Warwick Teachers & Advisors Conference: Physics

Gary BarkerPhysics Undergraduate Admissions Tutor

23-05-14

Warwick Physics Department

The Physics Department has• 65 Academic Staff• ~170 undergraduate intake: (~120 Physics, ~50 Maths & Physics)

Physics Department Research:

• Condensed Matter Physics

• Theoretical physics• Particle physics• Astronomy and

Astrophysics• Plasma physics

Physics Maths and Physics

Physics with Business Studies

Physics Degrees at Warwick

For those with a particular interest in Business – the third year is spent entirely in

the Business School

Physics Course Structure

Importantly, the first twoyears are common

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3 Year 3

Year 4

A 2(i) standard required to proceed A 2(i) standard required to proceed

BSc MPhys

University Physics

2r

QQF pe

V1=0.5c V2=0.5c

V12=c

Galilean:

Coulomb:

c

cVVVV

V 8.01 2

12

1212

Special Relativity

Quantum Theory:

V12= V1 + V2

Physics Core ThemesElectromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics,

Statistical Physics, Mathematics, Physics Laboratory.

Physics OptionsHamiltonian Mechanics, Stars, Galaxies, The Physics of Electrical Power Generation, programming...

Outside OptionsModern Foreign Language, Introduction to Teaching, Business Studies …

Core & Optional Modules

Warwick Physics Research

The Payoff for Undergraduates

• Research-driven teaching/internationally leading staff:• Crystal Physics, Electrons in Solids• Standard Model of Particle Physics, Neutrino Physics• Exo-planets, Cosmology• Solar Physics, Plasma Physics• Complexity/Chaos Theory• Medical Physics, High Performance Computing

• Project work /Summer placements

Typical 1st Year Timetable

1st Year: Easing the Transition

• `Key Skills for Physics’: brings physics and maths together i.e. “problem solving” : weekly exercises in Physics and Mathematics assessed for credit and discussed in exercise classes. • `Physics Foundations’: Revision of A-level

ideas but shows how calculus and complex numbers make their description more elegant and powerful e.g. SHM • 1st and 2nd year tutorials: Groups of 5 or less• Physics Labs.: Close supervision (for some, first

`hands-on’ experience).• Single text book: Young and Freedman –

University Physics.

And at the end of it all…

• ~75% achieve a First or Upper Second Physics degree

• Numbers in graduate-level employment or research degree within 6 months of graduating :• MPhys degree: 90%-95% (average starting

salary £26k)• BSc degree: 80%-85% (average starting

salary £23.5k)

• Physics graduates are very much in demand!• Alongside physics/maths knowledge

employers value the physicist skillset: critical thinking, problem solving, scientific data analysis, scientific methodology, presentation etc etc

What do our graduates do?35% Research degree in Physics/Maths/Computing20% Financial/accounting sector20% IT10% Engineering15% Others: management, journalism, health service,etc

Thank you