Skip to content

Breadcrumbs navigation

Bachelor of Science (Honours) Astrophysics

The University strives for excellence in all its professional services to students and staff. As part of our digital transformation programme we have automated some of the key processes supporting the provision of curricular information on our website. If you have suggestions about how we might make the information or functionality offered on this page more user-friendly please email ser-capp@st-andrews.ac.uk

Important entry information

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.

BSc 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 requirements

Choose 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.


BSc Astrophysics: Second year
Code Module name Credits
* AS2001 Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 30 AND
^ PH2011 Physics 2A 30 AND
^ PH2012 Physics 2B 30 AND
~ MT2501 Linear Mathematics 15 AND
~ MT2503 Multivariate Calculus 15

Further requirements

Choose 120 credits in the academic year
Choose a minimum of 80 Level 2000 credits

Automatic entry to Honours requires

  • pass at grade 11 or better required in modules marked *
  • pass and have an average grade 11 or better in modules marked ^
  • pass and have an average grade 11 or better in modules marked ~
BSc 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
Remaining credits from Levels 1000 and 2000 options

Further requirements

Choose 120 credits in the academic year
Choose a minimum of 80 Level 2000 credits

Students who choose AS2001 must select 125 credits for the year

Automatic entry to Honours requires

  • pass at grade 11 or better required in modules marked *
  • pass and have an average grade 11 or better in modules marked ^
  • pass and have an average grade 11 or better in modules marked ~

Entry to Honours

Students who attain an average of grade 11.0 or above at the first sitting in TWO of the requisite 2000-level modules and who meet all other programme requirements will be given automatic offers of entry into Honours programmes*.*Apart from students on Integrated Masters degrees. Students permitted automatic entry to Honours will only be permitted to trail one module to a maximum of 30 Sub-Honours credits into Honours.

Some Schools permit qualified entry to Honours (see www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/teaching-and-learning/policies/honsentry.pdf )

BSc Honours

The general requirements are 480 credits over a period of normally four years (and not more than five years) or part-time equivalent, of which the final two years form an approved Honours programme of 240 credits, of which 90 credits are at 4000 level and at least a further 120 credits at 3000 and/or 4000 levels.


BSc 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 )
AS3013 Computational Astrophysics 15
AS4010 Extragalactic Astronomy 15
AS4011 The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 1 15
AS4012 The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 2 15
AS4015 Gravitational and Accretion Physics 15
AS4025 Observational Astrophysics 15
PH3007 Electromagnetism 15
PH3012 Thermal and Statistical Physics 15
PH3014 Transferable Skills for Physicists 15
PH3061 Quantum Mechanics 1 10
PH3062 Quantum Mechanics 2 10
PH3074 Electronics 15
PH3080 Computational Physics 10
PH3081 Mathematics for Physicists 15
PH3082 Mathematics for Chemistry / Physics 20
PH4026 Signals and Information 15
PH4027 Optoelectronics and Nonlinear Optics 15
PH4028 Advanced Quantum Mechanics 15
PH4031 Fluids 15
PH4032 Special Relativity and Fields 15
PH4034 Laser Physics 1 15
PH4035 Principles of Optics 15
PH4036 Physics of Music 15
PH4038 Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics 15
PH4039 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics 15
PH4040 Nuclear and Particle Physics with Advanced Skills 15
PH4041 Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics 15
PH4042 Concepts in Atomic Physics and Magnetic Resonance 15
PH4043 Studies in Physics and Chemistry 5
PH4044 Advanced Condensed Matter Physics 15
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above

Further requirements

Choose 120 credits in academic year

AS4010 must be taken in Third or Fourth Year with additional credits selected in the appropriate year.


BSc Astrophysics: Fourth year
Code Module name Credits
AS4103 Astrophysics Project (BSc) 30 AND
PH4041 Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics 15 AND
View list 30 credits from Module List: AS4011 - AS4012, AS4015, AS4025, PH4031 AND
AS4011 The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 1 15
AS4012 The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 2 15
AS4015 Gravitational and Accretion Physics 15
AS4025 Observational Astrophysics 15
PH4031 Fluids 15
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
View list Between 25 and 45 credits from Module List: AS3000 - AS4999, PH3000 - PH4100, ID4001 AND
AS3013 Computational Astrophysics 15
AS4010 Extragalactic Astronomy 15
AS4011 The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 1 15
AS4012 The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 2 15
AS4015 Gravitational and Accretion Physics 15
AS4025 Observational Astrophysics 15
AS4103 Astrophysics Project (BSc) 30
PH3007 Electromagnetism 15
PH3012 Thermal and Statistical Physics 15
PH3014 Transferable Skills for Physicists 15
PH3061 Quantum Mechanics 1 10
PH3062 Quantum Mechanics 2 10
PH3074 Electronics 15
PH3080 Computational Physics 10
PH3081 Mathematics for Physicists 15
PH3082 Mathematics for Chemistry / Physics 20
PH3101 Physics Laboratory 1 15
PH4026 Signals and Information 15
PH4027 Optoelectronics and Nonlinear Optics 15
PH4028 Advanced Quantum Mechanics 15
PH4031 Fluids 15
PH4032 Special Relativity and Fields 15
PH4034 Laser Physics 1 15
PH4035 Principles of Optics 15
PH4036 Physics of Music 15
PH4038 Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics 15
PH4039 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics 15
PH4040 Nuclear and Particle Physics with Advanced Skills 15
PH4041 Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics 15
PH4042 Concepts in Atomic Physics and Magnetic Resonance 15
PH4043 Studies in Physics and Chemistry 5
PH4044 Advanced Condensed Matter Physics 15
ID4001 Communication and Teaching in Science 15
Note:
- Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester
- Individual modules may have requisites to satisfy to be eligible to select them

For further details, see the module catalogue entry for each individual module above
AS4010 Extragalactic Astronomy 15

Further requirements

Choose 120 credits in academic year
At least 90 Level4000 credits must be obtained

AS4010 must be taken in Third or Fourth Year with additional credits selected in the appropriate year.


Accreditation

All the BSc, MSci, and MPhys Honours degrees described in this section of the catalogue are accredited by the UK Institute of Physics.

Study abroad

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 ).