MSc Physics with Extended Research
Deepen your knowledge of physics to prepare for a research career within a university or national laboratory
Key information
Overview
The Department offers a prestigious MSc in Physics, tailored to very able BSc graduates who wish to deepen their knowledge of physics, and who are looking to pursue a research career within a university, industrial or national research laboratory.
The course is open to both physicists and students from mathematics, chemistry or engineering disciplines, provided they have a sufficiently strong physics and mathematics background.
The MSc in Physics with Extended Research shares the same course as the 12-month MSc in Physics programme, except that the project is undertaken over nine months in the second academic year.
It is normally possible to transfer to or from the MSc in Physics in the first 6 months of the course.
Structure
This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.
The curriculum of this programme is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for this year of entry.
We recommend you check this page before finalising your application and again before accepting your offer. We will update this page as soon as any changes are confirmed by the College.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about any changes made.
Page last reviewed on 22 October 2021.
Structure
Core modules
You take all of the modules below.
- Advanced Classical Physics*
- Literature Review/Project Plan
- Mathematical Methods for Physicists*
- Research Project
- Research Skills
- Self-Study Project
* these modules may be substituted if the content has already been covered at undergraduate level
Optional modules
You choose optional modules to the value of at least 30 ECTS credits. The modules below are valued at 3, 6 or 8 ECTS credits each. Only 6 ECTS may be taken at Level 6 (unless Advanced Classical Physics is replaced by another module).
3 ECTS modules:
- Advanced Hydrodynamics
- Imaging and Biophotonics (Level 6)
- Information Theory
- Lasers (Level 6)
- Medical Imaging: Nuclear Diagnostics & MRI (Level 6)
- Medical Imaging: X-Rays and Ultrasound (Level 6)
- Nanotechnology in Consumer Electronics
- Optical Communications
6 ECTS modules:
- Advanced Particle Physics
- Advanced Quantum Information
- Astrophysics (Level 6)
- Atmospheric Physics
- Complexity & Networks (Level 6)
- Computational Neuroscience
- Computational Physics (Level 6)
- Cosmology
- Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (Level 6)
- General Relativity
- Group Theory (Level 6)
- Laser Technology
- Light & Matter (Level 6)
- Plasma Physics (Level 6)
- Plasmonics & Metamaterials
- Principles of Instrumentation (Level 6)
- Quantum Information
- Quantum Optics
- Quantum Systems I
- Quantum Systems II
- Quantum Theory of Matter
- Space Physics
- Statistical Mechanics (Level 6)
8 ECTS modules:
- Quantum Field Theory
- Unification
You may replace these modules with modules from MSc in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces and MSc in Optics and Photonics. Modules on other programmes may be available with approval.
You choose optional modules to the value of 30 ECTS credits, and the below modules are credited at 3, 6 or 8 ECTS credits each.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
- Blackboard
- E-learning
- Lectures
- Panopto
- Practical work
- Problem classes
- Tutorials
- Self-study project
Assessment
- Coursework
- Dissertation
- Examination
- Oral presentation
- Poster
- Practical
- Viva
- Written report
Course timetable
You will receive your course timetable by the beginning of your studies in October and the core teaching hours for the College are 9am–6pm.
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Admissions
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a first-class degree in physics, with strong mathematical content.
Other scientific disciplines with significant physics and mathematical content are also accepted.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
View the Department of Physics's competence standards [pdf]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Department of Physics
T: +44 (0)20 7594 7512
E: l.sanchez@imperial.ac.uk
How to apply
Making an application
Apply online
All applicants must apply online.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can usually choose up to two courses.
Application fee
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
- £135 for MBA applications
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
ATAS certificate (overseas candidates)
An ATAS certificate is required for all visa-nationals, with the exception of EEA/Swiss nationals and nationals of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA.
To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your programme’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and ‘descriptor’, as well as your university supervisor name. For this course, these are:
| CAH code | Descriptor | Supervisor name |
|---|---|---|
| CAH07-01-01 | Physics | Professor Michele Dougherty |
Your student visa application, or extension of stay, will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS certificate and cannot provide one.
For further guidance on obtaining an ATAS certificate please see the information on our International Student Support website.
Further questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, visas and more.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
£9,200
This fee is fixed for both years of study.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
£22,800
This fee is fixed for both years of study.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies.
See what opportunities you may be eligible for:
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
Loli Sanchez
T: +44 (0)20 7594 7512
E: l.sanchez@imperial.ac.uk
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