Course summary
Physics is an exciting subject which seeks answers to the biggest questions, covering everything in our universe, from the building blocks of matter to the vastness of the cosmos, and the MPhys degree is ideal if you are aiming for a career as a physicist or for further study in the form of a PhD. Employers seeking physics graduates include academic institutions, government research organisations and industry, including aerospace and defence, education, energy, engineering, instrumentation, manufacturing, oil and gas, science, communication, space exploration and telecommunications. Many physics graduates pursue a career outside physics, for instance in consultancy, IT, the environmental industry, financial services, the legal sector, transport and utilities. Our degrees reflect our cutting-edge research and the Swansea Physics group achieved the trapping of anti-matter. Studying in this dynamic research-led environment, you will also gain unique insights into areas such as superconductivity, nanotechnology, superstring theory and antimatter. Based at our superb seafront campus close to the magnificent Gower Peninsula, you will have the opportunity to study an exciting and flexible range of modules which could include astronomy and cosmology, electromagnetism, atomic physics, the frontiers of nuclear physics, the quantum world and climate physics. Your final year will include a full semester working on a research project in areas such as cold matter, lasers and optics, antimatter, and nanoscale technology, all with expert supervision. It is also possible to carry out your project with the Swansea Antihydrogen group stationed in CERN. This degree is also offered as a five-year course, with a year in industry (F30Y) or with a year abroad (F304). Our facilities include: New laboratories, IT and teaching rooms; scanning probe microscopy (SPM) systems; scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) systems; laser spectroscopy systems based upon fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy; atomic force microscopes (AFM); and Beowulf computer cluster, with 130 CPU cores connected by a low-latency infiniband network. All of our Physics degrees are accredited by the Institute of Physics. Our notable Physics alumni include Professor Lyn Evans, leader of the Large Hadron Collider project at CERN, while Professor Peter Higgs, Swansea University Honorary Fellow and Physics Nobel Prize winner, proposed the Boson particle, and has strong links with the department. “The Physics staff were always very supportive; the lecturers enthusiastic and are good at explaining difficult concepts eloquently. There was a real sense that they thoroughly enjoyed teaching us. Through my degree, I was able to successfully apply to the NHS Scientist Training Programme, a highly competitive graduate scheme through which I will eventually become a fully qualified Medical Physicist.” - Guy Drabble, Physics graduate
Modules
In Year 1 your modules may include Dynamics, Oscillations and Waves; Astronomy and Cosmology; Physics of Fields and Matter; Essential Skills for Physicists; the Quantum World; Mathematics for Physicists; and Laboratory Physics, which can be studied in English or Welsh. In Year 2, modules may include Statistical Physics; Physics Simulation; Quantum Mechanics; Mathematical Methods in Physics; Condensed Matter Physics; Electromagneticism and Special Relativity; Particle Physics; and further Laboratory Physics, which can be studied in English or Welsh. In Year 3, you will study modules covering Quantum Mechanics; Atomic Physics; Condensed Matter Physics; Quantum Optics; Particle Physics; Nuclear Physics; General Relativity; Climate Physics; Computational Physics; and Mathematical Methods in Physics. There are also optional modules, such as Cosmology; Astrophysics; Advanced Research in Physics; and Teaching Physics via a School Placement. In Year 4, you can choose from a range of advanced modules such as Quantum Field Theory; Advanced Particle Physics; Modern Laser Systems; Atomic and Quantum Optics; Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena; Quantum Information Processing; Nano Bio-photonics; and Magnetic Resonance Physics, NMR Spectroscopy and MRI. You will also conduct a cutting-edge research project, with the opportunity to do this with the Swansea Antihydrogen group in CERN.
Assessment method
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, laboratory work, examples classes and weekly small group classes. You will be assessed through regular problem solving in small groups and individual study, online assessment custom designed for each lecture module, keeping a laboratory diary and preparing scientific reports in practical modules. Final year projects are assessed through the preparation of a dissertation and presentation of your research, either as a poster in a conference-like forum or an oral presentation.
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- F303
- Institution code:
- S93
- Campus name:
- Singleton Park Campus
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/international-students/international-student-courses/how-to-apply/
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
A level - A*AB - AAB
Scottish Higher - ABBBC
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 34 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
Extended Project
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English we require a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) and no less than 5.5 in each component.
English Language Requirements at Swansea University
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/admissions/english-language-requirements/
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Swansea University
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP