warwick teachers & advisors conference: physics gary barker physics undergraduate admissions...
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Warwick Teachers & Advisors Conference: Physics
Gary BarkerPhysics Undergraduate Admissions Tutor
23-05-14
Warwick Physics Department
The Physics Department has• 65 Academic Staff• ~170 undergraduate intake: (~120 Physics, ~50 Maths & Physics)
Physics Department Research:
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Theoretical physics• Particle physics• Astronomy and
Astrophysics• Plasma physics
Physics Maths and Physics
Physics with Business Studies
Physics Degrees at Warwick
For those with a particular interest in Business – the third year is spent entirely in
the Business School
Physics Course Structure
Importantly, the first twoyears are common
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3 Year 3
Year 4
A 2(i) standard required to proceed A 2(i) standard required to proceed
BSc MPhys
University Physics
2r
QQF pe
V1=0.5c V2=0.5c
V12=c
Galilean:
Coulomb:
c
cVVVV
V 8.01 2
12
1212
Special Relativity
Quantum Theory:
V12= V1 + V2
Physics Core ThemesElectromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics,
Statistical Physics, Mathematics, Physics Laboratory.
Physics OptionsHamiltonian Mechanics, Stars, Galaxies, The Physics of Electrical Power Generation, programming...
Outside OptionsModern Foreign Language, Introduction to Teaching, Business Studies …
Core & Optional Modules
Warwick Physics Research
The Payoff for Undergraduates
• Research-driven teaching/internationally leading staff:• Crystal Physics, Electrons in Solids• Standard Model of Particle Physics, Neutrino Physics• Exo-planets, Cosmology• Solar Physics, Plasma Physics• Complexity/Chaos Theory• Medical Physics, High Performance Computing
• Project work /Summer placements
Typical 1st Year Timetable
1st Year: Easing the Transition
• `Key Skills for Physics’: brings physics and maths together i.e. “problem solving” : weekly exercises in Physics and Mathematics assessed for credit and discussed in exercise classes. • `Physics Foundations’: Revision of A-level
ideas but shows how calculus and complex numbers make their description more elegant and powerful e.g. SHM • 1st and 2nd year tutorials: Groups of 5 or less• Physics Labs.: Close supervision (for some, first
`hands-on’ experience).• Single text book: Young and Freedman –
University Physics.
And at the end of it all…
• ~75% achieve a First or Upper Second Physics degree
• Numbers in graduate-level employment or research degree within 6 months of graduating :• MPhys degree: 90%-95% (average starting
salary £26k)• BSc degree: 80%-85% (average starting
salary £23.5k)
• Physics graduates are very much in demand!• Alongside physics/maths knowledge
employers value the physicist skillset: critical thinking, problem solving, scientific data analysis, scientific methodology, presentation etc etc
What do our graduates do?35% Research degree in Physics/Maths/Computing20% Financial/accounting sector20% IT10% Engineering15% Others: management, journalism, health service,etc
Thank you