Programme requirements (2020/2021) | Bachelor of Science (Honours) Astrophysics | University of 91¹û¶³ÊÓƵ

91¹û¶³ÊÓƵ

Skip to content

Breadcrumbs navigation

Bachelor of Science (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

BSc (Hons) Astrophysics: First year
Code Module name Credits
Astronomy and Astrophysics 1 20 AND
Mathematics 20 AND
Physics 1A 20 AND
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 (Hons) Astrophysics: Second year (Direct Entry)
Code Module name Credits
Astrophysics (Direct Entry) 5 AND
( Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 30 OR
Astrophysics 2 15 ) AND
Physics 2A 30 AND
Physics 2B 30 AND
Linear Mathematics 15 AND
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

BSc (Hons) Astrophysics: Second year
Code Module name Credits
Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 30 AND
Physics 2A 30 AND
Physics 2B 30 AND
Linear Mathematics 15 AND
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 grade 11 in

  • AS2001 or AS2101
  • Mean over passing grades in PH2011 and PH2012
  • [Mean over passing grades in MT2501 and MT2503] OR [Mean over passing grades in [MT2501 and MT2503 and one or more module from MT2502, MT2504-MT2508)]
  • 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 (Hons) Astrophysics: Third year
    Code Module name Credits
    Computational Astrophysics 15 AND
    Electromagnetism 15 AND
    Thermal and Statistical Physics 15 AND
    Transferable Skills for Physicists 15 AND
    Quantum Mechanics 1 10 AND
    Quantum Mechanics 2 10 AND
    Computational Physics 10 AND
    Mathematics for Physicists 15 AND
    ( 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 )
    Computational Astrophysics 15
    Extragalactic Astronomy 15
    The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 1 15
    The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 2 15
    Gravitational and Accretion Physics 15
    Observational Astrophysics 15
    Electromagnetism 15
    Thermal and Statistical Physics 15
    Transferable Skills for Physicists 15
    Quantum Mechanics 1 10
    Quantum Mechanics 2 10
    Electronics 15
    Computational Physics 10
    Mathematics for Physicists 15
    Mathematics for Chemistry / Physics 20
    Signals and Information 15
    Optoelectronics and Nonlinear Optics 15
    Advanced Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Methods 15
    Fluids 15
    Special Relativity and Fields 15
    Principles of Lasers 15
    Principles of Optics 15
    Physics of Music 15
    Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics 15
    Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics 15
    Nuclear and Particle Physics with Advanced Skills 15
    Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics 15
    Concepts in Atomic Physics and Magnetic Resonance 15
    Studies in Physics and Chemistry 5
    Advanced Condensed Matter Physics 15
    PH4045 Data Processing for Biomedical Imaging and Sensing 15
    Linear Mathematics 2 15
    Real Analysis 15
    Complex Analysis 15
    Differential Equations 15
    Algebra: Rings and Fields 15
    Techniques of Applied Mathematics 15
    Mathematical Statistics 15
    Applied Statistics 15
    Numerical Analysis 15
    MT3832 Mathematical Programming 15
    Groups 15
    Real and Abstract Analysis 15
    Linear and Nonlinear Waves 15
    Symbolic Computation 15
    MT4112 Computing in Mathematics 15
    Computing in Statistics 15
    MT4501 Topics in the History of Mathematics 15
    Classical Mechanics 15
    MT4508 Dynamical Systems 15
    Fluid Dynamics 15
    Solar Theory 15
    Asymptotic Methods 15
    Automata, Languages and Complexity 15
    MT4513 Fractal Geometry 15
    Graph Theory 15
    Functional Analysis 15
    MT4516 Finite Mathematics 15
    MT4519 Number Theory 15
    MT4526 Topology 15
    Time Series Analysis 15
    MT4528 Markov Chains and Processes 15
    MT4530 Population Genetics 15
    Bayesian Inference 15
    Spatial Statistics 15
    Quantitative Risk Management 15
    MT4551 Financial Mathematics 15
    Population Dynamics Models in Mathematical Biology 15
    Theory of Electric and Magnetic Fields 15
    Project in Mathematics / Statistics 15
    MT4606 Classical Statistical Inference 15
    MT4607 Generalised Linear Models and Data Analysis 15
    Sampling Theory 15
    MT4609 Multivariate Analysis 15
    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 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 45 credits of MT modules.


    BSc (Hons) Astrophysics: Fourth year
    Code Module name Credits
    Astrophysics Project (BSc) 30 AND
    Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics 15 AND
    View list 30 credits from Module List: AS4011 - AS4012, AS4015, AS4025, PH4031 AND
    The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 1 15
    The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 2 15
    Gravitational and Accretion Physics 15
    Observational Astrophysics 15
    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 entry for each individual module above
    View list Between 30 and 45 credits from Module List: AS3000 - AS4999, PH3000 - PH4100, ID4001, MT3000-MT3999, MT4000-MT4598, MT4600-MT4793, MT4797-MT4999,ID5059 AND
    Computational Astrophysics 15
    Extragalactic Astronomy 15
    The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 1 15
    The Physics of Nebulae and Stars 2 15
    Gravitational and Accretion Physics 15
    Observational Astrophysics 15
    Astrophysics Project (BSc) 30
    Electromagnetism 15
    Thermal and Statistical Physics 15
    Transferable Skills for Physicists 15
    Quantum Mechanics 1 10
    Quantum Mechanics 2 10
    Electronics 15
    Computational Physics 10
    Mathematics for Physicists 15
    Mathematics for Chemistry / Physics 20
    Physics Laboratory 1 15
    Signals and Information 15
    Optoelectronics and Nonlinear Optics 15
    Advanced Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Methods 15
    Fluids 15
    Special Relativity and Fields 15
    Principles of Lasers 15
    Principles of Optics 15
    Physics of Music 15
    Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics 15
    Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics 15
    Nuclear and Particle Physics with Advanced Skills 15
    Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics 15
    Concepts in Atomic Physics and Magnetic Resonance 15
    Studies in Physics and Chemistry 5
    Advanced Condensed Matter Physics 15
    PH4045 Data Processing for Biomedical Imaging and Sensing 15
    ID4001 Communication and Teaching in Science 15
    Linear Mathematics 2 15
    Real Analysis 15
    Complex Analysis 15
    Differential Equations 15
    Algebra: Rings and Fields 15
    Techniques of Applied Mathematics 15
    Mathematical Statistics 15
    Applied Statistics 15
    Numerical Analysis 15
    MT3832 Mathematical Programming 15
    Groups 15
    Real and Abstract Analysis 15
    Linear and Nonlinear Waves 15
    Symbolic Computation 15
    MT4112 Computing in Mathematics 15
    Computing in Statistics 15
    MT4501 Topics in the History of Mathematics 15
    Classical Mechanics 15
    MT4508 Dynamical Systems 15
    Fluid Dynamics 15
    Solar Theory 15
    Asymptotic Methods 15
    Automata, Languages and Complexity 15
    MT4513 Fractal Geometry 15
    Graph Theory 15
    Functional Analysis 15
    MT4516 Finite Mathematics 15
    MT4519 Number Theory 15
    MT4526 Topology 15
    Time Series Analysis 15
    MT4528 Markov Chains and Processes 15
    MT4530 Population Genetics 15
    Bayesian Inference 15
    Spatial Statistics 15
    Quantitative Risk Management 15
    MT4551 Financial Mathematics 15
    Population Dynamics Models in Mathematical Biology 15
    Theory of Electric and Magnetic Fields 15
    Project in Mathematics / Statistics 15
    MT4606 Classical Statistical Inference 15
    MT4607 Generalised Linear Models and Data Analysis 15
    Sampling Theory 15
    MT4609 Multivariate Analysis 15
    Design of Experiments 15
    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 entry for each individual module above
    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 45 credits of MT modules.


    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 91¹û¶³ÊÓƵ School in the Learning Agreement (see ).