Mathematics and Physics BSc (Hons)

at Coventry University

Why you should study this course

You’ll have access to our computing facilities, which should enable you to gain experience using mathematical software packages, like MAPLE and MATLAB. You’ll also receive one-to-one assistance from sigma (subject to availability), Coventry University’s Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Statistics Support.

You’ll be taught by active researchers in applied mathematics and statistics with expertise in fluid dynamics, complex systems (staff are subject to change), who will share their research findings through teaching and supervising projects.

We encourage you to adopt an international perspective with opportunities to conduct Online International Learning (OIL) activities with students from around the world, participate in field trips overseas or spend a year studying abroad in Europe, America or Australia.

If your studies are followed by appropriate training and experience you should be on track to meet the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Mathematician with the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA). Please check with the awarding body for more details.

What you'll study

Year one
The first year lays the foundation for the study of mathematics and physics, including topics such as algebra, calculus, mechanics, waves and optics.

Throughout your studies, you will have opportunities to participate in a series of skills development sessions which should improve your digital literacy, as well as presentation and writing skills, particularly in a mathematical context. We will aim to familiarise you with a range of computational software related to the fields of mathematics and statistics, such as LaTeX, Excel and Python.

Modules

• Waves, Optics and Probability - 20 credits

• Algebra – 20 credits

• Calculus – 20 credits

• Mechanics – 20 credits

• Introduction to Real and Numerical Analysis – 20 credits

• Professional and Academic Skills 1 – 10 credits

• Add+vantage module – 10 credits

Year two
The second year is constructed on knowledge acquired during the previous year and will provide you with the opportunity to dive into more technical and complex concepts of mathematics and physics.

Modules

• Further Algebra and Calculus – 20 credits

• Quantum Physics – 20 credits

• Professional and Academic Skills 2 – 10 credits

• Thermo and Statistical Physics – 20 credits

• Electromagnetism – 20 credits

• Differential Equations – 20 credits

• Add+vantage module – 10 credits

Final year

The final year gives you the opportunity to study further topics such as advanced fluid dynamics and cosmology. You will also engage in a dissertation project carrying out in-depth investigations in a field that interests you. Recent topics have covered areas such as graphs generated from music or text, network analysis and traffic modelling.

Modules

• Advanced Algebra and Analysis – 10 credits

• Individual Project – 20 credits

• Atomic and Molecular Physics - 20 credits

• Professional and Academic Skills 3 – 20 credits

• Optional modules (2 from the following):

  Choose two from the following:

  • Cosmology - 20 credits
    The purpose of this module is to introduce the physics of the universe at large (solar system and beyond) scales. The mathematical framework of tensor calculus will be used to provide a simple account of the relevant aspects of general relativity.
  • Partial Differential Equation - 20 credits
    Partial differential equations (PDEs) are used to understand real world phenomena. This module looks at advanced ways of analysing nonlinear PDEs.
  • Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics - 20 credits
    In this module, you will learn how macroscopic thermodynamic phenomena arise from the statistics of systems with very many constituent particles.
  • Fluid Dynamics - 20 credits
    This is an introductory module to fluid dynamics. The module aims to build and develop the fundamentals for incompressible flows of fluids. The theory is applied to a range of problems including irrotational flow, viscous flow, and boundary layers.
    Optional

English language requirements

• IELTS: 6.0 overall (with no component lower than 5.5.)

International Tuition Fees:

£19850 per year

Successful completion of a mathematics and physics degree could give you a significant advantage in the job market, which could open up a wide range of potential future career opportunities in industry, accountancy, banking, computer analysis, marketing, industrial design, management, and scientific research. You could be employed in a wide variety of roles, for example, as an actuarial analyst, actuary, forensic accountant, operational researcher, research scientist, teacher, statistician or stockbroker.