Degree Programmes: Theoretical Physics
This degree programme is designed to provide you with a good all-round knowledge of physics, to emphasise the theoretical aspects of physics, and to develop more mathematical skills.
The modules in the first year are common to all our single subject physics courses, and includes work in the experimental laboratory. This latter component is as important to theoretical physics students as it is to other single subject physics students; not only does it support the material presented in the first year modules, but it also ensures that theoretical students develop an appreciation of some of the requirements of experimental physics.
In the second year the theoretical aspects of the degree programme are developed with physics modules taken which are specifically aimed at non-experimentalists, as well as with extra mathematics modules. During the second year theoretical students attend the second year computational laboratory. This enables students to be introduced to the computational skills which are an increasingly important component in the theoretician's armoury.
In the 3rd year BSc degree programme, further numerical and mathematical modules are taken, as well as a choice from a range of physics modules. The project contributes a major component of the final year, and this is an opportunity to pull together many aspects of the theoretical physics and laboratory activities in a two-term theoretical or computational project.
In their third year, MPhys students take an extra physics module and study a range of research techniques. These latter activities include reviewing some aspect of the physics research literature, using commercial software for algebraic manipulation and analysis, and theoretical design studies.
In the fourth year MPhys students have a wide choice of physics modules, and the MPhys theoretical project which is a substantial activity often closely allied with research interests of the academic staff in the department.
Some examples of recent theoretical projects (BSc and MPhys) are:
Spectral line intensity ratios as plasma diagnostics |
Investigation of hydrogen bonds |
Theoretical Physics (BSc) | F340 |
Theoretical Physics (MPhys) | F341 |