Masters Degrees in Computational Physics, United Kingdom

Doctorate study in Computational Physics is an opportunity to engage in rigorous scholarly pursuit, and to contribute original research to a body of academia.

At the School of Mathematics and Physics, you will have the opportunity to advance your knowledge of computational physics, while developing your research skills and working with specialists. Computational Physics is a fundamental area of study that underpins a vast array of topics. During your research, you may have the opportunity to develop national and international collaborations.

Research in Computational Physics covers a broad spectrum, including the distinct areas of nanostructured soft matter, active matter, materials science and molecular biophysics. You benefit from dedicated academic supervisors, in-depth training programmes and specialist computational facilities.

Research Areas, Projects & Topics

Main Research Areas:
-Nanostructured Soft Matter
-Active Matter
-Materials Science
-Molecular Biophysics

For detailed information about the School’s research activity please visit: http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/smp/research/

How You Study

You can benefit from specialist computational facilities, training programmes to enhance your research skills and support from dedicated academic supervisors. You will be supported and encouraged to submit papers to international scientific journals, present your findings at conferences and share knowledge with colleagues across the University.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the vast majority of your time will be spent in independent study and research. You will have meetings with your academic supervisor, however the regularity of these will vary depending on your own individual requirements, subject area, staff availability and the stage of your programme.

How You Are Assessed

A PhD is usually awarded based on the quality of your thesis and your ability in an oral examination (viva voce) to present and successfully defend your chosen research topic.

Career and Personal Development

This research programme is designed to allow you to expand your knowledge and expertise in an area of specific interest. It provides the opportunity to develop an in-depth foundation for further research or progression to careers across the broad spectrum of computational physics-related industries and in academia.

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At the School of Mathematics and Physics, you will have the opportunity to advance your knowledge of computational physics, while developing your research skills and working alongside specialists.

Computational Physics is a fundamental area of study that underpins a vast array of topics. During your research, you will have the opportunity to work with specialists in the field and may have the chance to develop strong national and international collaborations.

Research in Computational Physics covers a broad spectrum, including the distinct areas of nanostructured soft matter, active matter, materials science and molecular biophysics. You benefit from dedicated academic supervisors, in-depth training programmes and specialist computational facilities.

Research Areas, Projects & Topics

Research Areas:
-Nanostructured Soft Matter
-Active Matter
-Materials Science
-Molecular Biophysics

How You Study

You can benefit from specialist computational facilities, training programmes to enhance your research skills and support from dedicated academic supervisors. You will be supported and encouraged to submit papers to international scientific journals, present your findings at conferences and share knowledge with colleagues across the University.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the vast majority of your time will be spent in independent study and research. You will have meetings with your academic supervisor, however the regularity of these will vary depending on your own individual requirements, subject area, staff availability and the stage of your programme.

How You Are Assessed

The MSc by Research involves writing a Master's thesis under the supervision of a member of academic staff on a topic to be agreed with your supervisor. The MSc by Research is usually awarded based on the quality of your thesis and your ability in an oral examination (viva voce) to present and successfully defend your chosen research topic.

Career and Personal Development

This research programme is designed to allow you to expand your knowledge and expertise in an area of specific interest. It seeks to provide an in-depth foundation for further research or progression to careers across the broad spectrum of computational physics-related industries and in academia.

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The Masters in Physics: Nuclear Technology provides an understanding of the application of nuclear processes and technology to energy generation, medical physics and environmental monitoring, and at a level appropriate for a professional physicist.

Why this programme

◾Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow is ranked 3rd in Scotland (Complete University Guide 2017).
◾You will gain theoretical, experimental and computational skills necessary to analyse and solve advanced physics problems relevant to the theme of Nuclear Technology, providing an excellent foundation for a career of scientific leadership.
◾You will benefit from direct contact with our group of international experts who will teach you cutting-edge physics and supervise your projects.
◾With a 93% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2016, Physics and Astronomy at Glasgow continues to meet student expectations combining both teaching excellence and a supportive learning environment.
◾This programme has a September and January intake*.

*For suitably qualified candidates

Programme structure

Modes of delivery of the MSc Physics: Nuclear Technology include lectures, seminars and tutorials and allow students the opportunity to take part in lab, project and team work.

Core courses include
◾Advanced data analysis
◾Detection and analysis of ionising radiation
◾Environmental radioactivity
◾Imaging and detectors
◾Nuclear power reactors
◾Research skills
◾Extended project

Optional courses include
◾Advanced electromagnetic theory
◾Advanced nuclear physics
◾Computational physics laboratory
◾Dynamics, electrodynamics and relativity
◾Energy and environment
◾Medical imaging
◾Nuclear and particle physics
◾Relativistic quantum fields
◾Statistical mechanics

The programme in Physics: Nuclear technology lasts 1 year and contains a minimum of 180 credits. You will undertake a minimum of 120 credits in Semesters 1 and 2 and be assessed on these courses either via continuous assessment, or unseen examination in the May/June examination diet, or a combination thereof. The remaining 60 credits will take the form of an extended MSc project, carried out on a specific aspect of theoretical, computational or experimental physics which has current or potential application in the areas of nuclear technology, nuclear energy, radiation detection or environmental monitoring. You will conduct this project while embedded within a particular research group – under the direct supervision of a member of academic staff.

Your curriculum will be flexible and tailored to your prior experience and expertise, particular research interests and specific nature of the extended research project topic provisionally identified at the beginning of the MSc programme. Generally, however, courses taken in Semester 1 will focus on building core theoretical and experimental/computational skills relevant to the global challenge theme, while courses taken in Semester 2 will build key research skills (in preparation for the extended project).

For further information on the content of individual courses please see Honours and Masters level courses.

Career prospects

Career opportunities in academic research, based in universities, research institutes, observatories and laboratory facilities; industrial research in a wide range of fields including energy and the environmental sector, IT and semiconductors, optics and lasers, materials science, telecommunications, engineering; banking and commerce; higher education.

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Why this course?

The course gives you the opportunity to explore and master theoretical, computational and experimental physics skills with wide application.

Our four divisions – Nanoscience, Optics, Plasmas and the Institute of Photonics – all contribute research-based teaching expertise to the course. You can choose taught elements relevant to your career interests from a wide range of topics, including:
- theoretical & computational physics
- quantum optics and quantum information
- complexity science
- physics and the life sciences
- solid-state physics
- plasma physics

The knowledge you gain in the taught components is then put to use in a cutting-edge research project, which can be theoretical, computational or experimental.

See the website https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/advancedphysics/

You’ll study

You’ll have two semesters of taught classes made up of compulsory and optional modules. This is followed by a three-month research project.

- Facilities
This course is run by the Department of Physics. The department’s facilities include:
- cutting-edge high-power laser research with SCAPA, researching the future of particle accelerators via laser-based acceleration
- the Ultrafast Chemical Physics lab with state-of-the-art femtosecond laser systems for multi-dimensional IR spectroscopy
- access to the top-of-the-range high performance and parallel computer facilities of ARCHIE-WeSt
- a scanning electron microscopy suite for analysis of hard and soft matter
- new high-power microwave research facility in the Technology & Innovation Centre
- advanced quantum optics and quantum information labs

English language

IELTS 6.0 is required for all non-English speakers.

Learning & teaching

Our teaching is based on lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory experiments, and research projects.

Assessment

The final assessment will be based on your performance in examinations, coursework, a research project and, if required, in an oral examination.

Careers

A Masters degree in physics prepares you for a wide and versatile range of careers in science and engineering as well as all areas of management, financial services, etc. Many graduates proceed to a PhD.

Strathclyde physics graduates are working across the world in a number of different roles including:
- Medical Physicist
- Senior Engineer
- Professor
- Systems Engineer
- Treasury Analyst
- Patent Attorneys
- Software Engineer
- Teacher
- Spacecraft Project Manager
- Defence Scientist
- Procurement Manager
- Oscar winner

Find information on Scholarships here http://www.strath.ac.uk/search/scholarships/index.jsp

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The Masters in Physics: Advanced Materials provides an understanding of the principles and methods of modern physics, with particular emphasis on their application to global interdisciplinary challenges in the area of advanced materials and at a level appropriate for a professional physicist.

Why this programme

◾The School of Physics & Astronomy hosts the Kelvin Nanocharacterisation Centre, which houses state-of-the-art instrumentation for studying materials at the nanoscale or below.
◾Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow is ranked 3rd in Scotland (Complete University Guide 2017).
◾With a 93% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2016, Physics and Astronomy at Glasgow continues to meet student expectations combining both teaching excellence and a supportive learning environment.
◾You will gain the theoretical, experimental and computational skills necessary to analyse and solve a range of advanced physics problems relevant to the theme of this global challenge, providing an excellent foundation for a career of scientific leadership in academia or industry.
◾You will develop transferable skills that will improve your career prospects, such as project management, team-working, advanced data analysis, problem-solving, critical evaluation of scientific literature, advanced laboratory and computing skills, and how to effectively communicate with different audiences.
◾You will benefit from direct contact with our group of international experts who will teach you cutting-edge physics and supervise your projects.
◾This programme has a September and January intake*.

Programme structure

Modes of delivery of the MSc in Physics: Advanced Materials include lectures, seminars and tutorials and allow students the opportunity to take part in lab, project and team work.

The programme draws upon a wide range of advanced Masters-level courses. You will have the flexibility to tailor your choice of optional lecture courses and project work to a wide variety of specific research topics and their applications in the area of advanced materials.

Core courses include
◾Advanced data analysis
◾Nano and atomic scale imaging
◾Research skills
◾Solid state physics
◾Extended project.

Optional courses include
◾Detection and analysis of ionising radiation
◾Detectors and imaging
◾Environmental radioactivity
◾Nuclear power reactors
◾Semiconductor physics
◾Statistical mechanics.

For further information on the content of individual courses please see Honours and Masters level courses.

Career prospects

Career opportunities in academic research, based in universities, research institutes, observatories and laboratory facilities; industrial research in a wide range of fields including energy and the environmental sector, IT and semiconductors, optics and lasers, materials science, telecommunications, engineering; banking and commerce; higher education.

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The Masters in Theoretical Physics provides an understanding of the principles and methods of modern physics, with particular emphasis on the theoretical aspects of the subject, and at a level appropriate for a professional physicist.

Why this programme

◾Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow is ranked 3rd in Scotland (Complete University Guide 2017).
◾The School plays a leading role in the exploitation of data from the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest particle accelerator at CERN.
◾You will gain the theoretical and computational skills necessary to analyse and solve a range of advanced physics problems, providing an excellent foundation for a career of scientific leadership in academia or industry.
◾You will develop transferable skills that will improve your career prospects, such as project management, team-working, advanced data analysis, problem-solving, critical evaluation of scientific literature, advanced laboratory and computing skills, and how to effectively communicate with different audiences.
◾You will benefit from direct contact with our group of international experts who will teach you cutting-edge physics and supervise your projects.
◾With a 93% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2016, Physics and Astronomy at Glasgow continues to meet student expectations combining both teaching excellence and a supportive learning environment.
◾This programme has a September and January intake*.

*For suitably qualified candidates

Programme structure

Modes of delivery of the MSc in Theoretical Physics include lectures, seminars and tutorials and allow students the opportunity to take part in lab, project and team work.

The programme draws upon a wide range of advanced Masters-level courses. You will have the flexibility to tailor your choice of optional lecture courses and project work to a wide variety of specific research topics and their applications in the area of theoretical physics.

Core courses include
◾Advanced data analysis
◾Quantum information
◾Quantum theory
◾Research skills
◾Extended project

Optional courses include
◾Advanced electromagnetic theory
◾Advanced mathematical methods
◾Applied optics
◾Dynamics, electrodynamics and relativity
◾General relativity and gravitation (alternate years, starting 2018-19)
◾Plasma theory and diagnostics (alternate years, starting 2017-18)
◾Relativistic quantum fields
◾Statistical mechanics
◾The sun's atmosphere

For further information on the content of individual courses please see Honours and Masters level courses.

Career prospects

Career opportunities include academic research, based in universities, research institutes, observatories and laboratory facilities; industrial research in a wide range of fields including energy and the environmental sector, IT and semiconductors, optics and lasers, materials science, telecommunications, engineering; banking and commerce; higher education.

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This course is ideal both for graduates who would like to undertake original research without committing themselves to a three-year PhD, and for students who want to gain a research-based Master's before embarking on their PhD.

The major element of this course is a research project which is carried out under supervision. There is also a minor taught element, with classes covering a wide range of generic research-related topics.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/physics/coursefinder/mscphysicsbyresearch.aspx

Why choose this course?

- The Department of Physics is known internationally for its top-class research. Our staff carry out research at the cutting edge of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Experimental Quantum Computing, Quantum Matter at Low Temperatures, Theoretical Physics, and
Biophysics, as well as other areas.

- We offer exceptional teaching quality and are consistently near the top of the league tables.

- Our Masters courses are taught in collaboration with other University of London Colleges, providing a wide range of options.

Department research and industry highlights

The Physics Department at Royal Holloway is one of the major centres for physics research within the University of London and has research expertise in the following areas:
- Particle physics experiments at Large Hadron Collider
- Neutron and synchrotron x-ray scattering at ISIS and Diamond
- London Low Temperature Laboratory
- Centre for Nanophysics and Nanotechnology

Recent projects that the Department has worked on include:
- The ATLAS project at the LHC
- Thermoelectrics for conversion of waste heat into electrical power
- Quantum criticality in helium films
- Studies of nanostructures for quantum computing

Course content and structure

This courses consists of the major research element and a minor taught element:

- Major Project:
An original research project in one of the research areas of the Department, carried out under supervision. Makes up 75% of total mark.

On completion of the course graduates will have:
- developed research skills using a mix of experimental, theoretical and computational techniques

- developed communication skills through the writing of the project report and the presentation of an oral report at the viva

- transferable skills suitable for both continued research or the workplace.

Assessment

This course is assessed by the completion of a major research project (75% of the final mark) as well as other coursework assignments (25% of the final mark).

Employability & career opportunities

Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different areas, including careers in industry, information technology and finance. This course also equips you with the subject knowledge and a solid foundation for continued studies in physics; around 50% of the graduates of this course progress onto PhD study at Royal Holloway.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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Photonics enables the majority of world-wide communications, almost all data on the Internet exists in optical form at some point during the transmission. Photonics also has many other applications in medicine, sensing biology and chemistry. On this course you will combine taught material which is specifically relevant to your research topic with advanced knowledge obtained from working in a world leading research environment. The course enhances employability in many industries including communications, civil engineering and bio-technology.

This programme trains aspiring academic and industrial research scientists. The programme consists of a training aspect of taught components (equivalent to 3 modules approximately during the first 3 months) and a significant interdisciplinary research project.

Research topics are chosen by students from a list of topics mirroring the computational expertise of the Mathematics group and the newly founded Systems Analytics Research Institute at Aston, with Computationally oriented projects in for example, biology, optimization, pattern analysis and physics as well as finance. The projects are supervised by academics from the Mathematics group and the Systems Analytics Research Institute at Aston.

The MSc integrates a taught component of three modules over approximately three months (30 credits) with a substantial individual research project lasting nine months (150 credits)

Core modules:
-Computational Mathematics (10 Credits)
-Research skills and Professional Development (10 Credits)
-Specialist/Technical Research Skills (10 Credits)

Exemption from these modules may be arranged through APL or APEL, provided this is done prior to enrolment.

Personal Development

Students will have the opportunity to carry out a research project in collaboration with industry and through this learn about the application context of technology and the interaction between research and business.

Facilities & Equipment

Students will get access to appropriate computational and experimental facilities.

Aston University offers Wi-Fi connection, modern lecture/tutorial rooms, computer labs, lounge area, good learning resources and publications are available in the library and many electronically.

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The York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis (YCCSA) at the University of York focuses on using interdisciplinary research approaches to tackle complex real-world problems. Our interdisciplinary Masters by Research programme brings together teams of students and supervisors to address specific research problems from an interdisciplinary perspective. Each student is registered in their home discipline department, but the student and supervisor team works together in YCCSA, jointly tackling a real research problem, whilst learning interdisciplinary research skills. Successful students will graduate with a Masters by Research degree from their department.

Our interdisciplinary group of biologists, physicists, and computer scientists are investigating processes in cellular systems biology, through wet-lab experiments, novel Raman spectroscopy techniques, and novel computational simulations.

We are recruiting a team of up to three Masters research students to further progress this work. The students will work in an interdisciplinary team to progress this research.

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Our Physics MSc is highly flexible, giving you the opportunity to structure your course to meet your individual career aspirations.

The course gives you the opportunity to broaden and deepen your knowledge and skills in physics, at the forefront of research in the area. This will help to prepare you to progress to PhD study, or to work in an industrial or other business related area.

A key feature of the course is that you can choose to study a wide range of optional modules or focus on a particular area of research expertise according to your interests and future career aspirations.

Under the umbrella of an MSc in physics, you can specialise in astrophysics, bionanophysics, soft matter physics, condensed matter physics, quantum technology, optical materials or medical imaging. Or you can take a diverse range of modules to suit your interests and keep their options open.

Course content

The course offers you a very wide range of optional modules, giving you the opportunity to specialise in areas such as astrophysics, bionanophysics, soft matter physics, condensed matter physics, quantum technology, optical materials or medical imaging.

Modules studied may include: quantum field theory; superconductivity; general relativity; medical image analysis; cosmology; bionanophysics; magnetism in condensed matter; statistical mechanics; star and planet formation; elementary particle physics; quantum matter; and photonics.

Alongside your optional modules, you will undertake an advanced and extensive research project in one of the School of Physics and Astronomy’s internationally recognised research groups. This will enable you to develop advanced skills in research planning, execution and reporting, possibly leading to publication of your work in an international journal.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

• MSc Project 75 credits
• Advanced Literature Review 15 credits
• Current Research Topics in Physics 15 credits

Optional modules

• Cardiovascular Medical Imaging 10 credits
• Digital Radiography and X-ray Computed Tomography 10 credits
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging 10 credits
• Ultrasound Imaging 10 credits
• Radionuclide Imaging 10 credits
• Medical Image Analysis 10 credits
• Digital Radiography and X-ray Computed Tomography 15 credits
• Ultrasound Imaging 15 credits
• Radionuclide Imaging 15 credits
• Medical Image Analysis 15 credits
• Cosmology 15 credits
• Photonics 15 credits
• Molecular Simulation: Theory and Practice 15 credits
• Star and Planet Formation 15 credits
• Advanced Quantum Mechanics 15 credits
• Quantum Photonics 15 credits
• Quantum Matter 15 credits
• Magnetism in Condensed Matter 15 credits
• Statistical Mechanics 15 credits
• Advanced Mechanics 15 credits
• Bionanophysics 1 15 credits
• Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics 15 credits
• Soft Matter Physics: Liquid Crystals 15 credits
• Quantum Many-Body Physics 15 credits
• Winds, Bubbles and Explosions 15 credits
• Bionanophysics 2: Advanced Bionanophysics Research 15 credits
• Advanced Group Industrial Project 15 credits
• Superconductivity 15 credits
• Soft Matter Physics: Polymers, Colloids and Glasses 15 credits
• Quantum Transport in Nanostructures 15 credits
• Quantum Field Theory 15 credits
• General Relativity 15 credits
• Quantum Information Science 15 credits
• Advanced Physics in Schools 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Physics MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

Teaching methods include a combination of lectures, seminars, supervisions, problem solving, presentation of work, independent research, and group work (depending on the modules you choose to study).

Assessment

Assessment of modules are by problem solving exams and research assignments. The project is assessed on the ability to plan and conduct research and communicate the results in written and oral format.

Career opportunities

The specialist pathways offered by this course (in astrophysics, bionanophysics, soft matter physics, condensed matter physics, quantum technology, optical materials or medical imaging) allow you to tailor your course and focus on a particular area of research expertise according to your interests and future career aspirations.

Physicists are highly employable due to their high level of numeracy and mathematical competence, their computer skills, and their high level of technical academic scientific knowledge. They are employed by: industry, financial sector, defence, education, and more.

This course is also a clear route to PhD level study.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

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