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University of Cambridge: Physics
| Institution | University of Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Department | Physics |
| Web | https://www.cam.ac.uk |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
The PhD in Physics is a full-time period of research which introduces or builds upon, research skills and specialist knowledge. Students are assigned a research supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and join a research group which might vary in size between a handful to many tens of individuals.
Although the supervisor is responsible for the progress of a student's research programme, the extent to which a postgraduate student is assisted by the supervisor or by other members of the group depends almost entirely on the structure and character of the group concerned. The research field is normally determined at entry, after consideration of the student's interests and the facilities available. The student, however, may work within a given field for a period of time before their personal topic is determined.
There is no requirement made by the University for postgraduate students to attend formal courses or lectures for the PhD. Postgraduate work is largely a matter of independent research and successful postgraduates require a high degree of self-motivation. Nevertheless, lectures and classes may be arranged, and students are expected to attend both seminars (delivered regularly by members of the University and by visiting scholars and industrialists) and external conferences. Postgraduate students are also expected to participate in the undergraduate teaching programme at some time whilst they are based at the Cavendish, in order to develop their teaching, demonstrating, outreach, organisational and person-management skills.
It is expected that postgraduate students will also take advantage of the multiple opportunities available for transferable skills training within the University during their period of research.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the research programme, students will have demonstrated:
- The creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication;
- A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice;
- The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems;
- A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry; and
- The development of a PhD thesis for examination that they can defend in an oral examination and, if successful, graduate with a PhD.
| graduate.admissions@admin.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 760606 |
| Study type | Research |
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Pass). If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
Summary
The PhD in Physics is a full-time period of research which introduces or builds upon, research skills and specialist knowledge. Students are assigned a research supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and join a research group which might vary in size between a handful to many tens of individuals.
Although the supervisor is responsible for the progress of a student's research programme, the extent to which a postgraduate student is assisted by the supervisor or by other members of the group depends almost entirely on the structure and character of the group concerned. The research field is normally determined at entry, after consideration of the student's interests and the facilities available. The student, however, may work within a given field for a period of time before their personal topic is determined.
There is no requirement made by the University for postgraduate students to attend formal courses or lectures for the PhD. Postgraduate work is largely a matter of independent research and successful postgraduates require a high degree of self-motivation. Nevertheless, lectures and classes may be arranged, and students are expected to attend both seminars (delivered regularly by members of the University and by visiting scholars and industrialists) and external conferences. Postgraduate students are also expected to participate in the undergraduate teaching programme at some time whilst they are based at the Cavendish, in order to develop their teaching, demonstrating, outreach, organisational and person-management skills.
It is expected that postgraduate students will also take advantage of the multiple opportunities available for transferable skills training within the University during their period of research.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the research programme, students will have demonstrated:
- The creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication;
- A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice;
- The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems;
- A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry; and
- The development of a PhD thesis for examination that they can defend in an oral examination and, if successful, graduate with a PhD.
| graduate.admissions@admin.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 760606 |
| Study type | Research |
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Pass). If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
Summary
The PhD in Physics is a full-time period of research which introduces or builds upon, research skills and specialist knowledge. Students are assigned a research supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and join a research group which might vary in size between a handful to many tens of individuals.
Although the supervisor is responsible for the progress of a student's research programme, the extent to which a postgraduate student is assisted by the supervisor or by other members of the group depends almost entirely on the structure and character of the group concerned. The research field is normally determined at entry, after consideration of the student's interests and the facilities available. The student, however, may work within a given field for a period of time before their personal topic is determined.
There is no requirement made by the University for postgraduate students to attend formal courses or lectures for the PhD. Postgraduate work is largely a matter of independent research and successful postgraduates require a high degree of self-motivation. Nevertheless, lectures and classes may be arranged, and students are expected to attend both seminars (delivered regularly by members of the University and by visiting scholars and industrialists) and external conferences. Postgraduate students are also expected to participate in the undergraduate teaching programme at some time whilst they are based at the Cavendish, in order to develop their teaching, demonstrating, outreach, organisational and person-management skills.
It is expected that postgraduate students will also take advantage of the multiple opportunities available for transferable skills training within the University during their period of research.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the research programme, students will have demonstrated:
- The creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication;
- A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice;
- The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems;
- A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry; and
- The development of a PhD thesis for examination that they can defend in an oral examination and, if successful, graduate with a PhD.
| graduate.admissions@admin.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 760606 |
| Study type | Research |
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Pass). If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
Summary
The PhD in Physics is a full-time period of research which introduces or builds upon, research skills and specialist knowledge. Students are assigned a research supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and join a research group which might vary in size between a handful to many tens of individuals.
Although the supervisor is responsible for the progress of a student's research programme, the extent to which a postgraduate student is assisted by the supervisor or by other members of the group depends almost entirely on the structure and character of the group concerned. The research field is normally determined at entry, after consideration of the student's interests and the facilities available. The student, however, may work within a given field for a period of time before their personal topic is determined.
There is no requirement made by the University for postgraduate students to attend formal courses or lectures for the PhD. Postgraduate work is largely a matter of independent research and successful postgraduates require a high degree of self-motivation. Nevertheless, lectures and classes may be arranged, and students are expected to attend both seminars (delivered regularly by members of the University and by visiting scholars and industrialists) and external conferences. Postgraduate students are also expected to participate in the undergraduate teaching programme at some time whilst they are based at the Cavendish, in order to develop their teaching, demonstrating, outreach, organisational and person-management skills.
It is expected that postgraduate students will also take advantage of the multiple opportunities available for transferable skills training within the University during their period of research.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the research programme, students will have demonstrated:
- The creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication;
- A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice;
- The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems;
- A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry; and
- The development of a PhD thesis for examination that they can defend in an oral examination and, if successful, graduate with a PhD.
| graduate.admissions@admin.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 760606 |
| Study type | Research |
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Pass). If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
MASt
Summary
The MASt in Physics is a taught master's-level course which is designed to act as a top-up course for students who already hold a three-year undergraduate degree in physics (or an equivalent subject with similar physics content) and who are likely to wish to subsequently pursue research in physics, either within the Department or elsewhere.
The course aims to bring students close to the boundaries of current research and is thus somewhat linked to the expertise from within the specific research groups in the Department of Physics. Candidates make a series of choices as the year proceeds which allow them to select a bias towards particular broad areas of physics such as condensed matter physics, particle physics, astrophysics, biophysics, or semiconductor physics. The emphasis can range over the spectrum from strongly experimental to highly theoretical physics, and a range of specialist options are available.
All students also undertake a substantial research project, which is expected to take up one-third of their time for the year. MASt students study alongside the fourth-year students taking the physics part of the integrated Cambridge Natural Science course, commonly referred to as Part III physics. Details of the current Part III physics course can be found on the Department of Physics website. Please note that the courses available to students may change from year to year (especially the Minor Topic courses taken in the Lent term) and so this year's course listing should only be used as a guide to what courses might be available in future.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the programme, students will have:
- Reinforced their broad understanding of physics across the core areas studied in the Cambridge bachelors physics programme;
- Developed their knowledge in specialised areas of physics, bringing them close to the boundaries of current research;
- Developed an understanding of the techniques and literature associated with the project area on which they have focused;
- Demonstrated the application of knowledge in a research context and become familiar with the methods of research and enquiry used to further that knowledge;
- Shown abilities in the critical evaluation of knowledge; and
- Demonstrated some level of self-direction and originality in tackling and solving research problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and execution of research.
| graduate.admissions@admin.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 760606 |
| Study type | Taught |
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High II.i Honours Degree. If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. Due to the high standard of applications this course receives, the typical grade of candidates who are admitted is a high First class Honours degree (or equivalent) in Physics. Students require excellent working knowledge in core physics courses including Quantum Mechanics, Condensed Matter Physics, Thermal and Statistical Physics, Electrodynamics. Successful candidates would usually have studied courses similar in content to those listed in our Part II undergraduate programme. Details on the lecture contents can be obtained from the Undergraduate Office in the Department of Physics. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
Summary
The MASt in Physics is a taught master's-level course which is designed to act as a top-up course for students who already hold a three-year undergraduate degree in physics (or an equivalent subject with similar physics content) and who are likely to wish to subsequently pursue research in physics, either within the Department or elsewhere.
The course aims to bring students close to the boundaries of current research and is thus somewhat linked to the expertise from within the specific research groups in the Department of Physics. Candidates make a series of choices as the year proceeds which allow them to select a bias towards particular broad areas of physics such as condensed matter physics, particle physics, astrophysics, biophysics, or semiconductor physics. The emphasis can range over the spectrum from strongly experimental to highly theoretical physics, and a range of specialist options are available.
All students also undertake a substantial research project, which is expected to take up one-third of their time for the year. MASt students study alongside the fourth-year students taking the physics part of the integrated Cambridge Natural Science course, commonly referred to as Part III physics. Details of the current Part III physics course can be found on the Department of Physics website. Please note that the courses available to students may change from year to year (especially the Minor Topic courses taken in the Lent term) and so this year's course listing should only be used as a guide to what courses might be available in future.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the programme, students will have:
- Reinforced their broad understanding of physics across the core areas studied in the Cambridge bachelors physics programme;
- Developed their knowledge in specialised areas of physics, bringing them close to the boundaries of current research;
- Developed an understanding of the techniques and literature associated with the project area on which they have focused;
- Demonstrated the application of knowledge in a research context and become familiar with the methods of research and enquiry used to further that knowledge;
- Shown abilities in the critical evaluation of knowledge; and
- Demonstrated some level of self-direction and originality in tackling and solving research problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and execution of research.
| graduate.admissions@admin.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 760606 |
| Study type | Taught |
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High II.i Honours Degree. If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. Due to the high standard of applications this course receives, the typical grade of candidates who are admitted is a high First class Honours degree (or equivalent) in Physics. Students require excellent working knowledge in core physics courses including Quantum Mechanics, Condensed Matter Physics, Thermal and Statistical Physics, Electrodynamics. Successful candidates would usually have studied courses similar in content to those listed in our Part II undergraduate programme. Details on the lecture contents can be obtained from the Undergraduate Office in the Department of Physics. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
Master of Philosophy - MPhil
Summary
The MPhil is offered by the Department of Physics as a full-time period of research and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:
to give students with relevant experience, at a first-degree level, the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the programme, students will have demonstrated:
- A comprehensive understanding of techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
- Demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
- Shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
- Demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research; and
- Produced a thesis for examination.
| admissions@phy.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 337420 |
| Study type | Research |
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree. If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
Summary
The MPhil is offered by the Department of Physics as a full-time period of research and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:
to give students with relevant experience, at a first-degree level, the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the programme, students will have demonstrated:
- A comprehensive understanding of techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
- Demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
- Shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
- Demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research; and
- Produced a thesis for examination.
| admissions@phy.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 337420 |
| Study type | Research |
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree. If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
Summary
The MPhil is offered by the Department of Physics as a full-time period of research and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:
to give students with relevant experience, at a first-degree level, the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the programme, students will have demonstrated:
- A comprehensive understanding of techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
- Demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
- Shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
- Demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research; and
- Produced a thesis for examination.
| admissions@phy.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 337420 |
| Study type | Research |
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree. If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
Summary
The MPhil is offered by the Department of Physics as a full-time period of research and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:
to give students with relevant experience, at a first-degree level, the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.
**Learning Outcomes**
By the end of the programme, students will have demonstrated:
- A comprehensive understanding of techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
- Demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
- Shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
- Demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research; and
- Produced a thesis for examination.
| admissions@phy.cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01223 337420 |
| Study type | Research |
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree. If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. |
| Location | Cambridge University The Old Schools Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TN |
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