Why study Physics at Aberystwyth?

• On completion of this degree you will leave with a degree and MPhys qualification.
• Enhance your employability with our year in industry.
• This course is accredited by the IOP (Institute of Physics).
• Physics has been taught at Aberystwyth since its foundation and it continues to be an innovative learning experience for all.
• You will be taught by experts in their field.
• Our Researchers are involved in the current European Space Agency ExoMars 2020 Project and engineering low dimensional materials (i.e. graphene).
• The Department offers a number of modules through the medium of Welsh. Check out the module tab for further information!

Our Staff

Department of Physics Lecturers are all qualified to PhD level and have a track record of research in their fields of specialisation.

What can I do with a physics degree?

Our graduates have discovered career paths in;

• medical physics
• radiation protection
• scientific research

Other graduates from our department have sought careers in:

• systems development
• product development
• technical writing
• meteorology

Employability is embedded across all of our teaching and ethics. We instil these skills in our students:

• research and data analysis skills
• enhanced mathematical and computational skills
• effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills
• the ability to work independently
• time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines
• the ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form
• self-motivation and self-reliance
• team-working, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four year degree scheme.

In your first year, you will explore:

• classic and modern physics (algebra and calculus)
• computational and experimental physics
• quantum theory
• dynamics
• the principles of gravitational and electrostatic fields

?In your second year, you will study:

• thermal physics
• quantum mechanics
• experimental analogue electronics
• data handling and statistics
• instrumentation systems
• experimental physics

In your third year, you will embark on your Year in Industry.

In your final year you will investigate:

• semiconductor physics
• electromagnetism
• optronics
• condensed matter
• atoms and molecules
• numerical methods

How will I be taught?

We teach our students through lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, practicals, individual and group-based project work.

We assess our students through coursework, presentations, lab reports, lab diaries and examinations.

Further information:

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree course, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You should feel free to contact them at any time for help and advice.

You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.