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SCHOOL OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY UNDERGRADUATE MODULES 2021

OUR COURSES UCAS CODESingle HonoursPhysics BSc F300Physics (International Study) BSc F301Physics MSci F302Physics (International Study) MSci F303Physics and Astrophysics BSc FF35Physics and Astrophysics (International Study) BSc FF3MPhysics and Astrophysics MSci FFH5Physics with Particle Physics and Cosmology BSc F372Physics with Particle Physics and Cosmology MSci F373Theoretical Physics BSc F342Theoretical Physics MSci F343

Joint HonoursTheoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics BSc FG31Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics MSci F3DG

CREDITS

Each year is composed of 120 of credits, in the majority of cases this is 60 credits in each semester.

KEY

n BSC Bachelor of Science, typically three years of study

n MSci Master in Science, typically four years of study

n PAA Physics and Astrophysicsn PwPPC Physics with Particle Physics

and Cosmologyn TP Theoretical Physicsn TPAM Theoretical Physics and

Applied Mathematicsn C Compulsory modulen O Optional modulen O† Optional but at least ten of these

credits must be takenn O†† Optional but at least 20 of these

credits must be takenn * Taught outside of the School of

Physics and Astronomy

Studying Physics at Birmingham means you will have the space to shape and mould your course to suit your interests. You will join a large, research-intensive school so your optional modules will cover many areas of Physics, and you can be confident the syllabus is updated to reflect advances in Physics as they happen. Transferable skills are embedded from the very start of the course, meaning you will graduate ready to succeed in a wide range of careers.

There are lots of Physics courses to choose from and flexibility is at the heart of them. It may be possible to:n Change between the Single Honours courses

in your application year or after Year 1n Swap to and from the MSci at the end

of Year 2n Swap to the year abroad options at the start

of Year 2n Take an Intercalated Year in Computer

Science in Year 3

WHY STUDY PHYSICS AT BIRMINGHAM?

Year 1 Semester 1

Physics

PaA

Pw

PC

C

TP Lab

TP

no-Lab

TPA

M

Number of optional credits 0 0 0 0 0 0

Module Credits

Classical Mechanics and Relativity A

10 C C C C C

Mathematics for Physicists 1A 10 C C C C C

Physics and Communication Skills 1

10 C C C C C

Physics Laboratory 1A 10 C C C C

Probability and Statistics 10 C C C C C

Quantum Mechanics 1, Optics and Waves

10 C C C C C C

Communication Skills and Data Analysis

10 C

Special Relativity and Dynamical Systems

10 C

Special Relativity, Probability and Random Processes

10 C

Real Analysis and Calculus* 20 C

Sequences and Series* 10 C

PERSONAL TUTORIALS

Personal tutorials happen weekly in the first and second years in groups of no more than four students. Your tutor will also help provide any guidance you need to plan your optional modules.

This booklet outlines the modules available to undergraduate students in the School of Physics and Astronomy for 2021. Please note this was written several months in advance of the start of the academic year. It is intended to provide prospective students with a general picture of the programmes and courses offered by the School.

Please note that not all programmes or all courses are offered every year. Also, because our research is constantly exploring new areas and directions of study some courses may be discontinued and new ones offered in their place. Finally, please note that prerequisites and timetabling restrictions can mean all options won’t be open to you.

Year 1 Semester 2

Physics

PaA

Pw

PC

C

TP Lab

TP

no-Lab

TPA

M

Number of optional credits 10 0 0 0 10 0

Module Credits

Classical Mechanics and Relativity B

10 C C C C C

Electromagnetism 1, Temperature and Matter

20 C C C C C C

Mathematics for Physicists 1B 10 C C C C C

Physics Laboratory 1B 10 C C C C

Chaos and Non-Linear Systems 10 O C C

Introduction to Astrophysics 10 O C O

Introduction to Particle Physics and Cosmology

10 O C O

Chaos in Discrete and Continuous Systems

10 C

Mechanics* 10 C

Vectors, Geometry and Linear Algebra*

20 C

Year 2 Semester 1

Physics

PaA

Pw

PC

C

TP Lab

TP

no-Lab

TPA

M

Number of optional credits0 or 10

00 or 10

0 or 10

0 or 10

0

Module Credits

Mathematics for Physicists 2A 10 C C C C C

Optics 10 C C C C C

Particles and Nuclei and A Quantum Approach to Solids

10 C C C C C C

Physics and Communications Skills 2

10 C C C C C C

Physics Laboratory 2 10 C C C C

Quantum Mechanics 2 10 C C C C C C

Observational Astronomy 10 O C O O O

Linear Algebra* 10 C

Multivariate and Vector Analysis*

20 C

Year 2 Semester 2

Physics

PaA

Pw

PC

C

TP Lab

TP

no-Lab

TPA

M

Number of optional credits10 or

200

0 or 10

0 or 10

10 or 20

0

Module Credits

Electromagnetism 2 10 C C C C C C

Mathematics for Physicists 2B 10 C C C C C

Physics Project 10 C C

Astro Project 10 C

Statistical Physics and Entropy 10 C C C C C C

Eigenphysics 10 O O C C C

Electronics 10 O O O O

Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics

10 O O C C C

Nuclear Physics and Neutrinos 10 O C O O

Structure in the Universe 10 O C O O O

Differential Equations* 20 C

Year 3 Semester 1

Physics

PaA

Pw

PC

C

TP

TPA

M B

Sc

TPA

M

MS

ci

Number of optional credits 30 20 20 20 Flexible 20

Module Credits

Quantum Mechanics 3 10 C C C C C C

Statistical Physics 10 C C C C C C

Fission and Fusion 10 O O O O O O

Medical Imaging 10 O O O O O O

Observational Cosmology 10 O O†† C O O O

Observatory Laboratory 20 C

Physics Laboratory 3A 10 C C

Physics Laboratory 3B 10 O† O†

Physical Principles of Radar 10 O O O O O O

Scientific Computing 1 10 O† O† O O O

Scientific Computing 2 10 O† O† C O†† O

Semiconductor Optoelectronics

10 O O O O O O

The Life and Death of Stars 10 O O†† O O O O

Advanced Mathematical Modelling*

20 O O

Complex Variable Theory* 10 O O O C C C

Continuum Mechanics* 20 O O C

Mathematical Finance* 20 O O

Methods in Partial Differential Equations*

10 or 20

O C O

Year 3 Semester 2

Physics

PaA

Pw

PP

C

TP B

Sc

TP M

Sci

TPA

M B

Sc

TPA

M

MS

ci

Number of optional credits 30 20 20 30 20 Flexible 40

Module Credits

General Physics 10 C C C C C O O

Group Studies 20 C C C O O O O

Asteroseismology and Exoplanets

10 O O O O O O O

Atomic Physics 10 O C O O O O O

Chaos and Dynamical Systems

10 O O O O C O O

Condensed Matter Physics

10 O O O O O O O

Current Topics in Theoretical Physics

10 C C O†† O

Evolution of Cosmic Structure

10 O O†† O O O O O

Images and Communication

10 O O O O O O O

Nuclear Physics 10 O O O O O O O

Particle Physics 10 O O C O O O O

Physics Critique 10 O O O

Physics Teaching in Schools

10 O O O O O O O

Radiation and Relativity

10 O O O C C O C

Applied Mathematical Analysis*

20 O O O O

Numerical Methods and Numerical Linear Algebra*

20 O O

Research Skills in Mathematics*

20 O††

Year 4 Semester 1

Physics M

Sci

PaA

MS

ci

Pw

PP

C

MS

ci

TP M

Sci

TPA

M

MS

ci

Number of optional credits 40 40 20 20 Flexible

Module Credits

Research Project 20 C C C

Research Project 10 C O†

Research Project in Applied Mathematics*

20 O†

Current Topics in Particle Physics 10 O O C O O

Experimental Particle Physics Techniques

10 O O C O O

Fission and Fusion 10 O O O O O

Inference from Scientific Data 10 O O O O O

Nanophotonics 10 O O O O O

Observational Cosmology 10 O O O O

Phase Transitions 10 O O O C O

Quantum Mechanics 4 10 O O O C O

Superconductivity 10 O O O O O

The General Theory of Relativity 10 O O O C O

Ultracold Atoms and Quantum Gases 10 O O O O O

Advanced Mathematical Modelling* 20 O

Complex Variable Theory* 10 O O O

Graph Theory* 20 O

Mathematical Finance* 20 O

Topics in Applied Mathematics* 20 O O

TPAM students may arrange to take other modules in the School of Mathematics subject to consultation with the course coordinator

Year 4 Semester 2

Physics M

Sci

PaA

MS

ci

Pw

PP

CM

Sci

TP M

Sci

TPA

M

MS

ci

Number of optional credits 30 30 30 20 Flexible

Module Credits

Research Project 30 C C C C O††

Research Project in Applied Mathematics*

20 O††

Advanced Condensed Matter Physics 10 O O O O O

Asteroseismology and Exoplanets 10 O O O O O

Condensed Matter Physics 10 O O O O O

Evolution of Cosmic Structure 10 O O O O O

Images and Communication 10 O O O O O

Many Particle and Quantum Field Theory

10 O O O C O

Nuclear Physics 10 O O O O O

Physics Critique 10 O O O

Quantum Optics 10 O O O O O

Relativistic Astrophysics 10 O O O O O

Advanced Mathematical Biology* 20 O

Advanced Mathematical Finance* 20 O

Dynamics and Modelling of Weather and Climate*

20 O O O O O

Group Theory* 20 O

Nonlinear Waves* 20 O O

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This leaflet was produced in advance of the start of the academic year. It is intended to provide prospective students with a general picture of the programmes and courses offered by the School. Please note that not all programmes or all courses are offered every year. Also, because our research is constantly exploring new areas and directions of study some courses may be discontinued and new ones offered in their place. Before you apply, please visit our website to view essential information for all applicants: www.birmingham.ac.uk/applicantinformation.

Please note the information in this brochure is correct at time of publication but may be subject to change (July 2020).