Graduate Admissions - Degrees Offered

Graduates
Graduates

Courses

MASt in Experimental and Theoretical Physics (9 months)

The department has recently launched a new course; the MASt (Master of Advanced Studies) in Physics. Information about course content for the MASt in physics can be found in this MASt Leaflet or by contacting the Teaching Office.

This course is taught alongside the Part III of the undergraduate MSci Physics Tripos and is designed to act as a top-up course for students who hold a 3-year undergraduate degree who wish to pursue a research degree within the department.

This is a taught postgraduate course. The final assessment consists of written examinations for taught modules, and a research project assessed by project report and oral examination.

The entry requirement for the MASt is a qualification comparable to an upper second class or better UK Bachelor's degree in Physics.

MPhil in Physics (by research) (12 months)

This course is designed to provide further study and training in research in Physics. It includes lectures and relevant practical work, occupying up to the equivalent of one term. For the remainder, the student pursues a course of supervised research on an approved subject in Physics.

The examination consists of a thesis, of not more than 15,000 words in length, and includes an oral examination (or viva) of the thesis and the general field of physics into which it falls.

For admission to the MPhil degree programmes the Faculty Board normally requires applicants to have followed a three-year first degree and to have achieved or be about to achieve at least an upper second class honours degree from a UK university or the equivalent. All applicants are assessed individually on the basis of their academic records.

A minimum residence of three terms (about one year) is required to obtain the MPhil degree.

MPhil in Scientific Computing (12 months)

The MPhil in Scientific Computing is a 12-month full-time Master's Degree, which has a research and a taught element. The taught element comprises of core lecture courses on topics of scientific computing and elective lecture courses relevant to the science or technology topic of the project. The research element is a project on a science or technology topic which is studied by means of scientific computation.

There is equal examination credit weighting between the taught and the research elements of the course, which is gained by submitting a dissertation on the project (maximum 15,000 words) and by written assignments & examinations on the core and elective courses, respectively.

For admission to the MPhil degree programmes the Faculty Board normally requires applicants to have followed a three-year first degree and to have achieved or be about to achieve at least an upper second class honours degree from a UK university or the equivalent. All applicants are assessed individually on the basis of their academic records.

PhD in Physics (3+ years)

The majority of graduate students (about 75 are accepted each year) carry out research at the Cavendish Laboratory towards a PhD degree.

For admission to the PhD the Faculty Board normally requires applicants to have followed a four-year MSci or equivalent first degree and to have achieved or be about to achieve at least an upper second class honours degree from a UK university or the equivalent. All applicants are assessed individually on the basis of their academic records. The first year of the PhD programme will be assessed through the Certificate in Postgraduate Study (CPGS).

At least nine consecutive terms of residence (about 3 years) in the University are normally required for the PhD degree. It is possible, however, for a graduate student to apply for dispensation for up to six terms of residence if it is desirable that part of the student's work should be carried out elsewhere, for example in an industrial research laboratory.

Final examination involves the submission of a thesis of not more than 60,000 words followed by an oral examination (or viva) of the thesis and the general field of physics into which it falls.

Successful applicants are assigned to a research supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and joins a research group which might vary in size between 4 and 80 individuals. Although the supervisor is responsible for the progress of a student's research programme, the extent to which a graduate student is assisted by the supervisor or by other members of the group depends almost entirely on the structure and character of the group concerned. The research field is normally determined at entry, after consideration of the student's interests and facilities available.

A list of current research projects is published and available on the research pages of our website, and more detailed information about specific research areas can be obtained from the relevant academic staff. The student, however, may work within a given field for a period of time before his or her personal topic is determined.

There is no requirement by the University of attendance at formal courses of lectures for the PhD. Graduate work is largely a matter of independent research and successful graduates require a high degree of self-motivation. Nevertheless, lectures and classes may be arranged, and students are expected to attend both seminars (delivered regularly by members of the University and by visiting scholars and industrialists) and external conferences.

Lectures within all the faculties of the University are open to any member of the University, and a physics graduate student has the opportunity of attending lectures not only within the undergraduate Physics and Theoretical Physics course, but also in any other subject area or faculty. In addition, graduate students carry out first- and second-year physics undergraduate supervision and assist with practical work and theoretical examples classes in the Department. This can provide a source of supplementary income and an opportunity for the graduate student to consolidate his or her knowledge of physics.

Nano Science & Technology Doctoral Training Centre (NanoDTC) (1+3 years)

The centre aims to produce a new sort of PhD student, trained over 4 years in many advanced Nano techniques, innovation and business practice, as well as novel science. The centre emphasises cross-disciplinary training in the Physical Sciences, including Chemistry, Physics, Materials and Engineering and accept applicants of the highest calibre from these backgrounds.

The PhD programme is based on courses, practicals and projects in Year 1 before selection of an interdisciplinary PhD topic for research in Years 2-4 in a Nano group within Physics, Chemistry, Engineering or Materials Science and Metallurgy. A significant element will be a Management of Technology Innovation (MoTI) component provided through the Judge Institute.

There is one intake per year for the NanoDTC course on 1 October.