BSc Physics including Integrated Foundation Year Department of Physics, University of Surrey CONTENTS

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1 BSc Physics including Integrated Foundation Year Department of Physics, University of Surrey CONTENTS BSc Physics including Integrated Foundation Year University Course Structure Table University Course Structure Computing Facilities Foundation Year What are the enty requirements? Where will I study? What will I study at College? What will I study at University? What do I have to do to pass? What is the success rate at the end of the Foundation Year? Can I choose any of the BSc courses at the end of the Foundation Year? When can I transfer to an MPhys programme? Once I have completed my Foundation Year, can I transfer to another University? Typically, what final degree grade do students who have taken the Foundation Year achieve? Can I choose to do Professional Training? How many students will be taking the Foundation Year? Where will I live?

2 BSc Physics Including an Integrated Foundation Year Our BSc Physics courses not only provide students with a thorough training in core Physics but also provide our graduates with additional skills increasingly sought by employers, enhancing and broadening employment opportunities. Students who do not satisfy normal entrance requirements may proceed to one of our Physics degrees via the Physics including and Integrated Foundation Year course. Students study mathematics and physics at Guildford College (~ 2 miles from the University) as a precursor to Year 1. Students live on the University campus during the Foundation Year. All Foundation Year students spend one day a week in the University Physics Department where they receive small-group tuition in support of their studies. BSc Physics BSc Physics with Medical Physics Foundation Year BSc Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics BSc Physics with Finance BSc Physics with Computational Modelling BSc Physics with Satellite Technology 1

3 University Course Structures [Year 0] [Level 0] Foundation Year BSc BSc/AUS MPhys Year 1 Autumn Semester Autumn Semester Autumn Semester Level 1 Spring Semester Spring Semester Spring Semester Year 2 Autumn Semester Autumn Semester Autumn Semester Level 2 Spring Semester Spring Semester Spring Semester Year 3 Autumn Semester Professional Autumn Semester Level 3 Training Spring Semester Year Research Training Assessed Year 4 Autumn Semester Research Project Level 3 Spring Semester Spring Semester 2

4 University Course Structure The Foundation Year follows the term structure of Guildford College. Subsequently, each 30-week academic year is divided into two 15-week semesters. Each semester includes 12 teaching weeks plus time for revision and examinations. There are 12 modules in each academic year. The BSc courses are in Physics, Physics with Finance, Physics with Medical Physics, Physics with Computational Modelling, Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics and Physics with Satellite Technology. These may be taken with or without the Professional Training option. Including the Foundation Year, courses without Professional Training are of four years duration and courses including Professional Training are of five years duration. Successful completion of the Professional Training Year is certified by the Associateship of the University of Surrey (AUS). Transfer to MPhys programmes is possible in January of Level 2, subject to the attainment of the appropriate standard in the Level 1 and December Level 2 assessments. Details of BSc and MPhys programmes may be found in separate booklets, available on request. Computing Facilities The computing facilities available to undergraduates are outstanding. These include a network of workstations accessed through a windows interface or large-screen, high resolution, colour and monochrome X- terminals in addition to a large number of PC s running Windows NT, all in two purposedesigned laboratories. The Departmental facilities are in addition to the campus facilities managed by the University Computing Service, many of which are accessible 24 hours a day. From the beginning of your Foundation Year you will have access to: Internet drawing software electronic mail word-processing and many other facilities graphics packages computer-based teaching materials computer algebra FORTRAN, Pascal, C programming languages 3

5 Foundation Year What are the entry requirements? The course is designed for those whose qualifications are inappropriate for direct entry into the BSc Physics courses at level 1. Thus it is difficult to make general statements as to what qualifications are acceptable. The course may be appropriate for students who, for example, are not taking (or do not have) A-level mathematics. A good GCSE in mathematics, or equivalent, is usually required and those who do not qualify as mature students must be able to offer two A-levels or equivalent. Mature students are considered on their merits and encouraged to discuss their background with the Admissions Tutor. Applications are welcomed from students with Scottish Highers, the Irish Leaving certificate, BTEC and GNVQ qualifications. Where will I study? You will take your Foundation Year at Guildford College. Guildford College is about minutes walk from the University campus; a regular bus service runs from the University to the College. You will spend four days of the week at the College and Tuesdays at the University. What will I study at College? You will study Mathematics and Physics. The course comprises elements of A-level mathematics and physics and provides a secure foundation for degree-level study. A small element of laboratory work is also undertaken at the College. Students with a good grade in A-level Physics, for instance may be exempted from parts of the physics curriculum. What will I study at University? You will have a Mathematics tutorial and a Physics tutorial. Both are designed to support your studies at the College and to enable members of staff to get to know you (and you to get to know some members of staff!) You will also have immediate access to our computing facilities and you will learn a scientific programming language, spending one period a week in the computer laboratory with staff to help you with introductory programming exercises. There is also the opportunity to attend a general lecture with students on the first year of the BSc course and, in the afternoon, you may choose to take advantage of the University's Language Teaching Centre. 4

6 What do I have to do to pass? Assessments take place at the College during the year through a series of phase tests, practical assignments and at the end of the year through formal examinations. An overall mark of 50% is required to proceed to Level 1 of the BSc degree course. The supporting courses taken at the University are not assessed. What is the success rate at the end of the Foundation Year? About 75% of students who enter the Foundation programme progress to Level 1. The Foundation Year is hard work and requires commitment on your part. The students who are not committed, as in any walk of life, are those less likely to succeed. Can I choose any of the available BSc courses at the end of the Foundation Year? Yes. You may choose the mainstream BSc Physics course, or you may decide to take one of our specialist degrees: BSc Physics with Computational Modelling, BSc Physics with Finance, BSc Physics with Medical Physics, BSc Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics or BSc Physics with Satellite Technology. When can I transfer to an MPhys programme? At the end of January Level 2. As for all students, transfer to MPhys programmes is subject to satisfactory level of attainment in Level 1 modules as well as the December Level 2 exams. Once I have completed my Foundation Year, can I transfer to another university? No. You are registered for a 4 year (or 5 year) programme and committed to the University of Surrey for the full duration of the programme. Typically what final degree grade do students who have taken the Foundation Year achieve? 5

7 Students who have graduated have achieved all grades. There is an even distribution from 1st class students (some going on to do research for a PhD) to those who graduate with a pass degree. Can I choose to do Professional Training? Yes, provided your Local Education Authority is prepared to fund a five year degree course. How many students will be taking the Foundation Year? We expect typically 6-12 students to join our department on the Foundation Year course. However, most of the University's Engineering and Science departments also accept Foundation Year students. In 1996/97 the University registered about 80 Foundation students in total and many of these were studying mathematics and physics at the College. Where will I live? The University guarantees you residential accommodation for one year. Foundation Year students are in residence on the University campus during their Foundation Year but then move off site during the following 2 years. At present, most final year students gain University accommodation, but accommodation in the final year cannot be guaranteed. For further details of BSc Physics including Integrated Foundation Year, please contact: Dr Simon Doran, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GGU2 7XH (Telephone: Fax: ) 6