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Entry to first year is the standard entry route, and the route which can provide the broadest education, and which can give most flexibility in final choice of degree. Students who are aiming for a degree in Physics or Astrophysics and who enter with good Advanced Highers or A-levels or equivalent in Physics and Mathematics may apply for an accelerated entry route to the programme, which can reduce the length of the BSc Honours programme to three years and the MPhys programme to four years. The special Physics and Astronomy (Gateway) first year allows subsequent progression to the second year of all the single-honours degree programmes in the School, and the joint degrees with the School of Mathematics.
| MPhys Astrophysics: First year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Module name | Credits | ||||
| AS1001 | Astronomy and Astrophysics 1 | 20 | AND | MT1002 | Mathematics | 20 | AND | PH1011 | Physics 1A | 20 | AND | PH1012 | Physics 1B | 20 | AND | Remaining credits from Level 1000 options |
Further requirementsChoose 120 credits in the academic year Students without prerequisite for MT1002 will take MT1001 in Semester 1.Appropriately qualified applicants may bypass first year and have direct entry to second year. |
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| MPhys Astrophysics: Second year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Module name | Credits | ||||
| ( | ^ | AS2001 | Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 | 30 | OR | ^ | AS2101 | Astrophysics 2 | 15 | ) | AND | ^ | PH2011 | Physics 2A | 30 | AND | ^ | PH2012 | Physics 2B | 30 | AND | ~ | MT2501 | Linear Mathematics | 15 | AND | ~ | MT2503 | Multivariate Calculus | 15 | AND | Remaining credits from Levels 1000 and 2000 options |
Further requirements Choose 120 credits in the academic year Automatic entry to Honours requires
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| MPhys Astrophysics: Second year (Direct Entry) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Module name | Credits | ||||
| AS1101 | Astrophysics (Direct Entry) | 5 | AND | ( | ^ | AS2001 | Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 | 30 | OR | ^ | AS2101 | Astrophysics 2 | 15 | ) | AND | ^ | PH2011 | Physics 2A | 30 | AND | ^ | PH2012 | Physics 2B | 30 | AND | ~ | MT2501 | Linear Mathematics | 15 | AND | ~ | MT2503 | Multivariate Calculus | 15 | AND | Between 0 and 15 credits from Levels 1000 and 2000 options |
Further requirements Choose 120 credits in the academic year Automatic entry to Honours requires
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Students who attain an average grade of 15 or above at the first sitting in each of the requisite 2000-level combinations, and who meet all the other programme requirements will be permitted automatic entry into MPhys or MSci Honours programmes. It is not permitted to trail any modules or credits in to the start of the honours programme in Integrated Masters degrees.
Some Schools permit qualified entry to Honours (see www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/teaching-and-learning/policies/honsentry.pdf )
The general requirements are 600 credits over a period of normally five years (and not more than six years) or part-time equivalent, of which the final three years form an approved Honours programme of at least 360 credits, of which 120 credits are at 5000 level and at least 210 credits are at 3000 and/or 4000 levels.
| MPhys Astrophysics: Third year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Module name | Credits | ||||
| AS3013 | Computational Astrophysics | 15 | AND | PH3007 | Electromagnetism | 15 | AND | PH3012 | Thermal and Statistical Physics | 15 | AND | PH3014 | Transferable Skills for Physicists | 15 | AND | PH3061 | Quantum Mechanics 1 | 10 | AND | PH3062 | Quantum Mechanics 2 | 10 | AND | PH3080 | Computational Physics | 10 | AND | PH3081 | Mathematics for Physicists | 15 | AND | ( | AS4010 | Extragalactic Astronomy | 15 | OR | View list | 15 credits from Module List: AS3000 - AS3099, AS4000 - AS4099, PH3000 - PH3099, PH4000 - PH4099 | ) |
Further requirementsChoose 120 credits in academic year AS4010 must be taken in Third or Fourth Year with additional credits selected in the appropriate year.The student must complete a total of at least 360 credits across Third, Fourth and Fifth Years, of which at least 330 credits must be achieved at 3000-, 4000- and 5000-level with at least 120 of these at 5000-level. |
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| MPhys Astrophysics: Fourth year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Module name | Credits | ||||
| AS4011 | The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 1 | 15 | AND | AS4012 | The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 2 | 15 | AND | PH4038 | Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics | 15 | AND | PH4041 | Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics | 15 | AND | View list | 30 credits from Module List: AS4015, AS4025, PH4031 | AND |
| View list | Between 15 and 30 credits from Module List: AS3000 - AS4999, PH3000 - PH4100, ID4001 | AND | ||||
| AS4010 | Extragalactic Astronomy | 15 | ||||
Further requirementsChoose 120 credits in academic year AS4010 must be taken in Third or Fourth Year with additional credits selected in the appropriate year.The student must complete a total of at least 360 credits across Third, Fourth and Fifth Years, of which at least 330 credits must be achieved at 3000, 4000 and 5000 level with at least 120 of these at 5000 level. |
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| MPhys Astrophysics: Fifth year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Module name | Credits | ||||
| AS5101 | Astrophysics Project (MPhys) | 60 | AND | View list | Between 30 and 45 credits from Module List: AS5001 - AS5003 | AND |
| View list | Between 15 and 30 credits from Mdule List: PH5000 - PH5099 | |||||
Further requirementsChoose 120 credits in academic year The student must complete a total of at least 360 credits across Third, Fourth and Fifth Years, of which at least 330 credits must be achieved at 3000, 4000 and 5000 level with at least 120 of these at 5000 level. |
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All the BSc, MSci, and MPhys Honours degrees described in this section of the catalogue are accredited by the UK Institute of Physics.
In the case of students who spend part of the Honours programme on a recognised Study Abroad scheme, the Programme Requirements will be amended to take into account overseas courses which are approved by the relevant St Andrews School in the Learning Agreement (see www.st-andrews.ac.uk/studyabroad/outgoingstudents/AcademicInformation ).