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Bachelor of Science with Honours and Postgraduate Diploma in Science

Our students find the challenge of postgraduate physics enjoyable and rewarding. The BSc(Hons) or PGDipSci qualifications can lead directly to a broader range of career options, or can be a pathway to higher degrees in Physics (MSc or PhD).

At 400-level you are introduced to the excitement and the realities of doing research. Our department has an international reputation for research excellence, and you will work closely with a supervisor who is passionate about research.

Entry to postgraduate physics is based on your grades, and generally requires a B+ average in your 300-level Physics and Electronics papers.

To discover more about your postgraduate options contact the Director of 400-level Physics.

Structure of Programmes

Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))

  • PHSI 490 Dissertation
  • Papers worth 40 points from:
    • PHSI 421 Statistical Mechanics
    • PHSI 422 Upper Atmospheric and Space Physics
    • PHSI 423 Advanced Quantum Mechanics I
    • PHSI 424 Advanced Quantum Mechanics II
    • PHSI 425 Advanced Electromagnetism
    • PHSI 426 Fluids, Instability and Transport Phenomena
    • ELEC 441 Linear Systems and Noise
  • 20 further 400-level points from PHSI, MATH, or ELEC.

Prerequisites:
Four 300-level PHSI papers
One further 300-level ELEC, MATH or PHSI paper

See the tab “Papers” for more information

Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)

We recommend a programme for the PGDipSci that is the same format as BSc Honours. However, it is also possible to take the PGDipSci with either no project or a 20 point project, PHSI 480, but this will reduce the possibility of taking a higher-level research degree.

Applying for Admission to BSc Honours or PGDipSci

We encourage applications from qualified students. Your first step is to contact the Director of 400-level Physics, who will discuss in more detail what these courses offer, and the options available to you.

To discover more about 400-level study, contact the Director of 400-level Physics.

Formal application for entry into 400-level BSc Honours or PGDipSci can then be completed online via eVision. Once the decision on admission is made by the Division of Sciences, it will be available on eVision. Please ensure you apply as soon as possible.

In addition to a dissertation (PHSI490), students need to include 40 points from PHSI 421-426, ELEC 441, and 20 further 400-level points from PHSI, MATH, or ELEC.

Find out about the available PHSI and ELEC 400-level papers

PHSI 490: Dissertation

We place a lot of emphasis on the project, and typically students find this to be the most rewarding part of the programme. We offer a wide choice of topics in which you have the opportunity to carry out original research. You will work closely with a supervisor, who defines the project and will guide you through all aspects of the project, from the initial background reading to writing the final report.

Some recent BSc Honours projects:

  • Path integral Monte Carlo method for an interacting Bose gas
  • Decay of a dark soliton in a warm BEC: a variational approach
  • On the rate of refreezing in a bore hole in an ice shelf
  • The use of rare earth ions as optical notch filters
  • Two-dimensional quantum turbulence in stirred BECs
  • A reference cavity for frequency stabilization of lasers
  • Exploration of cerebellum structure using optical coherence tomography
  • Nondestructive probing of ultracold 87Rb
  • Empirical determination of polar atmospheric access for solar protons
  • Coherently driven BEC in an optical cavity

PHSI 480: Research Project

This project is only available for PGDipSci and MSc students.

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