- UCAS course code
- F305
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Master of Physics (MPhys)
MPhys Physics
Join a physics Department of international renown that offers great choice and flexibility, leading to master's qualification.
- Typical A-level offer: A*A*A including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: A*AA including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: AAA including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 38 points overall with 7,7,6 at HL, including specific requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £36,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.
For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our Department funding pages .
Course unit details:
Introduction to Astrophysics and Cosmology
Unit code | PHYS10191 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Introduction to Astrophysics and Cosmology
Aims
To demonstrate how the basic physical laws explain the properties of astronomical objects and the universe and how these preperties are measured.
Learning outcomes
On completion successful students will be able to:
1. Carry out calculations in using common astrophysical units
2. Describe and explain the physics of detectors and telescopes including geometric optics
3. Explain how astronomical distances are measured
4. Use the basic laws of physics to explain the global properties and basic evolution of stars
5. Derive Kepler’s Laws and apply them with Newton’s laws and theorems to a range of astrophysical objects including extrasolar planets
6. Describe the structure of the Milky Way and other galaxies
7. Describe the fundamental constituents of the Universe: baryons, dark matter and dark energy, and the observational evidence for their presence
8. Describe and explain the evolution of our Universe, including the evidence for the Big Bang.
9. Use the equations which describe the evolution of the Universe to derive properties of the Universe.
Syllabus
Syllabus
1. The Universe and its physics: A tour of the Universe, its scale and contents; Gravity; Pressure; Radiation
2. Observational astronomy: the electromagnetic spectrum; geometrical optics; resolving power, and the diffraction limit; telescopes and detectors; gravitational waves
3. Distances: parallax measurements, standard candles
4. Physics of the Sun and Stars: blackbody radiation, the Planck, Stefan-Boltzmann and Wien laws, effective temperature, interstellar reddening); hydrogen spectral lines and Doppler effect); Hertzprung-Russell diagram; Freefall and Kelvin-Helmholtz time; nuclear fusion; basic stellar structure (hydrostatic equilibrium, equation of state); white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes
5. Planetary systems: Kepler's laws; Detection methods of extrasolar planets; search for life elsewhere; SETI.
6. Galaxies: Star formation and the interstellar medium; stellar populations; galaxy rotation curves, mass and dark matter; Galaxy collisions; central engines
7. Cosmology: Olber’s paradox, Hubble's Law; the age of the Universe; Evolution of the Universe: Madau diagram; Evidence for the Big Bang (blackbody radiation, nucleosynthesis); dark energy and the accelerating Universe.
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Other | 10% |
Written exam | 90% |
* 10% Tutorial Work/attendance
Feedback methods
Feedback will be offered by tutors on students’ written solutions to weekly examples sheets, for which model answers will also be issued.
Recommended reading
Carroll, B.W. & Ostlie, D.A., An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics (Pearson)
This book covers considerably more material than covered in this module. This additional material will be valuable for future modules in astrophysics.
Maoz, D, Astrophysics in a Nutshell, 2nd edition (Princeton University Press)
Most of the topics in the course are covered in this book at the appropriate level, but a few topics are not covered.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
Lectures | 22 |
Tutorials | 6 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 70.5 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Laura Wolz | Unit coordinator |