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Universities United Kingdom Cardiff University Courses Physics with Professional Placement (MPhys)

Physics with Professional Placement (MPhys)
at Cardiff University

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Tuition Fee £ 23,450
Country Rank-
Duration60 Months
Score IELTS: 6.5

Program Overview

Physics is the most fundamental of all the sciences, concerned with unlocking the secrets of the Universe and understanding the world around us.

This five-year MPhys Physics (with a Professional Placement) programme is designed to give you a broad understanding of both theoretical and experimental physics, whist attaining real-world, professional experience.

Accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP), this five-year programme goes into greater depth than the BSc course, allowing you to further develop your practical knowledge of the subject.

Studying alongside internationally respected physicists whose work is providing the basis for revolutionary innovations, you will be part of an exciting and friendly environment and have access to state-of-the-art apparatus, including lasers, X-ray sources and electronics.

This programme includes a professional placement year in industry, commerce, government or another relevant placement provider approved by the University which will give you the opportunity to gain relevant work experience in the field.

The course aims to prepare you for a career in industrial or academic research and development, education or other sectors which require a practical, numerate and analytical approach to problem solving.

Distinctive features

The distinctive features of the course include:

The opportunity to undertake a professional placement year in industry
Developing key transferable skills valued by employers
The opportunity to learn in a department which has a strong commitment to research
The involvement of research-active staff in course design and delivery
A substantial research project in your final year
Frequent opportunities to conduct practical work in the School’s laboratory facilities
An emphasis on independent learning

The course contains all the core content required for the degree to be accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP).

Course Content
Course structure

This is a five-year full-time degree, the third year of which is spent on a professional placement. The course includes a carefully chosen balance of core modules, along with some optional modules. Modules are typically worth 10 or 20 credits and you are required to earn 120 credits a year.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2022/2023 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2022.

Year one

The range of modules in year one is designed to stimulate your interest in physics while giving you a sound foundation upon which to build in later years. At the end of the first year, you may continue with your original degree programme of choice or choose another of our physics and astronomy degrees.

You will study core modules worth 110 credits and an optional 10-credit module.

In the Spring Semester you can choose between optional modules such as Introduction to Astrophysics, How the Human Body Works, or Communicating Science.

Year two

Year two of the course continues to build on the core physics material and offers a choice for your one optional module.

Students are required to maintain a minimum average of 55% in years one and two in order to continue their studies on the MPhys programme.

Year three: Sandwich year

Year three is spent on a professional placement in industry, commerce, government or another relevant placement provider. It is designed to help you further develop your problem-solving skills and encourage the use of initiative, to gain a professional work methodology and practical experience.

As well as enhancing your transferable skills such as report writing and oral presentations, you may experience team working, increase your self-confidence and better understand the importance of Health and Safety.

The placement (usually nine months in length) also allows you to appreciate the structure of the workplace environment and reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses.

Year four

Year four of our degree allows you to specialise and study selected topics in depth. A research project gives you the opportunity to apply your physics learning and to develop skills in independent research, making presentations, report writing and information management.

Year five

The final-year project is a significant assessed part of our MPhys courses and we attach particular importance to it. It currently accounts for half of the year five content (60 credits) and provides training in analysis, synthesis and problem solving – the key skills needed by a professional physicist. The project will be linked to the research work of the School and give you the opportunity to work alongside professional researchers and academic staff.
Entry Requirement
A level
AAA-AAB including Maths and Physics or A*AB-A*BB including A* in Maths. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.

Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.

International Baccalaureate
36-34 overall or 766-666 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 7 in HL Maths or grade 6 in HL Maths and Physics.

GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.

IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.

TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking.

PTE Academic
At least 62 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.

Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Fees & Scholarships
Tuition fees for 2022 entry

Fees for home status
- £9,000
Fees for overseas status
- £23,450
Career Prospect
Physics and Astronomy graduates are highly valued by employers and our students go on to work in a wide range of different fields including research science, medical physics and technology, teaching and finance and banking.

We provide a range of support to help our students to find the career opportunities that suit them best, such as a Careers Adviser who is located part-time in the School, on-site careers fairs and employer visits. We also aim to prepare our students by providing them with the skills they need to succeed in obtaining jobs and feeling confident in their chosen workplace.

The contacts you make and the work experience you gain during your placement year will enhance your CV and may even lead directly to employment or provide enhanced references for other job applications.

Employers include UK and international universities plus a range of organisations such as Rolls Royce, European Space Agency, Lockheed Martin, Tata, National Instruments and Barclays.

Graduate careers
- Research Scientist
- Statistician
- Data Analyst
- Science Communicator
- Finance and banking
- Airline pilot
- Software engineer
- Teacher

Cost Of Studying At Cardiff University

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

Check Loan Eligibility

Physics with Professional Placement (MPhys) at Cardiff University