Astroffiseg

Why study Astrophysics at Aberystwyth?

• On completion of this degree you will leave with accreditation by the IOP (Institute of Physics) and a Master's qualification

• 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)

Ein Staff

Mae gan bob un o ddarlithwyr yr Adran Ffiseg gymwysterau hyd at safon PhD a hanes o wneud gwaith ymchwil yn eu meysydd arbenigol.

What can I do with a physics degree?

Our graduates have discovered career paths in:

• Medical Physics

• Radiation Protection Practitioner

• Research Science

Other graduates from our department have sought careers in:

• Systems Development

• Product Development

• Technical Publishing

• Meteorology

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

• Research and data analysis skills
• Enhanced mathematical and computational skills
• Effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills
• Ability to work independently
• Time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines
• 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

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

Click here to find out about the various opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers team offer. 

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and YES (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department. 

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 the first year you may discover:

• The main branches of classical and modern physics underpinned by the core mathematical disciplines of algebra and calculus
• Computational and experimental physics
• Quantum theory
• Dynamics
• The principles of gravitational and electrostatic fields

In your second year you may explore:

• Solar interior
• Stars
• Planets and planetary atmospheres
• Thermal physics
• Quantum mechanics
• Mathematical physics
• Data handling
• Statistics

In your third year you may investigate:

• Cosmology
• Galaxies
• Space plasmas
• The solar atmosphere
• The heliosphere alongside condensed matter
• Atoms and molecules
• Electromagnetism

In your fourth year you will study:

• Electromagnetic theory
• Quantum technology
• Modern Physics
• Advanced numerical methods
• Your extended project

You will also get to take part in an intensive residential course, which includes sessions on planning a project, communication, and self-management skills and structured group work on presenting and assessing projects.

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.

I love Astrophysics because the universe is a wondrous feat of reality, arising from the physical law of nature. A complex mixture of energy, mass, gravity, electric and magnetic fields gives rise to life and to the beautiful galaxies that we see in the night sky. Who wouldn't want to study that? Learning about the big picture of the universe instead of being confined to trivial problems in everyday life is character-building and a worthwhile venture. Geoffrey Knott