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2023/24 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BSc Theoretical Physics

Programme code:BS-PHYS/TPUCAS code:F3K0
Duration:3 Years Method of Attendance: Full Time
Programme manager:Prof. Jiannis Pachos Contact address:J.K.Pachos@leeds.ac.uk

Total credits: 365

Entry requirements:

AAB (including Physics and Maths and excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking)

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

School of Physics and Astronomy

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

School of Physics and Astronomy

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Programme specification:

The programme will provide students with:
- a sound knowledge and understanding of the core observations, concepts and quantitative theoretical structures that constitute our contemporary understanding of the physical world;
- problem solving skills, including the mathematical, numerical and computational skills necessary to formulate and solve problems in Physics;
- knowledge and skills in advanced areas of mathematics relevant to a theoretical understanding of the natural world;
- an appreciation of areas of Physics which reflect their special interests and the nature of scientific inquiry, through the study of modules linked to the research interests of the School;
- the opportunity of planning and executing a major project, involving either original research or a thorough literature review of an advanced topic in theoretical physics;
- the opportunity of developing independent learning skills and of acquiring information technology and communication skills, including the presentation of work in both written and spoken form;
- a sound preparation for a professional career in academic or industrial research.


Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

MATH1060Introductory Linear Algebra10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS1000Year One Physics Tutorials5 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PHYS1001Introduction to Experimental Physics20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PHYS1200Physics 1 - Fundamental Forces25 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS1210Physics 2 - Properties of Matter25 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS1220Computing 1 - Fundamentals of Programming10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS1290Maths 1 - Scalars and Vectors10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS1300Maths 2 - Multivariable Calculus10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

- To progress to Year 2, students must pass all pass for progress modules (PFP) as well as the required number of level 1 credits. In addition, students must achieve an overall average pass in PHYS1290 and PHYS1300.
- Students intending to do a BSc Year Abroad in Year 3 may be required to study an appropriate language as a supernumerary module.

Optional modules:

Candidates may study up to 10 credits of optional modules

PHYS1020Stars and Galaxies10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS1040Planets and the Search for Life10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS1311Introduction to Nanotechnology10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SOEE1281Atmosphere10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SOEE1401Weather10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SOEE1434Water10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Discovery modules:

Candidates may study up to 15 credits of discovery modules


Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

For students on, or considering transferring to, the MPhys programme:
- Students must achieve an average mark of more than 59% in their second year modules to continue with or transfer to the MPhys programme of study.
- If a student has an average mark of between 55% and 59% they can apply for consideration.

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

PHYS2050Communicating Physics5 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PHYS2300Physics 3- Fields and Energy25 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS2311Physics 4- Quantum Phenomena25 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS2320Computing 2- Computational Physics10 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PHYS2370Maths 3- Matrices and Operators10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS2380Maths 4- Transforms and Partial Differential Equations10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Optional modules:

Candidates will be required to study at least 25 credits from the following optional modules:

Please note some MATH modules only run in alternate years, please check the modules you would like to study are running in the appropriate year.

EDUC2107Science Education: Issues and Challenges10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2022Groups and Vector Spaces15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2027Rings and Polynomials10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH2041Logic10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2051Geometry of Curves and Surfaces10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2080Further Linear Algebra10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2391Nonlinear Differential Equations10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH2625Fluid Dynamics15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH2650Calculus of Variations10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MEDP2002Introduction to Medical Physics10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS2015High Energy Astrophysics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS2150Stellar Structure and Evolution10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS2331Nanophysics and Small Systems10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
SOEE2092Meteorology10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
SOEE2210Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery modules:

Candidates may study up to 10 credits of discovery modules


Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

PHYS3152Project40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PHYS3383Advanced Quantum Physics15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS3505Professional Skills in Physics5 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Optional modules:

Students will be required to study between 45 and 65 credits from the list of optional modules below:

CAPE3331Nuclear Operations20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MATH3071Groups and Symmetry15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH3113Differential Geometry15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3225Topology15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3355Hamiltonian Systems15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3365Mathematical Methods15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH3385Quantum Mechanics15 creditsNot running in 202324
MATH3397Nonlinear Dynamics15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH3414Analytic Solutions of Partial Differential Equations15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH3459Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3567Evolutionary Modelling15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3620Fluid Dynamics 215 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MEDP3512Magnetic Resonance Imaging10 credits1 Sep to 31 Jan
MEDP3517Radionuclide Imaging10 credits 
MEDP3531Medical X-ray imaging10 credits1 Sep to 31 Jan
MEDP3532X-ray Computed Tomography10 credits1 Jan to 30 Jun
NATS3200Machine Learning Approaches to Scientific Data Analysis10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL3851Introduction to Philosophy of Modern Physics10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL3852Philosophy of Modern Physics20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS3011Cosmology15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS3116Photonics15 creditsNot running in 202324
PHYS3190Molecular Simulation: Theory and Practice15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS3281Star and Planet Formation15 credits1 Sep to 31 Jan (adv yr), Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS3390Quantum Photonics15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS3394Quantum Matter15 credits1 Sep to 31 Jan (adv yr), Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS3422Magnetism in Condensed Matter15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHYS3511Advanced Mechanics15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan), 1 Sep to 31 Jan (adv yr)
PHYS3523Bionanophysics15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHYS3543Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics15 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SOEE3151Dynamics of Weather Systems10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
SOEE3190Earth Observations from Space10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SOEE3410Atmosphere and Ocean Climate Change Processes10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
SOEE3535Atmospheric Physics10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SOEE3610Oceanography in the Earth System10 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Candidates may study up to 15 credits from the following optional modules.

PHYS3181Group Industrial Project15 creditsNot running in 202324
PHYS3605Physics in Schools15 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PHYS3705Physics into Work15 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery modules:

Candidates may study up to 15 credits of discovery modules.

Last updated: 29/04/2022 15:45:49

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