Availability | Semester 1 (Extended) Semester 2 (Extended) |
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is part of a sequence of three or four parts (depending on the research project stream) taken in successive semesters that together constitute the 100-point research project offered through the Master of Science (Physics).
In this subject, students undertake a substantial program of original research in one of the many research fields in which the School of Physics is active and internationally recognised: astrophysics, condensed matter physics, optics, and particle physics. The research may be experimental and/or theoretical in nature. It will be conducted under the supervision of a member of the School’s academic staff. The results will be reported in the form of a substantial thesis. In most instances, it is expected that the results will also be submitted for publication in a learned scientific journal. As part of their introduction to the research topic, students will be required to complete a seminar series and/or reading course providing advanced theoretical and/or practical training in the field.
Intended learning outcomes
The objectives of this subject are:
- to introduce students to the excitement and challenge of fundamental and applied research in physics;
- to challenge students to deepen their knowledge of fundamental physical principles by pushing outward the boundaries of knowledge;
- to complete a substantial piece of original research whose quality is sufficiently high that it is publishable in a leading international physics journal;
- to prepare students for further advanced research in physics, for example through doctoral studies.
At the completion of this subject, students should have gained the ability to:
- analyse how to solve a problem by applying fundamental laws to complicated situations;
- apply abstract ideas to real-world situations;
- participate as an effective member of a research team;
- develop excellent written and oral communication skills through writing a major thesis and presenting results in departmental seminars;
- manage time effectively;
- start to develop the capacity for fully independent research
Last updated: 8 November 2024