- 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:
Early Universe
| Unit code | PHYS40772 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 4 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Early Universe (M)
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmology | PHYS30392 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
| Gravitation (M) | PHYS40771 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
Development of the cosmological model, its problems and their possible resolution within the framework of relativistic gravity and modern particle physics.
Learning outcomes
On completion successful students will be able to:
1. formulate the linear theory of structure formation in the CDM model, obtain solutions in simple model cases of a one component universe.
2. explain the problems of big bang cosmology and the way to solve them in inflationary theory.
3. calculate basic cosmological parameters in inflationary slow roll models.
4. indicate the relations of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation and cosmological parameters.
5. discuss the evidence for an accelerating universe and the possible role of dark energy.
Syllabus
1. Standard model of cosmology: Review
Review of FRW universe; Natural units; Distance measures in FRW and conformal time; Basic observational facts; Neutrino decoupling and the radiation density; A brief history of time.
2. Structure formation
Overview of structure formation; Relativistic perturbation theory; Synchronous and Conformal Newtonian gauges; Evolution of vector and tensor perturbations; Scalar perturbations in one component universe; Adiabatic and isocurvature perturbations; Power spectra; Suppression of power on small scales due to baryons and neutrinos.
3. Cosmic microwave background
Basic features of the angular power spectrum; Recombination and photon decoupling; Density and velocity fluctuations; Sachs-Wolfe effects.
4. Inflation
Horizon and Flatness puzzles, primordial perturbations; Definition of inflation and its solution of the horizon and flatness puzzles; Potential formulation and slow roll dynamics; reheating and the transition to radiation domination; Klein-Gordon field as a simple worked example; Fluctuations generated during inflation; Model zoo: large field, small field and hybrid models; Connecting observations with theory; Preheating and the transition to radiation domination.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 100% |
Feedback methods
Will be available on students’ individual written solutions to examples sheets, model answers will be issued. Several review sessions will be suggested during the semester.
Recommended reading
Gorbunov D.S. & Rubakov V.A. Introduction to the Theory of the Early Universe: Cosmological Perturbations and Inflationary Theory, (World Scientific, 2011)
Mukhanov, V.F. Physical Foundations of Cosmology, (CUP, 2005)
Weinberg, S. Cosmology (OUP)
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
| Lectures | 23 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 75.5 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Jens Chluba | Unit coordinator |