
UCAS
Code
F3F5
JACS
Code
Criteria for Admissions
A-level or equivalent grade AA (Physics and Mathematics) B or
A*A (Physics and Mathematics) C
(Please see General Regulations)
Mode of Study (Full-time, Part-time, other)
Full-time
Type of
Programme
BSc Honours – Physics
with Astrophysics
Length of
Programme
Total
Credits for
Programme
3 Years
Awarding Institution/Body
Queen's University Belfast
Teaching Institution
QUB, School of Mathematics and Physics
School/Department
School of Mathematics and Physics
Framework for Higher Education
Qualification Level
FHEQ Level 6
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/informationan
dguidance
QAA Benchmark Group
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AssuringStandardsAndQ
uality/subject-guidance/Pages/Subjectbenchmark-statements.aspx
Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics
Collaborative Organisation and form of
Collaboration (if applicable)
Accreditations
(PSRB)
ATAS Clearance
The Institute of Physics
Date of next
scheduled
accreditation visit
2018
360
External Examiner Name:
External Examiner Institution/Organisation
Professor G O’Sullivan
University College Dublin
Does the Programme have any approved
exemptions from the University General
Regulations
Yes□
No x
(If yes, please state here any exemptions to regulations
which have been approved for this programme)
(Please see General Regulations)
Programme Specific Regulations
Examinations
Candidates who have completed an Honours BSc
Programme to the satisfaction of the examiners shall be
placed in one of three honours classes, first, second and
third, the second class being in two divisions. When
calculating the honours classification the following module
weightings are used –
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
10%
30%
60%
Candidates who do not achieve marks sufficient to be
awarded third class honours may be eligible for an Ordinary
BSc degree.
Transfers to other Programmes
At the end of Stage 2, students maintaining a weighted
average of at least 55% may transfer to the MSci
Programme in Physics with Astrophysics. Students may
transfer to the Programme of Physics, or Physics with
Medical Applications (BSc, or if they have achieved a
weighted average of at least 55%, MSci), provided they
have passed all the compulsory modules on the Programme
to which they are transferring up to that time of transfer.
Progression
Stage 1
Students will normally take six modules (or their equivalent)
at Level 1 or above.
Students must have passed at least five Stage 1 modules in
order to progress to Stage 2.
Stage 2
Students will normally take six modules (or their equivalent)
at Level 2 or above.
Students must have passed at least five Stage 2 modules,
and all six Stage 1 modules, in order to progress to Stage 3.
Students with protected characteristics
.
Are students subject to Fitness to Practise
Regulations
Please indicate Yes/No
(Please see General Regulations)
Length of Programme
Fitness to Practise programmes are those which permit
students to enter a profession which is itself subject to
Fitness to Practise rules
3 YEARS
Educational Aims of Programme:
To provide students with the knowledge and understanding of the principal facts and theories of physics, and to give experience of experimental and computational methods in
physics. .
To provide students with knowledge and understanding of those areas of applied mathematics most fundamental to physics and finance, and the ability to apply this knowledge
and to give experience of computational work in this area.
To develop a wide range of intellectual, practical and transferable skills, making the students employable in a range of careers both technical and non-technical.
Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills
On the completion of this course successful students will have
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies
Methods of Assessment
developed their ability to:
1.
think logically;
By their nature, physics and astrophysics have to The assessment of these skills is implicit
be presented logically. The lectures provide
in all forms of assessment, but is not
exemplars of this process, as do the model
explicitly measured. The overall degree
2.
analyse problems and situations;
answers for the assignments. Applications of
of success achieved by each student
theory are discussed in lectures and in problems
reflects the extent to which these skills
3.
choose the appropriate physics and mathematics needed for the
classes or tutorials, in a manner which brings out have been acquired. The laboratory
solution of those problems;
the need to call upon a range of mathematics
investigations and project work, growing
and physics skills in order to solve a problem.
in complexity as the student progresses,
4.
carry out structured organisation of their work;
The use of targeted assignments requires
are assessed to explicitly measure the
students
to
organise
their
work,
sometimes
acquisition of the ability to handle
5.
learn independently, under guidance;
collaboratively but mostly independently.
experimental equipment, plan
measurements in a logical fashion,
6.
combine their physical and mathematical understanding to develop
analyse the results produced and
insights into physical and astrophysical phenomena.
communicate them through printed and
verbal media.
7.
perform and report upon laboratory investigations aimed to solve a
range of practical problems.
Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills
On the completion of this course successful students will have
developed:
1.
skills of analytic thinking and critical analysis;
2.
organisational skills and time management;
3.
presentational skills, in both written and oral form, of mathematical,
graphical and tabular material;
4.
the ability to work independently;
5.
the ability to meet deadlines.
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies
Methods of Assessment
A Analytic thinking and critical analysis permeate
any study of physics. Therefore they also
permeate all forms of assessment.
Students will only be successful if they plan their
own timetables of work, outside formal classes,
to maintain a balance between their different
modules and between study and other pursuits.
Much of their work is done individually, though in
the laboratory and project-based work, team
working is encouraged and implicitly assessed.
Most of the assessment, in examinations,
assignments, laboratory reports and
project dissertations, is based on
students’ written presentation. Feedback
on assignment submission is designed
partly to enhance the students’ skills in
this area.
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding
On the completion of this course successful students will have
developed knowledge and understanding of:
1.
the application of basic mathematical and computational methods to
physics problems, including those relating to astrophysics;
2.
the use of these basic techniques in astronomy and areas of physics,
such as classical mechanics, relativity, optics, electricity and
magnetism, quantum and statistical mechanics and medical physics;
3.
basic principles of experimental physics, including the handling of
experimental equipment, the planning of experiments and their analysis,
with the emphasis on investigations of an astrophysical nature;
4.
the application of physics to various astrophysical environments,
radiation and matter in various forms including crystals,
semiconductors, atoms, nuclei;
5.
a selection of more specialist optional topics in physics and in particular
astrophysics
Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific Skills
On the completion of this course successful students will have
developed
1.
a broad range of skills applicable to physics;
2.
a high level of numeracy;
3.
their ability to construct derivations of key physics laws, particularly
those of relevance to astrophysics;
4.
an ability to construct computer programs to aid in the solution of
physics problems;
5.
their ability to formulate physics situations in mathematical terms, and to
express mathematical solutions in the context in which problems were
originally posed;
an awareness of ways in which physics and its applications are of
importance in the world of work.
6.
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies
Methods of Assessment
Lectures constitute the foundation for the
presentation of the knowledge and
understanding required of successful students.
These are augmented by a range of measures –
tutorials, problems classes, practical classes –
as appropriate.
Model answers to all assignments are
made available to students. These
assignments typically count towards 10%
of the final module mark.
Assignments, comprising sets of questions
relevant to the material recently covered in
lectures, form the major vehicle for a student’s
learning of the various areas of physics.
Assignments, four per module, are marked
typically within one week and returned to the
students to provide individual feedback on
progress.
Assessment is mainly through formal
examinations at the end of each module.
Additionally practical work is assessed
through laboratory reports one per
experiment. In the context of project
work, knowledge and understanding are
assessed through the write-up or
dissertation, and poster or verbal
presentation of the project work
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies
Methods of Assessment
Lectures provide a basis for learning the
cornerstone theories and approaches to solving
problems, supported by the assignments aimed
at developing a breadth and depth of physics
ability. Practical skills are acquired through doing
a series of laboratory experiments/projects of
increasing difficulty across the broad range of the
subject. Confidence is thereby engendered, and
this is enhanced through discussion in tutorials
and problems classes. n in tutorials and
problems classes.
We link closely with the University
Careers Service who provide talks
relating to careers options for physicists;
we are proud to produce some of the
most employable physics graduates in
the UK.
Assessment is primarily through formal
examinations, augmented by
assessments set throughout lecture
courses (typically four per module),
practical assignments and project
dissertations.
Programme Requirements
Module Title
Module
Code
Level/
stage
Credits
Availability
S1
Duration
Pre-requisite
S2
Assessment
Core
Option
Coursework %
Examination %
30
70
30
70
At Stage 1 PHY1011, PHY1022, PHY1013 and PHY1026 are compulsory and PHY1012 and PHY1024 are highly recommended.
Mathematics for Physics 1
PHY1013
I
20
12 Weeks
A-level Maths (C)
Foundation Physics 1
PHY1011
I
20
12 Weeks
Computational Methods
PHY1012
I
20
12 Weeks
Numbers, Sets and
Sequences
PMA1012
I
20
12 Weeks
A-Level Physics (C)
and A-Level Maths
(C)
A-level
Mathematics
or equivalent
A-level Maths (B)
Mathematics for Physics 2
PHY1026
I
20
12 Weeks
PHY1013 (corequisite)
Foundation Physics 2
PHY1022
I
20
12 Weeks
PHY1011 (corequisite)
Computational Modelling in
Physics
PHY1024
I
20
12 Weeks
PHY1012 (corequisite)
Analysis and Linear Algebra
PMA1014
I
20
12 Weeks
A-level Maths (B)
100
100
30
70
30
70
100
100
At Stage 2 All modules are compulsory
Modern Physics
PHY2081
II
20
12 Weeks
PHY1011 and
PHY1022
Physics of the Solid State
PHY2082
II
20
12 Weeks
PHY1011 and
PHY1022
Astronomy
PHY2083
II
20
12 Weeks
PHY1011 and
PHY1022
Optics, Electricity and
Magnetism
PHY2084
II
20
12 Weeks
PHY1011 and
PHY1022
Atoms, Nuclei and Radiation
PHY2085
II
20
12 Weeks
PHY1011 and
PHY1022
Physics Projects
PHY2030
II
20
24 Weeks
PHY1011 and
PHY1022
30
70
30
70
30
70
30
70
30
70
100
Module Title
Module
Code
Level/
stage
Availability
S1
Duration
Pre-requisite
S2
Assessment
Core
Option
Coursework %
Examination %
30
70
30
70
30
70
30
70
30
70
30
70
30
70
30
70
At Stage 3 PHY3030 and PHY3023 are compulsory
Quantum Mechanics and
Relativity
PHY3011
III
20
12 Weeks
PHY2081
Solid State Physics
PHY3012
III
20
12 Weeks
PHY2082
Atomic and Molecular
Physics
PHY3013
III
20
12 Weeks
PHY2085
Physics in Medicine
PHY3016
III
20
12 Weeks
None
Nuclear and Fundamental
Particle Physics
PHY3021
III
20
12 Weeks
PHY2081
Electromagnetic Radiation
and Modern Optics
PHY3022
III
20
12 Weeks
PHY2084
Astrophysics
PHY3023
III
20
12 Weeks
None
Photonics
PHY3031
III
20
12 Weeks
PHY2084
Physics Projects
PHY3030
III
20
24 Weeks
None
100
Approved by Director of Education:
Print Name: ……………………………………………………..
Signature: …………………………………………
Date: ……………………………..