Physics [EuroMaster] – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Each year comprises two 12-week teaching terms and a third 6-week ‘examinations’ term; thus, there are 60 study weeks in total. The course is divided into study blocks called modules, each of which has a credit value of 15 credits. Each 15 credit module represents approximately 150 hours of student learning, endeavour and assessment – including up to a maximum of 50 hours of direct teaching. The structure of the programmes is shown below, with details being available in the SPS Student Handbook and on the departmental web site (It is important to note that the programme, as laid out below, is subject to change in terms of available modules and their scheduling.

The programme is studied over two years full time. It is divided into two stages each comprising of 120 credits and students must achieve specified requirements before being permitted to proceed to the next stage. For full-time students each stage represents an academic year of study. Thus, for a full-time student each year of study involves approximately 1200 hours of learning time.

To be eligible for the award of a Master of Science in Physics degree students have to obtain 240 credits, at least 210 of which must be at Level M. The programme is structured for two different “streams” of students, one specialising in (a) astrophysics and the other specialising in (c) condensed matter physics. This corresponds to the School’s involvement in two different research themes in SEPNet.

At its discretion the University allows for narrow failure in a small proportion of modules to be compensated by good performance in other modules or, in cases of documented illness or other mitigating circumstances, condoned. Because of the intellectually progressive nature of this degree programme, each year's study builds on the previous year, and requires successful completion of all of the previous year's study as a pre-requisite. For this reason, Boards of Examiners will NOT permit the trailing of any modules except at their discretion in exceptional circumstances. Also at its discretion the University may decide to award a postgraduate diploma to students who do not continue to the second year of this degree at Kent or any of the SEPNet partner institutions provided they have gained 120 credits overall with at least 90 credits at level M. Furthermore, students who have been unable to complete year 1 successfully, but who have achieved at least 60 credits from any of the modules are eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate.

c= taken by students in the condensed matter strand

a=taken by students in the astrophysics strand