PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - Undergraduate Programmes 2019 entry

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PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - Undergraduate Programmes 2019 entry
PHYSICS AND
ASTROPHYSICS

                 School of Chemical
 Undergraduate   and Physical Sciences
  Programmes
   2019 entry
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - Undergraduate Programmes 2019 entry
2 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS

Contents
Introduction                                       03   Beyond the curriculum                 21
Why Keele?                                         04   SPARK                                 21
Course Features                                    06   Research at Keele                     23
Why Study Physics or Astrophysics?                 07   Careers in Physics and Astrophysics   24
Course Information                                 07   What our students think of us         26
Single Honours Physics Course details              08   Some ideas for your degree...         27
Combined Honours Physics Course details            11   Entry Requirements                    28
Single Honours Physics with Astrophysics                Degree Titles and Application Codes   29
course details                                     14   How to apply                          30
Combined Honours Physics with Astrophysics              Meet us                               31
course details                                     17
The Student Experience                             20

Every effort has been made to ensure that
the information in this publication is correct
at the time of going to press. For the most
up-to-date information, please visit our website
www.keele.ac.uk

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - Undergraduate Programmes 2019 entry
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 3

Introduction
Welcome to Physics and Astrophysics at Keele. This booklet gives you
an overview of the undergraduate degree programmes we offer and a
flavour of what it is like to study with us.
Keele is the leading interdisciplinary university   We are proud of what our students have to
in the UK, and either Physics or Astrophysics       say about us in return. In the National Student
may be studied together with another subject        Survey, which gives final-year undergraduates
as part of a three-year Combined Honours BSc        the chance to offer feedback on every aspect
degree. The opportunity to study two subjects       of their courses, we consistently place among
simultaneously at degree level holds great          the top handful of Physics/Astrophysics
appeal for many students; while the breadth         departments in the UK. Our graduates gave
of knowledge and diversity of skills acquired       us satisfaction ratings of 90%+ in each of
in such courses are valued by a large and           the 2011-2015 surveys and we were the top-
growing cross-section of private and public         ranked Physics/Astrophysics department in
sector employers.                                   both the 2016 and 2017 surveys, with 100%
                                                    overall student satisfaction with their course.
Alternatively, many students choose to
specialise at an earlier stage and we offer         All of the academic staff who teach on the
3-year Single Honours programmes in                 Physics and Astrophysics BSc courses at
“Physics” and in “Physics with Astrophysics”,       Keele are active in research; a brief summary
where you will study just these subjects.           of what we do is included later in this booklet.
These programmes allow a greater depth              This enables us to inject some of the topicality
and breadth of study in your chosen field and       and the excitement of our own scientific
may be a better choice for those more likely        interests into the undergraduate degrees —
to go on to postgraduate study at Masters           particularly within specialised lecture modules
Level and beyond. Both the Single Honours           and project work in the third year. We also
and Combined Honours variants (whichever            have thriving research PhD programmes,
second subject is chosen) cover the whole of        and we draw on our postgraduate students to
the Core of Physics, a detailed set of concepts     bolster the support we give in undergraduate
and topics laid out by the IOP for inclusion        lab sessions and tutorials.
in all undergraduate physics degrees in the
                                                    Beyond Physics and Astrophysics specifically,
UK. When you graduate from one of our
                                                    Keele University as a whole makes a
programmes, you will be equally well-prepared                                                          Professor Rob Jeffries,
                                                    concerted effort to provide all of its students
either to undertake further study towards
                                                    with tools to maximise their achievements          Head of Physics and Astrophysics
a higher degree or to enter graduate-level
                                                    during their time here and to communicate
employment directly.
                                                    those achievements most effectively. There
We work hard to deliver teaching and support        are, for example, a number of University
of the highest quality to our students. There is    services to support careers planning and
a minimum of 10 hours per week of lecture, lab      personal development. There are also
and tutorial time in Combined Honours Physics       opportunities to become involved in a range
or Astrophysics, or 17 hours per week in Single     of activities, which can enhance both your
Honours and all of these are led directly by        own experience of university and your appeal
members of the academic staff, with “an open        to future employers: entrepreneurship,
door policy regarding student consultation”. We     volunteering, work with students in local
participate in Keele’s well-developed personal      schools, a Study Abroad programme, free
tutoring system. For each year of our degrees       foreign language courses, a variety of student
there is a Physics/Astrophysics member of           societies (including a Physics and Astronomy
staff responsible for keeping abreast of every      Society), and much more.
student’s individual progress and ensuring
                                                    If you have any questions for us as you make
that academic programmes run smoothly. We
                                                    your choices about Physics or Astrophysics,
organise careers and postgraduate information
                                                    Keele and your university career, we would
sessions for our students and we have a
                                                    encourage you to get in touch using the details
student-staff voice committee, which meets
                                                    on the back cover. Whatever you ultimately
twice yearly with student representatives from
                                                    decide, we wish you every success in your          Dr A. Mahendrasingam,
each of the three degree years.
                                                    current and future studies.                        Director of Undergraduate Courses

                                                                                                                          keele.ac.uk/physics
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Why                                                                      eele?
Reasons to choose Keele

     GOLD                            96%                        No.1                    97%
    AWARD                         Graduate                    in England             of our research
     in the Teaching             Employability                for Course            was classified as
        Excellence             HESA 2017 – graduates in       Satisfaction          world-leading or
                               work or further study within
       Framework                six months of graduation
                                                              Guardian University    of international
                                                                 Guide, 2018
         HEFCE 2017                                                                    importance
                                                                                     Research Excellence
                                                                                      Framework 2014

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - Undergraduate Programmes 2019 entry
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 5

                                                                               Travel Times
                                                                               10mins
                                                                               Stoke-on-Trent by car

                                                                               40mins
                                                                               To Manchester by train

                                                                               50mins
                                                                               To Birmingham by
                                                     Edinburgh                 train

                                                     Newcastle-upon-Tyne       1hr 30mins
                                                                               To London by train

                                                                     Manchester
                                                     Liverpool
                                                                     1hr
                                                          1hr

  600                  GLOBAL                           Keele
                                                                    Stoke-on-Trent

 ACRES                 TOP 20
                                                                       Birmingham
                                                                       1hr

  With over 600            for campus
                                                                               London
acres we have the         sustainability                         Oxford
                                                                               1.5hr
largest single-site   UI Green Metric ranking 2017
campus in the UK

                                                                                     keele.ac.uk/physics
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                               Course Features:
                               • Open-door policy with flexible
                                 contact hours for excellent
                                 access to staff when you need
                                 advice or feedback
                               • Self-contained instruction
                                 in all requisite mathematics
                                 and computing
                               • Degrees accredited by the
                                 Institute of Physics
                               • Top 5 ranking for student
                                 satisfaction in the National
                                 Student Survey
                               • Research-driven teaching
                               • Opportunity to study abroad

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - Undergraduate Programmes 2019 entry
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 7

Why Study Physics or Astrophysics?
What causes a superconductor to have no electrical resistance? When will we find an Earth-like planet
around another star? How big is a proton? Is there a black hole at the centre of every galaxy? Where does
mass come from? Why is the expansion of the Universe accelerating?
The fundamental aim of Physics and                 theories, methods and tools for a multitude of       stimulating intellectually, and so rewarding to
Astrophysics is to achieve a unified description   practical applications that underpin a great deal    study. But they also mean that the knowledge
of matter and energy, their interactions and       of modern life. As just a few examples, consider     and skills gained with a Physics or Astrophysics
their interconnections in all forms and on         solar cells; medical imaging; atomic clocks          degree are both broad-based and far-reaching.
all scales, from sub-nuclear particles to the      and GPS navigation; semiconductors and               Graduates in these subjects have exceptional
Universe in its entirety. Pursuing such a goal     integrated circuits; fibre optics and broadband      range and flexibility and they are valued highly,
for its own sake has an undeniable appeal,         internet; even the models and equations behind       not only in academia but also by employers
and in many respects these are the epitome         computer games and CGI, weather forecasts            in science- and engineering-related industry,
of “curiosity-driven” subjects. But along the      and sophisticated financial instruments.             finance, business consulting and management,
way to answering some deceptively simple                                                                software development, health and medicine,
                                                   The breadth of enquiry and the variety of
and seemingly abstract questions, research                                                              education and law.
                                                   application are what make these subjects so
in Physics and Astrophysics has provided the

Course Information
Keele has a long experience and unparalleled expertise in running
Combined Honours degrees, which allow you to study two
subjects to degree level. For example, Physics and Mathematics
or Astrophysics and Geology or Physics and Computer Science
or Astrophysics and Forensic Science. You can do a combination
simply because both subjects interest you, or because you think
they will work particularly well together in your future career
or postgraduate studies. Alternatively, specialise in Physics/
Astrophysics and study your subject in greater breadth and depth
with our Single Honours degrees.

Single Honours BSc: Physics                        Combined Honours BSc:
or Physics with Astrophysics                       Physics or Astrophysics
The Single Honours routes incorporate all          In a Combined Honours degree, you study                There is a good deal of flexibility in
of the corresponding Combined Honours              Physics or Astrophysics along with a second            our programmes so you can change
courses, but as you are devoting all your time     subject, in equal weight, over the first two years     pathways, if you wish, once you are in-
in the three years to Physics/Astrophysics         of your BSc. Typically you will take 4 modules         course on a degree. For example, overlap
they offer additional time and space (4 more       in each subject in each year. In year 3 you can        built into the curriculums makes it easy to
modules/year) to increase both the depth and       continue to study both subjects equally or you         switch from Physics to Astrophysics, or
breadth of study. There is a special focus on      may choose to specialise in one of them. To            vice versa, in the first year of your BSc.
the applications of theoretical, mathematical      attain an Institute of Physics accredited degree       The choice of whether to specialise in
and computational techniques to solving            you must study Physics/Astrophysics during all         one or other of your two subjects in year
problems ranging from the physics of galaxies      three years.                                           3 of a Combined Honours degree can be
to the properties of graphene, and additional                                                             made (or changed) at any time before the
opportunities for independent research and                                                                beginning of your third and final year.
learning in year 3.

                                                                                                                                  keele.ac.uk/physics
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Single Honours Physics First Year
Your current studies will have introduced you to some of the central themes of Physics. These are
reinforced in your first-year modules, but you will also encounter new concepts and develop new skills.
Mathematics and Computing are taught both within specific modules and         classes; problem classes and tutorial sessions, in smaller groups,
as part of the core physics that is studied in parallel. You will learn how   focused on applying the material covered in lectures. All these
to apply your mathematical skills in topics such as calculus, complex         sessions are delivered by members of academic staff. Postgraduate
numbers, statistics and differential equations to physical problems;          demonstrators provide additional support in labs, tutorials and
practical laboratory work contains work that both supports your physics       problem classes.
learning but also allows you to apply your IT skills and programming.
Each week there are 17-18 hours of directly taught classes featuring a
mixture of traditional lectures; practical and computational laboratory

Indicative Year 1 modules are:
 Semester 1       Mechanics, Gravity and Relativity gives a calculus-based development of classical                         2 hours lecture
                  mechanics, Kepler’s laws and Newtonian gravitation, and Einstein’s Special Theory of                      per week
                  Relativity.

                  Nature of Matter demonstrates that, while classical physics provides an adequate           2 hours lecture
                  description of the behaviour of matter under familiar, “everyday” circumstances, a quantum per week
                  treatment is necessary for a more complete understanding.

 Semester         Scientific Practice and Scientific Programming provide the core communication,                            2 hours per week
 1&2              writing, presentation and study skills required by the practising physicist and provide an                + 2 hours practical
                  introduction to the essentials of computational analysis and programming.                                 classes

                  Mathematics for Physics and Applied Mathematics and Statistics cover the                                  2 hours of lectures
                  fundamental mathematics required in the course – from calculus to complex numbers –                       + 2 hours of tutorial
                  and apply this to a variety of physical scenarios, with a mixture of lectures and problem-                per week
                  based learning.
                  Laboratory                                                                                                3 hours per week

                  Problem Classes supporting the Physics modules.                                                           2 hours per week

 Semester 2       Oscillations and Waves occur in virtually every branch of Physics, in the form of light and               2 hours lecture
                  sound waves, oscillations of bridges and of atoms in crystals, resonance in mechanical                    per week
                  systems and electrical circuits, quantum-mechanical waves, etc.

                  Electricity and Magnetism will expand your study of the static and dynamic aspects of                     2 hours lecture
                  electricity, magnetism and their related fields. The transient and steady-state responses of              per week
                  electrical networks are examined in lectures and in laboratory experiments.

                  Instrumentation Physics introduces concepts behind the measurement and analysis of                        2-3 hours lectures
                  physical quantities, from temperature and pressure to light and sound, with a mixture of                  and laboratory
                  lecture and lab-based learning.                                                                           per week

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - Undergraduate Programmes 2019 entry
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 9

Single Honours Physics Second Year
In your second year you continue with the study of core physics
and mathematics, but attention is also given to more advanced and                      Physics external examiner, 2017
applied topics. Each week there are approximately 8 1-hour lectures,                I remain very impressed with the very
and a further 10-11 hours of taught classes in the form of laboratory              high level of care the team takes to work
work, problem classes and tutorials, all led by academic members
                                                                                   with students to improve their learning.
of staff. Semester 1 contains laboratory work associated with optics
and computational physics; in the second semester students work in
                                                                                     This is evidenced from the very high
small groups on short investigations into electronic sensors, carry out                standards and excellent feedback..
a mini-project in instrumentation and measurement and participate in
laboratory work on nuclear and radiation physics.

Indicative Year 2 modules are:
                                                                                                      “
 Semester 1        Optics and Thermodynamics considers the wave nature of radiation and the laws                  2 hours lecture
                   governing the transfer of heat and entropy in macroscopic systems. You will study              per week
                   polarisation and birefringence, interference and diffraction (including Fourier methods and
                   analysis), basic optical systems (including the Michelson-Morley interferometer), heat
                   capacities, work, internal and free energies, changes of state and entropy.
                   Quantum Mechanics gives an introduction to the fundamental methods of quantum                  2 hours lecture
                   physics, the Schrödinger equation and its applications including the structure of the          per week
                   hydrogen atom, emission and absorption spectra, electron spin, angular momentum,
                   magnetic moments, and aspects of multi-electron atoms.
                   Mathematical Physics looks at more advanced topics that are used in theoretical and            2 hours lecture plus
                   applied physics. You will study motion in symmetric potentials, Lagrangian mechanics and       a 1 hour tutorial
                   the use of special functions.                                                                  per week
                   Numerical Methods covers the application of computational techniques to solve problems         1 hour lecture and
                   in physics, including interpolation, optimisation, the solution of differential equations,     2 hour lab class
                   numerical integration and Monte Carlo simulations.                                             per week
 Semester          Mathematics for Physics includes the core analysis methods and techniques such as              1 hour lecture
 1&2               vector calculus, matrices and Fourier analysis that are used throughout physics.               per week
                   Laboratory                                                                                     3 hours per week
                   Problem Classes support the Physics modules                                                    3 hours per week
 Semester 2        Statistical Mechanics and Solid State Physics develops key statistical topics in Physics       2 hours lecture
                   such as bosons, fermions, phonon and photon gases and blackbody radiation, and                 per week
                   explores how these relate to thermodynamics and the structure of solids.
                   Nuclear and Particle Physics is divided into four main topics: nuclear models and the          2 hours lecture
                   strong force; radioactive decay and the weak force; nuclear reactions; and a brief study       per week
                   of elementary particles, including quarks and gauge bosons, and the use of Feynman
                   diagrams to describe and analyse their interactions.
                   Applied Physics and Emerging Technologies examines the physics behind several               3 hours lectures
                   examples of developments and breakthroughs of topical interest (e.g. graphene,              plus tutorials
                   gravitational waves). You will then have the opportunity to do your own research into a new per week
                   topic of your choice and present your findings.
                   Radiation Physics explores three main topics: the properties of ionising radiation and the     4 hours per week
                   interaction of photons with matter; detecting radiation, dosimetry and radiation safety; and   including lectures,
                   the applications of radiation physics in medicine and diagnostic imaging. Laboratory work      tutorials and lab
                   focuses on nuclear physics and radiation safety.                                               classes

                                                                                                                    keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - Undergraduate Programmes 2019 entry
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Single Honours Physics Third Year
In your third year you will take core modules in Physics, plus a choice      knowledge but develop their subjects as applications and extensions
of modules that reflect staff research interests. Single Honours students    of the fundamental, core physics covered in years 1 and 2 by all
in Physics have a core of Electromagnetism, a Physics project, a             Keele students.
dissertation and a further advanced module in Quantum Mechanics,
                                                                             Each lecture module (whether core or option) involves 2 hours
together with a choice of 4 options. Student demand determines
                                                                             per week of lectures and in most cases a regular tutorial session.
which options, out of the full array listed here, are run in any given
                                                                             Project work takes roughly 6 hours per week and students might be
academic year.
                                                                             expected to spend a similar amount of time researching and writing
All of the option modules are open to Physics or Astrophysics students.      their dissertations.
Astrophysics-oriented modules do not assume prior astronomical

Indicative Year 3 modules are:
                                                  Core         Option

 Electromagnetism                                   

 Physics Project                                    

 Dissertation                                       

 Atmospheric Physics                                              

 Binary Stars and Exoplanets                                      

 Cosmology                                                        

 Data Analysis and Model Testing                                  

 Life in the Universe                                             

 Particle Physics and Accelerators                                

 Physics of Compact Objects                                       

 Physics of Fluids                                                

 Plasma Physics                                                   

 Polymer Physics                                                  

 Quantum Mechanics II                               

All Physics students carry out an independent research project, with
guidance from academic staff, throughout their third year. The project
can be experimental, computational or theoretical in nature. Students
can choose from a list of suggested topics, or they may (with staff                         Physics External Examiner, 2017
approval) develop one from scratch that fits their own interests. Projects
build on the knowledge base and the experimental, analytical and
                                                                                  I was extremely impressed to see the data analysis
reporting skills acquired during Years 1 and 2, and they also develop                module in year 3 - which provided some very
new physics-specific expertise and transferable skills for employment.            interesting and original ideas. It is unusual to see a
Single Honours students also write a dissertation on a Physics topic               module of this kind delivered at a high level in an
chosen from an extensive list.                                                                  undergraduate degree.

keele.ac.uk/physics
                                                                                                            “
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 11

Combined Honours Physics First Year
Your current studies will give you a basic introduction to some of the central themes of Physics. These are
reinforced and developed by some of our first-year modules. You will also meet several new concepts.
Essential mathematics and computing are taught within the course,             Each week there are four/five 1-hour lectures in Physics; one 3-hour
so prior study of them at A-level is, while certainly beneficial, not a       laboratory class; one 1-hour tutorial in mathematical methods; and
requirement. Approximately 20% of lectures (and assessment) in the first      one 2-hour problem class in which you apply the material covered in
year modules are devoted to maths, beginning with differentiation and         lectures. All of these are delivered by members of the academic staff.
working through to multivariable calculus, with an emphasis on Physics        Postgraduate demonstrators provide additional support in the labs,
applications. Practical labs contain work to develop computer and IT          tutorials and problem classes.
skills, including basic programming.

Indicative Year 1 modules are:
 Semester 1        Mechanics, Gravity and Relativity gives a calculus-based development of classical                               2 hours lecture
                   mechanics, Kepler’s laws and Newtonian gravitation, and Einstein’s Special Theory                               per week
                   of Relativity.

                   Nature of Matter demonstrates that, while classical physics provides an adequate description 2 hours lecture
                   of the behaviour of matter under familiar, “everyday” circumstances, a quantum treatment is  per week
                   necessary for a more complete understanding.

 Semester          Mathematics for Physics (lectures and tutorials)                                                                2 hours
 1&2                                                                                                                               per week

                   Laboratory (including computing)                                                                                3 hours
                                                                                                                                   per week

                   Problem Classes supporting the Physics modules                                                                  2 hours
                                                                                                                                   per week

 Semester 2        Oscillations and Waves occur in virtually every branch of Physics, in the form of light and                     2 hours lecture
                   sound waves, oscillations of bridges and of atoms in crystals, resonance in mechanical                          per week
                   systems and electrical circuits, quantum-mechanical waves, etc.

                   Electricity and Magnetism will expand your study of the static and dynamic aspects of                           2 hours lecture
                   electricity, magnetism and their related fields. The transient and steady-state responses of                    per week
                   electrical networks are examined in lectures and in laboratory experiments.

                                                                                             Steven Wye
                                                                           (BSc Physics and Chemistry, 2007; PhD Physics,
                                                                               2011) Physics Teaching Fellow at Keele
                                                                             Studying Physics at Keele was challenging and
                                                                           rewarding and prepared me very well for my PhD.
                                                                              The course taught me many aspects of Physics
                                                                             from the quantum and sub-atomic world to the
                                                                                     enormous scale and motions of
                                                                                           planets and galaxies.

                                                                                                    “                            keele.ac.uk/physics
12 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS

Combined Honours Physics Second Year
In your second year you continue with the study of core Physics.          Laboratory classes in the first semester support lectures in Optics; in
Each week there are four 1-hour lectures, 1-hour lecture in Mathematics   the second semester, students work in pairs on short investigations
for Physics, plus one 3-hour laboratory class and one 3-hour problem      into electronic sensors and instruments, and carry out a mini project in
class, all led by members of the academic staff.                          instrumentation and measurement.

Indicative Year 1 modules are:
 Semester 1        Optics and Thermodynamics considers the wave nature of radiation and the laws                           2 hours lecture
                   governing the transfer of heat and entropy in macroscopic systems. You will study                       per week
                   polarisation and birefringence, interference and diffraction (including Fourier methods and
                   analysis), basic optical systems (including the Michelson-Morley interferometer), heat
                   capacities, work, internal and free energies, changes of state and entropy.
                   Quantum Mechanics gives an introduction to the fundamental methods of quantum                           2 hours lecture
                   physics, the Schrödinger equation and its applications including the structure of the                   per week
                   hydrogen atom, emission and absorption spectra, electron spin, angular momentum,
                   magnetic moments, and aspects of multi-electron atoms.

 Semester          Mathematics for Physics                                                                                 1 hour lecture
 1&2                                                                                                                       per week
                   Laboratory                                                                                              3 hours per week

                   Problem Classes supporting the Physics modules.                                                         3 hours per week

 Semester 2        Statistical Mechanics and Solid State Physics develops key statistical topics in Physics 2 hours lecture
                   such as bosons, fermions, phonon and photon gases and blackbody radiation, and           per week
                   explores how these relate to thermodynamics and the structure of solids.

                   Nuclear and Particle Physics is divided into four main topics: nuclear models and the                   2 hours lecture
                   strong force; radioactive decay and the weak force; nuclear reactions; and a brief study                per week
                   of elementary particles, including quarks and gauge bosons, and the use of Feynman
                   diagrams to describe and analyse their interactions.

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 13

Combined Honours Physics Third Year
In your third year you will take core modules in Physics, plus a choice       All of the option modules are open to any Physics or Astrophysics
of several option modules that reflect staff research interests. Students     student. In particular, Astrophysics-oriented modules do not assume any
continuing with both subjects as part of their Combined Honours BSc           prior knowledge of astronomy, but develop their subjects as applications
degree take a core module in Electromagnetism, do an individual project,      and extensions of the fundamental, core physics covered at Levels 1 and
and take two option modules. Students specialising in Physics also            2 by all Keele students.
take Electromagnetism and do a project, plus they research and write
                                                                              Each lecture module (whether core or option) involves 2 hours per week
a dissertation and take a total of five option modules. Student demand
                                                                              of lectures. In many cases, the module lecturer will additionally offer
determines which options, out of the full array listed here, are run in any
                                                                              regular tutorial sessions. Project work takes approximately 6 hours per
given academic year.
                                                                              week, and the dissertation for students specialising in Physics another
                                                                              6 hours per week.

Indicative Year 3 modules are:
                                               Continuing with         Specialising in
                                                Two Subjects             Physics
                                                Core      Option       Core      Option

 Electromagnetism                                                       
 Physics Project                                                        

 Dissertation                                                            

 Atmospheric Physics                                                              
 Binary Stars and Exoplanets                                                      
 Cosmology                                                                        
 Data Analysis and Model Testing                                                  
 Life in the Universe                                                             
 Particle Physics and Accelerators                                                
 Physics of Compact Objects                                                       
 Physics of Fluids                                                                

 Plasma Physics                                                                   

 Polymer Physics                                                                                             Connor Martin
                                                                                                    (BSc Physics with Mathematics, 2016)
 Quantum Mechanics II                                                             
                                                                                                     My Physics course at Keele provided
                                                                                                      me with answers to the mysterious,
                                                                                                        from the weirdness of quantum
All Physics students carry out an independent research project, with guidance                             mechanics to the vastness of
from academic staff, throughout their third year. The project can be experimental,                   cosmology. I feel confident and ready
computational or theoretical in nature. Students can choose from a list of suggested                 to use the skills I have learned here to
topics, or they may (with staff approval) develop one from scratch that fits their own                go further, in a postgraduate degree.
interests. Projects build on the knowledge base and the experimental, analytical and

                                                                                                                        “
reporting skills acquired during Years 1 and 2, and they also develop new physics-
specific expertise and transferable skills for employment.

                                                                                                                                keele.ac.uk/physics
14 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS

Single Honours Physics with Astrophysics First Year
Your current studies will have introduced you to some of the central themes of Physics. These are
reinforced in your first-year modules, but you will also encounter new concepts and develop new skills
and some basic topics in astrophysics are introduced.
Mathematics and Computing are taught both within specific modules          Each week there are 17-18 hours of directly taught classes featuring a
and as part of the core physics that is studied in parallel. You will      mixture of traditional lectures; practical and computational laboratory
learn how to apply your mathematical skills in topics such as calculus,    classes; problem classes and tutorial sessions, in smaller groups,
complex numbers, statistics and differential equations to physical         focused on applying material covered in lectures. All these sessions are
problems; Practical laboratory work contains work that both supports       delivered by members of academic staff. Postgraduate demonstrators
your (astro)physics learning but also allows you to apply your IT skills   provide additional support in labs, tutorials and problem classes.
and programming. The semester 2 laboratory is specifically focused
on astrophysics.

Indicative Year 1 modules are:
 Semester 1        Mechanics, Gravity and Relativity gives a calculus-based development of classical                       2 hours lecture
                   mechanics, Kepler’s laws and Newtonian gravitation, and Einstein’s Special Theory of                    per week
                   Relativity.

                   Nature of Matter demonstrates that, while classical physics provides an adequate                        2 hours lecture
                   description of the behaviour of matter under familiar, “everyday” circumstances, a                      per week
                   quantum treatment is necessary for a more complete understanding.

                   Physics Laboratory                                                                                      3 hours per week

 Semester          Scientific Practice and Scientific Programming provide the core communication,                          2 hours per week
 1&2               writing, presentation and study skills required by the practising physicist and provide an              + 2 hours practical
                   introduction to the essentials of computational analysis and programming.                               classes

                   Mathematics for Physics and Applied Mathematics and Statistics cover the                                2 hours of lectures
                   fundamental mathematics required in the course – from calculus to complex numbers –                     + 2 hours of tutorial
                   and apply this to a variety of physical scenarios, with a mixture of lectures and problem-              per week
                   based learning.
                   Problem Classes supporting the Physics/Astrophysics modules                                             2 hours per week

 Semester 2        Oscillations and Waves occur in virtually every branch of Physics, in the form of light and 2 hours lecture
                   sound waves, oscillations of bridges and of atoms in crystals, resonance in mechanical      per week
                   systems and electrical circuits, quantum-mechanical waves, etc.

                   Electricity and Magnetism will expand your study of the static and dynamic aspects of                   2 hours lecture
                   electricity, magnetism and their related fields. The transient and steady-state responses of            per week
                   electrical networks are examined in lectures and in laboratory experiments.

                   Introduction to Astronomy and Stellar Structure surveys the universe and the                            2 hours lecture plus
                   measurements that are made in order to characterise its contents. You will learn the                    2 hours practical
                   basics of stellar physics and stellar evolution and about the history of the universe as                observing per week
                   a whole.

                   Astrophysics Laboratory                                                                                 3 hours per week

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 15

Single Honours Physics with Astrophysics Second Year
In your second year you continue with the study of core physics and     Semester 1 contains laboratory work associated with optics and
mathematics, but attention is also given to more advanced and applied   computational physics; the second semester is dominated by
topics. Each week there are approximately 8 1-hour lectures, and a      astrophysics - students work on astrophysical measurements of stars
further 10-11 hours of taught classes in the form of laboratory work,   in the laboratory, make their own observations at our on-campus
problem classes and tutorials, all led by academic members of staff.    observatory and learn about the formation, structure and evolution of
                                                                        stars and galaxies.

Indicative Year 2 modules are:
 Semester 1        Optics and Thermodynamics considers the wave nature of radiation and the laws                        2 hours lecture
                   governing the transfer of heat and entropy in macroscopic systems. You will study                    per week
                   polarisation and birefringence, interference and diffraction (including Fourier methods and
                   analysis), basic optical systems (including the Michelson-Morley interferometer), heat
                   capacities, work, internal and free energies, changes of state and entropy.
                   Quantum Mechanics gives an introduction to the fundamental methods of quantum                        2 hours lecture
                   physics, the Schrödinger equation and its applications including the structure of the                per week
                   hydrogen atom, emission and absorption spectra, electron spin, angular momentum,
                   magnetic moments, and aspects of multi-electron atoms.
                   Mathematical Physics looks at more advanced topics that are used in theoretical and      2 hours lecture plus
                   applied physics. You will study motion in symmetric potentials, Lagrangian mechanics and a 1 hour tutorial
                   the use of special functions.                                                            per week
                   Numerical Methods covers the application of computational techniques to solve                        1 hour lecture and
                   problems in physics, including interpolation, optimisation, the solution of differential             2 hour lab class
                   equations, numerical integration and Monte Carlo simulations.                                        per week
                   Physics Laboratory                                                                                   3 hours per week
 Semester          Mathematics for Physics includes the core analysis methods and techniques such as                    1 hour lecture
 1&2               vector calculus, matrices and Fourier analysis that are used throughout physics.                     per week
                   Problem Classes supporting Physics/Astrophysics modules                                              3 hours per week
 Semester 2        Statistical Mechanics and Solid State Physics develops key statistical topics in                     2 hours lecture
                   Physics such as bosons, fermions, phonon and photon gases and blackbody radiation,                   per week
                   and explores how these relate to thermodynamics and the structure of solids.

                   Stellar Astrophysics builds on material from the first year but also looks at nuclear   2 hours lecture
                   reactions in stars and the production of the chemical elements; nuclear models and the  per week
                   strong force; and elementary particles, such as quarks, and the use of Feynman diagrams
                   to describe their interactions.

                   Applied Physics and Emerging Technologies examines the physics behind several                        3 hours lectures
                   examples of developments and breakthroughs of topical interest (e.g. graphene,                       plus tutorials
                   gravitational waves). You will then have the opportunity to do your own research into a              per week
                   new topic of your choice and present your findings.

                   Galaxies introduces the key observations of normal and active galaxies and the physics               2 hours of lectures
                   that explains them. It builds upon the first-year study of mechanics, Newtonian gravity              plus 2 hours of
                   and stellar structure, plus aspects of electromagnetism and thermodynamics from years                lab and tutorials
                   1 and 2, to develop understanding of the structures, dynamics and long-term evolution of             per week
                   self-gravitating stellar systems. An associated laboratory component is designed to give
                   broader experience with the acquisition and analysis of astronomical data in general.
                   Astrophysics Laboratory                                                                              3 hours per week

                                                                                                                          keele.ac.uk/physics
16 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS

Single Honours Physics with Astrophysics Third Year
In your third year you will take core modules in Physics, plus a choice       Each lecture module (whether core or option) involves 2 hours
of modules that reflect staff research interests. Single Honours students     per week of lectures and in most cases a regular tutorial session.
in Physics with Astrophysics have a core of Electromagnetism, an              Project work takes roughly 6 hours per week and students might be
Astrophysics project, a dissertation on an astrophysical topic and a          expected to spend a similar amount of time researching and writing
further advanced module in Cosmology, together with a choice of               their dissertations.
4 options. Student demand determines which options, out of the full
array listed here, are run in any given academic year.
All of the option modules are open to Physics or Astrophysics
students. Physics-oriented modules do not assume any particular prior
knowledge but develop their subjects as applications and extensions
of the fundamental, core physics covered in years 1 and 2 by all
Keele students.

Indicative Year 3 modules are:
                                                                 Core                       Option

 Electromagnetism                                                 

 Physics Project                                                  

 Dissertation                                                     

 Atmospheric Physics                                                                           

 Binary Stars and Exoplanets                                                                   

 Cosmology                                                        

 Data Analysis and Model Testing                                                               

 Life in the Universe                                                                          

 Particle Physics and Accelerators                                                             

 Physics of Compact Objects                                                                    

 Physics of Fluids                                                                             

 Plasma Physics                                                                                

 Polymer Physics                                                                               

 Quantum Mechanics II                                                                          
Physics with Astrophysics students have the unique opportunity in their final year project to analyse data
acquired with a robotic observatory built and operated by Keele as part of the SuperWASP consortium.

SuperWASP is the UK’s leading programme for extrasolar planet                 novel investigations into stellar rotation variable stars and comets. Single
detection. We have discovered more than 100 exoplanets since 2006             Honours astrophysicists will also research and write a dissertation on an
and gathered tens of Terabytes of research-quality data in the process.       astrophysical topic, chosen from an extensive list.
Some recent projects by our students have exploited these data for

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 17

Combined Honours Astrophysics First Year
Your current studies will give you a basic introduction to some of the central themes of Physics. These are
reinforced and developed by some of the first-year modules. You will also meet several new concepts and
cover some basic introductory topics in Astrophysics.
Essential mathematics and computing are taught within the course,            Each week there are four 1-hour lectures in Physics and Astrophysics,
so prior study of them at A-level is, while beneficial, not a requirement.   plus one 3-hour laboratory class, one 1-hour tutorial in mathematical
Approximately 20% of lectures (and assessment) in the first-year             methods, and one 2-hour problem class in which you apply the material
modules are devoted to maths, beginning with differentiation and             covered in lectures. All of these are led and delivered by members of
working through to multivariable calculus, with an emphasis on Physics       the academic staff, and postgraduate demonstrators provide additional
applications. Practical labs contain work to develop computer and IT         support for the labs, tutorials, and problem classes.
skills, including basic programming.

Indicative Year 1 modules are:
 Semester 1         Mechanics, Gravity and Relativity gives a calculus-based development of classical                      2 hours lecture
                    mechanics, Kepler’s laws and Newtonian gravitation, and Einstein’s Special Theory                      per week
                    of Relativity.

                    Nature of Matter demonstrates that, while classical physics provides an adequate                       2 hours lecture
                    description of the behaviour of matter under familiar, “everyday” circumstances, a                     per week
                    quantum treatment is necessary for a more complete understanding.

                    Physics Laboratory                                                                                     3 hours per week

 Semester           Mathematics for Physics (lectures and tutorials)                                                       2 hours per week
 1&2
                    Problem Classes supporting Physics/Astrophysics modules                                                2 hours per week

 Semester 2         Oscillations and Waves occur in virtually every branch of Physics, in the form of light and 2 hours lecture
                    sound waves, oscillations of bridges and of atoms in crystals, resonance in mechanical      per week
                    systems and electrical circuits, quantum-mechanical waves, etc.

                    Electricity and Stellar Structure will expand your study of the static and dynamic                     2 hours lecture
                    aspects of electricity, and provide an introduction to the physics of stellar structure                per week
                    and evolution.

                    Astrophysics Laboratory (including computing)                                                          3 hours per week

                                                                                                                              keele.ac.uk/physics
18 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS

Combined Honours Astrophysics Second Year
In your second year you continue with the study of core Physics and      Labs in the first semester support lectures in Optics; in the second
Astrophysics. Each week there are four 1-hour lectures, 1-hour lecture   semester you learn the basics of astronomical data reduction and
in Mathematics for Physics, plus one 3-hour laboratory class and one     analysis with computer software used by professional astronomers.
3-hour problem class, all led by members of the academic staff.

The Year 2 modules are:
 Semester 1        Optics and Thermodynamics considers the wave nature of radiation and the laws                         2 hours lecture
                   governing the transfer of heat and entropy in macroscopic systems. You will study                     per week
                   polarisation and birefringence, interference and diffraction (including Fourier methods and
                   analysis), basic optical systems (including the Michelson-Morley interferometer), heat
                   capacities, work, internal and free energies, changes of state and entropy.
                   Quantum Mechanics gives an introduction to the fundamental methods of quantum                         2 hours lecture
                   physics, the Schrödinger equation and its applications including the structure of the                 per week
                   hydrogen atom, emission and absorption spectra, electron spin, angular momentum,
                   magnetic moments, and aspects of multi-electron atoms.
                   Physics Laboratory                                                                                    3 hours per week
 Semester          Mathematics for Physics                                                                               1 hour lecture
 1&2                                                                                                                     per week
                   Problem Classes supporting Physics/Astrophysics modules                                               3 hours per week

 Semester 2        Statistical Mechanics and Solid State Physics develops key statistical topics in                      2 hours lecture
                   Physics such as bosons, fermions, phonon and photon gases and blackbody radiation,                    per week
                   and explores how these relate to thermodynamics and the structure of solids.

                   Stellar Astrophysics builds on material from the first year but also looks at nuclear   2 hours lecture
                   reactions in stars and the production of the chemical elements; nuclear models and the  per week
                   strong force; and elementary particles, such as quarks, and the use of Feynman diagrams
                   to describe their interactions.

                   Astrophysics Laboratory                                                                               3 hours per week

                                                                                           Astrophysics external examiner, 2017
                                                                                         The quality of the teaching and learning
                                                                                         on the Astrophysics course is very high.
                                                                                         Feedback to the students was clear and
                                                                                       comprehensive, addressing areas of strength
                                                                                          and possible areas for improvement.

                                                                                                               ”
keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 19

Combined Honours Astrophysics Third Year
In your third year you will take core modules in Physics and                    All of the option modules are open to any Physics or Astrophysics
Astrophysics, plus option modules that reflect staff research interests.        student. In particular, the Physics-oriented modules start from the base
Students continuing with both subjects as part of their Combined                of core physics that all Astrophysics and Physics students have in
Honours degree take a core module in Electromagnetism, do a                     common from their core studies at Levels 1 and 2.
team-based project, and take two of several possible option modules.
                                                                                Each lecture module (whether core or option) involves 2 hours per week
Students specialising in Astrophysics also take Electromagnetism and do
                                                                                of lectures. In many cases, the module lecturer will additionally offer
a project, plus they research and write a dissertation and take a total of
                                                                                regular tutorial sessions. Project work takes approximately 6 hours per
five option modules. Student demand determines which options, out of
                                                                                week, and the dissertation for students specialising in Astrophysics,
the full array listed here, are run in any given academic year.
                                                                                another 6 hours per week.

The Year 3 modules are:
                                               Continuing with          Specialising in
                                                Two Subjects             Astrophysics
                                               Core        Option       Core       Option

 Electromagnetism                                                        
 Physics Project                                                         
 Dissertation                                                             
 Atmospheric Physics                                                                 
 Binary Stars and Exoplanets                                                         

 Cosmology                                                                           

 Data Analysis and Model Testing                                                     
                                                                                                                        Liz Jones
 Life in the Universe                                                                                           (BSc Astrophysics with
                                                                                                                    Mathematics, 2014)
 Particle Physics and Accelerators                                                   
                                                                                                                   With such a friendly
 Physics of Compact Objects                                                                                         atmosphere and
                                                                                                                    approachable staff,
 Physics of Fluids                                                                                              studying Astrophysics
                                                                                                                  at Keele gives you the
 Plasma Physics                                                                                                 necessary skills to take
                                                                                                                 on such a challenging yet
 Polymer Physics                                                                                                  fascinating subject.
 Quantum Mechanics II                                                                

Astrophysics students have the unique opportunity in their final year project to analyse
data acquired with a robotic observatory built and operated by Keele as part of the
SuperWASP consortium. SuperWASP is the UK’s leading programme for extra-solar
                                                                                                                              ”
planet detection. We have discovered more than 100 planets since 2006 and gathered
tens of Terabytes of research-quality data in the process. Some recent projects by our
students have exploited these data for novel investigations into stellar rotation, variable
stars and comets.

                                                                                                                                   keele.ac.uk/physics
20 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS

The Student Experience
Learning and Teaching                             Assessment and                                     Laboratory Work
We deliver our courses in a modular format        Feedback                                           Much of our understanding of Physics comes
using a mix of traditional lectures, smaller                                                         from measurement and experimentation,
tutorials and problem classes, practical          Assessment and feedback are key parts of how       and laboratory work is therefore an essential
laboratory sessions, and individual and group     we teach and how you learn. They are meant to      experience for all physicists. Likewise,
project work—all led directly by members          help you assimilate a substantial body of Astro/   Astrophysics as a subject is rooted firmly in
of the academic staff. This mix is designed       Physics knowledge, build on this knowledge to      observation, and data analysis is a central skill
with student skills development expressly in      develop a strong and broad-based skill set, and    for the practising astrophysicist.
mind. For example, regular problem-solving        then demonstrate your abilities effectively.
                                                                                                     Labs are designed to support the material
sessions throughout all years of our degrees      Assessment is by a mixture of coursework           covered in lectures, to acquire specific
hone the kinds of analysis and knowledge-         and examination. The lab components of all         techniques and skills, and to investigate
application skills that are essential to doing    modules are continuously assessed, as is the       unfamiliar phenomena. They also incorporate
Physics and Astrophysics—and which all            project work in the final year. Lecture material   instruction in computer programming. There
employers value as well. Teamwork and             is assessed by assignments, essays and             is increasing scope as the degree goes on for
elements of project management are key parts      some class tests during the modules, and by        creative and open-ended lab work, and this
of second-year Physics labs and third-year        examinations at the end of each semester           time also provides an opportunity for informal
Astrophysics projects. Final-year project and     (January and May). Over the full three years       contact and discussion with members of staff.
dissertation modules include written and oral     of a BSc, the assessment is about 40% by
communications components, which help to          coursework and 60% by examination.                 In Years 1 and 2, all students do the same
build confidence in talking the language of                                                          labs in the first semester, and then Physics
physics and more generally develop the skills     In all cases of assessment we will give you        and Astrophysics students split into separate
to offer reasoned arguments.                      helpful feedback so that you can constantly        labs for the second semester. In Year 3, the
                                                  develop and improve. You will receive feedback     Physics and Astrophysics projects are separate
                                                  in many ways, including comments on the work       throughout. We have a teaching lab for Year 1
                                                  you have handed in and informal feedback           and Year 2 Physics experiments, another lab
                                                  sessions and individual discussions with tutors.   specifically for Year 3 Physics Projects, and
                                                                                                     dedicated Astrophysics computing facilities.
                                                                                                     Assessment is via lab diaries and written
                                                                                                     reports and, in the final-year projects, written
                                                                                                     and oral presentations. There are elements of
                                                                                                     group work in the Year 2 Physics labs and the
                                                                                                     Year 3 Astrophysics projects

                                                                                                     Study Abroad
                                                                                                     Subject to good performance in Year 1, it is
                                                                                                     possible to undertake one semester of study
                                                                                                     during Year 2 as part of your degree or to take
                                                                                                     an “International Year” out from your degree
                                                                                                     between years 2 and 3 at one of Keele’s many
                                                                                                     partner Universities in Europe, North America
                                                                                                     or South Africa.
                                                                                                     If you are interested in this opportunity, please
                                                                                                     discuss it with us when you visit, or as soon as
                                                                                                     possible after you arrive at Keele in Year 1.

    Keele has an on-campus Observatory, which opens regularly to
    the public and recently underwent a £250,000 refurbishment. It
    houses a 24-inch telescope capable of research-quality imaging,
    a 6-inch solar telescope and a 140-year old, 12-inch refractor.
    The Observatory is readily accessible to our students, several of
    whom get actively involved in its operation.

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 21

Beyond the curriculum                                          SPARK
There are opportunities for Physics and                        SPARK is the official Physics and Astrophysics
Astrophysics students at Keele outside                         society at Keele, and winner of the Best
of the set curriculum, that can enhance                        Academic Society for 2016/17!
and complement your skills, interests
and employability.
There is a thriving Physics and Astrophysics society (known
as SPARK) who organise activities and events. Keele
Observatory hosts a community of astronomers from the
university and the wider area and is open to all on a weekly
basis. Students can become involved in our outreach
through the observatory and also through the Keele Student
Ambassador scheme; we have a portable planetarium that
visits schools and has won a national award for outreach
and widening participation.
                                                               The society was founded in 2015 to create a support network
                                                               for physics students across all years and a platform for
                                                               students to develop their passion for physics beyond their
                                                               studies. We are affiliated with the IOP (Institute of Physics) and
                                                               UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development
                                                               of Space). Through these ties, we have a lot of opportunities
                                                               for collaborations and outreach with these institutions.
                                                               We regularly enter a team into a national UKSEDS
                                                               competition; in 2016/17 this was the National Rocketry
                                                               Championship. During this competition our team was required
                                                               to design, build and launch a mid-power rocket from scratch.
                                                               After months of hard work, we managed to launch successfully
                                                               and went on to win this competition!
                                                               For 2017/18 we have entered the Lunar Rover Competition.
                                                               So far our team has passed the first two stages of the
                                                               competition and been invited to the final stage. This is
                                                               where the remaining teams will gather and test their rover in
                                                               conditions, similar to those met on the lunar surface. For these
                                                               competitions, we welcome students of all disciplines to enter!
                                                               (students in computer science have been particularly helpful
                                                               when designing the rover!)
                                                               We host regular events including “socials” in the student union,
                                                               film and gaming afternoons, and visits to Laser Quest . Each
                                                               week we hold a revision session, where students come for a
                                                               quiet space to work with other physics students.
                                                               Find out more about SPARK at
                                                               keelesu.com/activities/society/SPARK/
                                                               If you have any questions about the society, or suggestions
                                                               for what you’d like to do if you choose to come to Keele,
                                                               please email:
                                                               soc.spark@keele.ac.uk.

                                                                                                            keele.ac.uk/physics
22 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS

 The storage ring of the particle
 accelerator at the European
 Synchrotron Radiation Facility
 in Grenoble, where Keele
 physicists do experiments
 to probe physical processes
 in polymers.

keele.ac.uk/physics
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 23

Research
Keele has dual research strengths in Physics and in Astrophysics
The Physics group works in the broad area of     the formation of stars both singly and in       As an undergraduate student at Keele, you will
“soft condensed matter” — more specifically,     gravitationally bound groups; the dynamics of   benefit directly from this activity. You will be
the physics of polymers, which are large         star clusters; how stars produce the chemical   taught by experts who do forefront research
molecules composed of many repeated              elements and feed them back into galaxies       and who bring elements of their research
subunits (some examples are DNA, rubber,         when they die; laboratory studies aimed at      into the BSc degree courses (especially in
chocolate and various pharmaceuticals).          understanding interstellar chemistry; and the   many of the Physics and Astrophysics option
Particular interest is centred around using      physics and phenomenology of active and         modules and project work in Year 3). The
powerful X-ray sources to probe the atomic-      normal galaxies, supermassive black holes and   added expertise of postgraduate student
scale structure of polymers, investigating how   dark matter.                                    demonstrators will be available to you in
and why they change physically when they                                                         laboratory, problem class and tutorial settings.
                                                 These groups have international reputations
become crystallised and how this impacts their                                                   And there are some opportunities to work with
                                                 and regularly use major international
use in medical and industrial applications.                                                      members of staff on research projects during
                                                 experimental and observational facilities.
                                                                                                 the summer months between your second and
The Astrophysics group pursues a range of        They are funded by UK and European research
                                                                                                 third years.
observational, computational and theoretical     councils and industry, supporting strong
research programmes. These include the           postgraduate programmes with more than 15
search for planets around other stars (Keele     full-time research PhD students.
astronomers have discovered more than
100 planets since 2006); the properties
and interactions of stars in binary systems;

                                                                              The SuperWASP telescope array in
                                                                              South Africa, built and operated by
                                                                              Keele astrophysicists to search for
                                                                              extrasolar planets.

                                                                                                                           keele.ac.uk/physics
24 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS

Careers in Physics and Astrophysics
As we become steadily more dependent upon science and technology in our daily lives, and as
governments continue to invest heavily in the most basic of “blue-skies” research with facilities like
the LHC or large, multinational ground- and space-based telescopes, it is vital that leaders in industry,
commerce and politics have awareness and an understanding of the fundamentals. A degree in Physics
will equip you with these, and with the knowledge and skills to undertake a wide range of careers besides.
A degree in Astrophysics from Keele is designed to provide you with the same underlying essentials.

Typically, around 40% of Physics and                 with the general trend, many others of our          well as rigorously developing the fundamental
Astrophysics BSc graduates in the UK                 graduates go on to employment in technology         principles of the subjects, our courses aim
choose to continue studying and training for         and industry, management, business and              explicitly to cultivate in our students a set of
Masters or PhD degrees or other professional         finance. A few of their recent destinations         specific intellectual skills that are transferable
qualifications (e.g., in education), while another   include the law firm Dehns, the defence and         to employment: hence, our emphasis at
40% or so find graduate-level employment             aerospace multinationals Qinetiq and BAE, and       various points throughout the degrees on
within six months of obtaining their degrees.        the medical technology company Elekta.              problem-solving sessions, lab and project
Those who enter employment directly are,                                                                 work done individually and in small groups,
                                                     The widespread interest from beyond
on average, among the highest-paid of all                                                                elements of research, written reports and oral
                                                     academia in Physics and Astrophysics
undergraduate degree holders, alongside                                                                  presentations. We also offer very specific
                                                     graduates comes down to the fact that the
graduates from Economics, Engineering,                                                                   careers guidance for our second and third
                                                     most basic skills needed to do well in these
Mathematics and Computer Science. The chart                                                              years in the form of specialised careers talks
                                                     degrees are precisely those that all employers
on the facing page illustrates the great variety                                                         and visits from some of our previous graduates
                                                     value: namely, practice and efficiency in
of employers who actively seek Physics and                                                               who are now working in industry and research.
                                                     generic problem-solving with creative thinking
Astrophysics graduates.
                                                     backed by logical reasoning. These are              Keele more broadly provides careers advice
In such a diversified jobs market, the scope         then supplemented by advanced numeracy              and other services to all undergraduates at the
and the appeal of Keele graduates are further        and mathematical acumen; proficiency                University. These are part of a comprehensive
reinforced by the interdisciplinary nature of        with experimental methods; experience of            plan of academic and extracurricular activities
our degree structures. In line with the national     working both independently and in teams; and        available to help all Keele students develop a
profile, many of our students do proceed to          familiarity with a range of communications and      strong set of general intellectual and practical
study for Postgraduate Certificates in Education     information technology.                             skills, and then convey these attributes to
or Masters and research PhD degrees in                                                                   employers when they graduate. To learn more
                                                     We are keenly aware of both the real-world
Physics or Astrophysics, at universities                                                                 about this, you may wish to visit
                                                     and the academic expectations of the Physics
throughout the UK. But, again in keeping                                                                 keele.ac.uk/journey
                                                     and Astrophysics programmes at Keele. As

Accreditation of Keele BSc degrees
All of our Combined Honours degrees in either        The Single Honours degrees, which                   After a period of relevant post-degree
Physics or Astrophysics, with any choice of          commenced recently, also include all of this        experience and professional development they
second subject, are accredited by the Institute      material and are in the process of accreditation.   can apply for Full Membership and, eventually,
of Physics (IOP), incorporating, the full Core of    Graduates of accredited BSc degrees in the          for Chartered Physicist status.
Physics curriculum defined by the IOP.               UK are eligible for Associate Membership of
                                                     the IOP.

keele.ac.uk/physics
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