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Master in Physics (Honours) Astrophysics


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.

Programme Requirements

MPhys (Hons) 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.


MPhys (Hons) 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
Choose a minimum of 80 Level 2000 credits

Automatic entry to Honours requires

  • pass and have an average grade 15 or better in modules marked ^
  • pass and have an average grade 15 or better in modules marked ~
MPhys (Hons) 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
Choose a minimum of 80 Level 2000 credits

Automatic entry to Honours requires

  • pass and have an average grade 15 or better in modules marked ^
  • pass and have an average grade 15 or better in modules marked ~

Entry to Honours MPhys or MSci

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.

MPhys Honours

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 (Hons) 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 AS3000- AS3099, AS4000-AS4099, PH3000-PH3099, PH4000-PH4099, MT3000-MT3999, MT4000-MT4598, MT4600-MT4793, MT4797-MT4999 )
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: Concepts and Methods 15
PH4031 Fluids 15
PH4032 Special Relativity and Fields 15
PH4034 Principles of Lasers 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
PH4045 Data Processing for Biomedical Imaging and Sensing 15
MT3501 Linear Mathematics 2 15
MT3502 Real Analysis 15
MT3503 Complex Analysis 15
MT3504 Differential Equations 15
MT3505 Algebra: Rings and Fields 15
MT3506 Techniques of Applied Mathematics 15
MT3507 Mathematical Statistics 15
MT3508 Applied Statistics 15
MT3802 Numerical Analysis 15
MT4003 Groups 15
MT4004 Real and Abstract Analysis 15
MT4005 Linear and Nonlinear Waves 15
MT4111 Symbolic Computation 15
MT4112 Computing in Mathematics 15
MT4113 Computing in Statistics 15
MT4501 Topics in the History of Mathematics 15
MT4507 Classical Mechanics 15
MT4508 Dynamical Systems 15
MT4509 Fluid Dynamics 15
MT4510 Solar Theory 15
MT4511 Asymptotic Methods 15
MT4512 Automata, Languages and Complexity 15
MT4513 Fractal Geometry 15
MT4514 Graph Theory 15
MT4515 Functional Analysis 15
MT4516 Finite Mathematics 15
MT4519 Number Theory 15
MT4526 Topology 15
MT4527 Time Series Analysis 15
MT4528 Markov Chains and Processes 15
MT4530 Population Genetics 15
MT4531 Bayesian Inference 15
MT4537 Spatial Statistics 15
MT4539 Quantitative Risk Management 15
MT4551 Financial Mathematics 15
MT4552 Population Dynamics Models in Mathematical Biology 15
MT4553 Theory of Electric and Magnetic Fields 15
MT4599 Project in Mathematics / Statistics 15
MT4606 Classical Statistical Inference 15
MT4607 Generalised Linear Models and Data Analysis 15
MT4608 Sampling Theory 15
MT4609 Multivariate Analysis 15
MT4614 Design of Experiments 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.

The level 3000 and level 4000 modules taken in this degree as part of the honours programme may include up to a total of 30 credits of MT modules.

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.


MPhys (Hons) 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
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 15 and 30 credits from Module List: AS3000 - AS4999, PH3000 - PH4100, ID4001, MT3000-MT3999, MT4000-MT4598, MT4600-MT4793, MT4797-MT4999,ID5059 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: Concepts and Methods 15
PH4031 Fluids 15
PH4032 Special Relativity and Fields 15
PH4034 Principles of Lasers 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
PH4045 Data Processing for Biomedical Imaging and Sensing 15
ID4001 Communication and Teaching in Science 15
MT3501 Linear Mathematics 2 15
MT3502 Real Analysis 15
MT3503 Complex Analysis 15
MT3504 Differential Equations 15
MT3505 Algebra: Rings and Fields 15
MT3506 Techniques of Applied Mathematics 15
MT3507 Mathematical Statistics 15
MT3508 Applied Statistics 15
MT3802 Numerical Analysis 15
MT4003 Groups 15
MT4004 Real and Abstract Analysis 15
MT4005 Linear and Nonlinear Waves 15
MT4111 Symbolic Computation 15
MT4112 Computing in Mathematics 15
MT4113 Computing in Statistics 15
MT4501 Topics in the History of Mathematics 15
MT4507 Classical Mechanics 15
MT4508 Dynamical Systems 15
MT4509 Fluid Dynamics 15
MT4510 Solar Theory 15
MT4511 Asymptotic Methods 15
MT4512 Automata, Languages and Complexity 15
MT4513 Fractal Geometry 15
MT4514 Graph Theory 15
MT4515 Functional Analysis 15
MT4516 Finite Mathematics 15
MT4519 Number Theory 15
MT4526 Topology 15
MT4527 Time Series Analysis 15
MT4528 Markov Chains and Processes 15
MT4530 Population Genetics 15
MT4531 Bayesian Inference 15
MT4537 Spatial Statistics 15
MT4539 Quantitative Risk Management 15
MT4551 Financial Mathematics 15
MT4552 Population Dynamics Models in Mathematical Biology 15
MT4553 Theory of Electric and Magnetic Fields 15
MT4599 Project in Mathematics / Statistics 15
MT4606 Classical Statistical Inference 15
MT4607 Generalised Linear Models and Data Analysis 15
MT4608 Sampling Theory 15
MT4609 Multivariate Analysis 15
MT4614 Design of Experiments 15
ID5059 Knowledge Discovery and Datamining 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

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

The level 3000 and level 4000 modules taken in this degree as part of the honours programme may include up to a total of 30 credits of MT modules.

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.


MPhys (Hons) 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
AS5001 Advanced Data Analysis 15
AS5002 Magnetofluids and Space Plasmas 15
AS5003 Contemporary Astrophysics 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 15 and 30 credits from Module List: PH5000 - PH5099
PH5002 Foundations of Quantum Mechanics 15
PH5003 Group Theory 15
PH5004 Quantum Field Theory 15
PH5005 Laser Physics and Design 15
PH5011 General Relativity 15
PH5012 Quantum Optics 15
PH5015 Applications of Quantum Physics 15
PH5016 Biophotonics 15
PH5023 Monte Carlo Radiation Transport Techniques 15
PH5024 Modern Topics in Condensed Matter Physics 15
PH5025 Nanophotonics 15
PH5026 Supported Study Module 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

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.

Accreditation

All the BSc, MSci, and MPhys single and joint Honours degrees in which Physics or Astrophysics is in the title 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/students/study-abroad/academic ).