Physics and Astrophysics Undergraduate Programmes for 2020 Entry 2020 Entry | Page 18

18 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS
The Student Experience
Learning and Teaching
We deliver our courses in a modular
format using a mix of traditional lectures,
smaller tutorials and problem classes,
practical laboratory sessions, and
individual and group project work—all
led directly by members of the academic
staff. This mix is designed with student
skills development expressly in mind.
For example, regular problem-solving
sessions throughout all years of our
degrees hone the kinds of analysis
and knowledge-application skills that
are essential to doing Physics and
Astrophysics—and which all employers
value as well. Teamwork and elements
of project management are key parts of
second-year Physics labs and third-year
Astrophysics projects. Final-year project
and dissertation modules include written
and oral communications components,
which help to build confidence in
talking the language of physics and
more generally develop the skills to
offer reasoned arguments. Scientific
computer programming and data analysis
are taught specifically as fundamental
skills and embedded throughout our
degree programmes.
Assessment and
Feedback
Assessment and feedback are key parts
of how we teach and how you learn.
They are meant to help you assimilate
a substantial body of Astro/Physics
knowledge, build on this knowledge
to develop a strong and broad-based
skill set, and then demonstrate your
abilities effectively.
Assessment is by a mixture of coursework
and examination. The lab components
of all modules are continuously
assessed, as is the project work in the
final year. Lecture material is assessed
by assignments, essays and some
class tests during the modules, and
by examinations at the end of each
semester (January and May). Over the
full three years of a BSc, the assessment
is about 40% by coursework and 60%
by examination.
In all cases of assessment we will give
you helpful feedback so that you can
constantly develop and improve. You will
receive feedback in many ways, including
comments on the work you have handed
in and informal feedback sessions and
individual discussions with tutors.
Study Abroad
Subject to good performance in Year 1, it
is possible to undertake one semester of
study during Year 2 as part of your degree
or to take an “International Year” out from
your degree between years 2 and 3 at
one of Keele’s many partner Universities
in Europe, North America or South Africa.
If you are interested in this opportunity,
please discuss it with us when you visit,
or as soon as possible after you arrive at
Keele in Year 1.
keele.ac.uk/physics
Laboratory Work
Much of our understanding of Physics
comes from measurement and
experimentation, and laboratory work is
therefore an essential experience for all
physicists. Likewise, Astrophysics as a
subject is rooted firmly in observation,
and data analysis is a central skill for the
practising astrophysicist.
Labs are designed to support the
material covered in lectures, to acquire
specific techniques and skills, and to
investigate unfamiliar phenomena. They
also incorporate instruction in computer
programming. There is increasing scope
as the degree goes on for creative and
open-ended lab work, and this time also
provides an opportunity for informal
contact and discussion with members
of staff.
In Years 1 and 2, all students do the
same labs in the first semester, and
then Physics and Astrophysics students
split into separate labs for the second
semester. In Year 3, the Physics and
Astrophysics projects are separate
throughout. We have a teaching lab for
Year 1 and Year 2 Physics experiments,
another lab specifically for Year 3 Physics
Projects, and dedicated Astrophysics
computing facilities.
Assessment is via lab diaries and
written reports and, in the final-year
projects, written and oral presentations.
There are elements of group work in
the Year 2 Physics labs and the Year 3
Astrophysics projects