- 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.
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Duration: 4 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: F305 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Scholarships available
Accredited course
- 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:
Frontiers of Particle Physics I
| Unit code | PHYS40521 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 4 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Frontiers of Particle Physics 1
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications of Quantum Physics | PHYS30101 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
| Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics | PHYS30121 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
| Mathematical Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics | PHYS30201 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
| PHYS40222 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
Follow - Up Units
PHYS40722 - Frontiers of Particle Physics 2
Aims
1. To provide a review of modern-day particle physics experiments, and the physics they aim to address.
2. To provide a suitable introduction to experimental methods commonly used in particle physics for students who will undertake research in the subject.
Learning outcomes
On completion successful students will be able to:
1. Identify the three experimental particle physics frontiers, and define their objectives.
2. Describe the facilities commonly used by experimental particle physicists.
3. Explain qualitative and quantitative techniques applied to particle physics experiments.
4. Judge the significance of recent and current results in the main areas of particle physics (QCD, EWK, BSM) in the wider context of past and present particle physics experiments.
5. Describe experiments planned for the near future and explain their significance.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to modern particle physics experiments
Standard Model and the three particle physics frontiers
Particle properties and experimental methods in particle physics
Modern-day experiments
Data analysis, statistics, and Monte Carlo techniques
2. Physics at the high energy frontier
Partons and QCD
Electroweak gauge bosons (W and Z bosons)
Top quark physics
The discovery of the Higgs boson
Standard Model: successes and limitations
Searches for physics beyond the Standard Model
Future Colliders
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 100% |
Feedback methods
Feedback will be available on students’ individual written solutions to examples sheets, which will be marked, and model answers will be issued.
Recommended reading
Martin, B. & Shaw, G., Particle Physics, (3rd ed.) (Wiley)
Leo, W. R., Techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics Experiments (Springer)
Thomson, M., Modern Particle Physics (Cambridge University Press)
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
| Lectures | 24 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 74.5 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Alexander Oh | Unit coordinator |
| Christopher Parkes | Unit coordinator |