Physics and Astrophysics Undergraduate Programmes for 2020 Entry 2020 Entry | Page 14

14 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS
Single Honours Physics with Astrophysics Third Year
In your third year you will take core modules in Physics, plus a choice
of modules that reflect staff research interests. Single Honours students
in Physics with Astrophysics have a core of Electromagnetism, an
Astrophysics project, a dissertation on an astrophysical topic and a
further advanced module in Cosmology, together with a choice of
4 options. Student demand determines which options, out of the full
array listed here, are run in any given academic year.
Each lecture module (whether core or option) involves 2 hours
per week of lectures and in most cases a regular tutorial session.
Project work takes roughly 6 hours per week and students might be
expected to spend a similar amount of time researching and writing
their dissertations.
All of the option modules are open to Physics or Astrophysics
students. Physics-oriented modules do not assume any particular prior
knowledge but develop their subjects as applications and extensions
of the fundamental, core physics covered in years 1 and 2 by all
Keele students.
Indicative Year 3 modules are:
Core
Electromagnetism 
Physics Project 
Dissertation 
Option
Atmospheric Physics 
Binary Stars and Exoplanets 
Cosmology

Data Analysis and Model Testing 
Life in the Universe 
Particle Physics and Accelerators 
Physics of Compact Objects 
Physics of Fluids 
Plasma Physics 
Polymer Physics 
Quantum Mechanics II 
Physics with Astrophysics students have the unique opportunity in their final year project to analyse data
acquired with a robotic observatory built and operated by Keele as part of the SuperWASP consortium.
keele.ac.uk/physics
SuperWASP is the UK’s leading
programme for extrasolar planet
detection. We have discovered more
than 100 exoplanets since 2006
and gathered tens of Terabytes of
research-quality data in the process.
Some recent projects by our students
have exploited these data for novel
investigations into stellar rotation
variable stars and comets. Single
Honours astrophysicists will also
research and write a dissertation on
an astrophysical topic, chosen from
an extensive list.