Physics
Awarded 4 out of 5 for ‘Overall Satisfaction’ in Physics and Astronomy
National Student Survey 2011
The Department
Physics underpins all physical science and engineering, and physicists are important members of modern society, involved in all areas of scientific research, technological development and environmental science – from understanding fundamental mechanisms such as superconductivity or black hole formation to electronic device manufacture and understanding global warming.
Of all disciplines, a physics degree leads to the broadest range of career opportunities, including careers in commerce where a physicist’s analytical and numerical skills are valued.
The Department’s staff are all active in both teaching and research, with an equal balance in research between theory and experimentation.
Industrial Placement or European Study
The year-out can be spent working in paid employment as a scientist in industry (in the UK or abroad) where you are supervised jointly by a local industrial supervisor and a member of the University academic staff. Satisfactory completion of such a ‘sandwich’ work placement leads to the award of a Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS).
Recent industrial placements have included fibre-optic oil well monitoring and applications of high temperature superconductors and have involved companies such as IBM (UK) Ltd, British Gas, Siemens AG (Germany) Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, FZ Jülich (Germany), Institut Laue Langevin Grenoble (France), etc.
About a third of our recent industrial placements have been abroad, principally in Western Europe. It is often not necessary to be fluent in the local language, although familiarity with the language is always an advantage and you are encouraged to take the appropriate language modules. The Department has contacts with a wide variety of employers and most students arrange their employment with one of these. The average salary of our students in industrial placements in Britain is approximately £14,000 pa.
Alternatively, the year can be spent studying at a university abroad. Loughborough currently has partnerships with universities in Australia, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Poland. French, German or Spanish modules can be taken in the first two years to prepare for the year abroad.
Assessment
Overall assessment is by examination (65%) and coursework (35%). In the BSc courses, the second year counts as 40% and the final year counts as 60% of the final grade. While in the MPhys course, Year 2 counts as 20% and Years 3 and 4 count as 40% each of the final grade.
Selection
Offers are normally made without interview when the UCAS forms reach the Department. Candidates receiving offers are invited to visit the Department, which allows you to see the Department’s facilities, meet students and staff and sample the University atmosphere. There will be a short session with a member of staff in which you may raise queries and discuss your offer. If one of the organised dates is not possible, alternative visits can be arranged with the Admissions Tutor.
Mature students and those with non-standard qualifications are particularly welcome and each case will be considered individually. A brochure giving further details is
available by contacting the Admissions Tutor, or by visiting the Department’s website.
Our MPhys and BSc Courses
Our courses include three MPhys options which include an advanced research project. The MPhys courses may be taken in four or five years. The five-year version of the course includes either a sandwich year of employment in industry or a year of study abroad between the second and the third year of study.
You can change the shape of your studies as your interests evolve. Many transfer possibilities exist. You can even delay the choice between MPhys and BSc Physics and Engineering Physics until the end of year 2. Our degrees are accredited by the Institute of Physics as contributing towards qualification for CPhys and MInstP status.
Foundation Studies Options or 2+2 course inpartnership with the Open University
If you do not have the required A-Level or equivalent subjects or grades to enter the courses directly you may do so via the Physics with a Foundation Year course. There are no formal entry requirements for the 2+2 course. You gain a thorough grounding in physics in 2 years of part-time study through the Open University, while living at home.
On completion, you will be able to transfer into the second year of the Physics or Engineering Physics course at Loughborough.