Physics with Astronomy with a Year Abroad BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

The four-year BSc (Hons) Physics with Astronomy with a Year Abroad, jointly offered by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, equips students with a comprehensive understanding of astronomical phenomena within the physical universe. It covers stellar evolution, planetary systems, and the structure and evolution of the universe. Students benefit from practical work, a year abroad, and a research project, preparing them for a wide range of careers in STEM fields and beyond.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BSc (Hons) Physics with Astronomy with a Year Abroad is a four-year program jointly taught by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University. It provides a comprehensive understanding of astronomical phenomena within the physical universe. The program delves into the formation, evolution, and death of stars, including planetary systems, nucleosynthesis, and supernovae. It also explores the structure of galaxies and the evolution of the universe itself. The program aims to equip students with skills relevant for a wide range of careers, including education, research, finance, industry, and more.

Outline:

Year One:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Dynamics and Relativity (PHYS101):
Covers Newtonian mechanics, including Newton's laws of motion, gravitation, and Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Introduces the theory of relativity, starting with its historical context and leading to the Lorentz transformations.
• Thermal Physics and Properties of Matter (PHYS102): Explores classical thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, and statistical mechanics.
Introduces and applies the laws of thermodynamics.
• Electricity, Magnetism and Waves (PHYS103): Introduces the fundamental concepts and principles of electricity and magnetism, developing the integral form of Maxwell's equations.
Studies oscillations and waves, focusing on solutions of the wave equation, superposition principles, and wave phenomena. Introduces quantum mechanics and its applications, including the photoelectric effect and the Cosmic Microwave Background. Covers plotting data, Monte Carlo techniques, algorithm development, and basic symbolic manipulations.
• Practical Physics I (PHYS106): Teaches laboratory skills in physics, complementing lecture material and introducing key concepts of experimental physics.
• Mathematics for Physicists I (PHYS107): Provides a foundation in mathematics, including differentiation, integration, functions of multiple variables, matrix manipulation, vector algebra, eigenvectors, and eigenvalues.
• Mathematics for Physics II (PHYS108): Introduces mathematical techniques used in physics, such as differential equations, partial differential equations, integral vector calculus, and series.
• INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS (PHYS155): Introduces the constituents of the universe, including the Solar System, stars, exoplanets, galaxies, and the evolution of spacetime.
Studies observational techniques used to answer questions about the cosmos.

Year Two:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Condensed Matter Physics (PHYS202): Studies the structure and behavior of matter, including the properties of materials used in everyday life.
• Nuclear and Particle Physics (PHYS204): Introduces the basic properties of particles and nuclei, their stability, decay modes, reactions, and conservation laws.
Highlights recent research in particle physics and applications of nuclear physics.
• Computational Physics (PHYS205): Further develops computing skills acquired in Year One, applying Python programming techniques to solve physics-based problems.
• Mathematics for Physicists III (PHYS207): Introduces differential vector calculus and extends linear algebra.
• Stellar Physics (PHYS251): Explains the physics of stellar structure and how stars of different masses evolve.

Year Abroad (Year Three):

• Students are required to spend a year abroad on an approved placement at a European or overseas partner institution.

Year Four:

• Electromagnetism II (PHYS370): Builds on previous electromagnetism modules, exploring how electromagnetic radiation explains various physical phenomena.
• PHYSICS OF GALAXIES (PHYS373): Covers the physics and observational techniques of Galactic Astrophysics.
• Relativity and Cosmology (PHYS374): Connects special relativity, Newtonian gravity, general relativity, and cosmological metrics and dynamical equations.
Focuses on cosmology, including the content, structure, and evolution of the universe.
• Project (BSC) (PHYS379): Involves an extended individual research project, typically based in one of the research groups within the Department of Physics.
Students can also pursue projects in collaboration with industrial partners.
• Optional Modules:
• Computational Modelling (PHYS305):
Introduces object-oriented concepts in Python and employs them to model experiments.
• STELLAR ATMOSPHERES (PHYS352): Covers radiation transport, the interaction of photons and matter, stellar atmosphere models, and applications of radiation transport methods.
• Planetary Physics (PHYS355): Considers the application of physics to the study of planets, focusing on the application of fundamental physical principles.
• PHYSICS INTERNSHIP (PHYS309): Provides students with experience working in a STEM-related environment outside of the Department of Physics.
• Solid State Physics (PHYS363): Advances and extends concepts on solids introduced in previous years, focusing on the atomic structure and behavior of electrons in crystalline materials.
• Nuclear Physics (PHYS375): Introduces nuclear physics, covering the bulk properties of atomic nuclei, radioactivity, the nucleon-nucleon interaction, and nuclear models.
• Nuclear Power (PHYS376): Focuses on nuclear reactors as a source of energy, reviewing the underlying physics principles and discussing the design, operation, and potential of nuclear fission and fusion reactors.
• Particle Physics (PHYS377): Introduces particle physics, building on the second-year module on Nuclear and Particle Physics.
• Materials Physics and Characterisation (PHYS387): Covers the preparation and characterization of materials of scientific and technological importance.
• SEMICONDUCTOR APPLICATIONS (PHYS389): Develops the physics concepts describing semiconductors to understand the construction and operation of semiconductor devices.
• Magnetic Properties of Solids (PHYS399): Explores how interactions between electrons in solids result in magnetic moments and their implications for technologies and theoretical understanding.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a combination of coursework and examinations for assessment. Depending on the modules taken, students may encounter project work, presentations (individual or group), and specific tests or tasks designed to solidify learning outcomes.

Teaching:

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, problem-solving workshops, and practical work. Lectures introduce and provide details of various areas of physics and related subjects. Practical work is an integral part of the program, ranging from basic laboratory skills in the first two years to a research project in the third or fourth year.

Careers:

A physics degree opens doors to a wide range of careers, including:

• Telecommunications
• Microelectronics
• Nuclear power
• Instrumentation
• Cryogenics
• Astronomy
• Geophysics
• Medical physics
• Materials science
• Computing
• Teaching
• Business
• Finance
• Management
The program also provides a strong foundation for pursuing a research degree, particularly in fields such as condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, nanoscience, and energy.

Other:

The School of Physical Sciences at the University of Liverpool is one of the UK's leading physics departments, with a history of discovery spanning over 130 years and producing three Nobel Laureates. The school is internationally renowned for its work in particle physics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, and accelerator physics. Students are immersed in a research environment from the start, with teaching taking place in the £23 million Central Teaching Laboratories.

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland): Full-time place, per year £9,250 Year in industry fee £1,850 Year abroad fee £1,385 International fees Full-time place, per year £27,200 Year in industry fee £1,850 Year abroad fee £13,600