- 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:
Galaxy Formation
| Unit code | PHYS40992 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 4 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Galaxy Formation
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmology | PHYS30392 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
To provide an introduction to the modern theory of galaxy formation and large-scale structure of the Universe.
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
1. Discuss key observable properties of the low and high redshift galaxy population within a cosmological context.
2. Explain the basic ideas of how large-scale structures grow and lead to the formation of dark matter haloes.
3. Discuss the important physical processes that set the conditions for galaxy formation.
4. Describe and explain the properties of galaxy clusters and their application to cosmology.
5. Outline modern research methods used to model galaxy formation and discuss key outstanding problems.
Syllabus
1. Overview
Observations of galaxies and their environments at low and high redshifts; key observational tests for galaxy formation models; galaxies in a cosmological context.
2. Growth of large-scale structures:
Linear growth of structures; Zel’dovich approximation; characteristic halo mass and hierarchical growth; power spectrum.
3. Dark matter haloes:
Spherical top-hat collapse model; Press Schechter formalism and the halo mass function; mergers and accretion; internal structure; halo shapes and spin; substructure.
4. Gas processes:
Hydrostatic equilibrium; Jeans mass; accretion shocks; radiative cooling; angular momentum and disk formation; star formation and feedback processes.
5. Galaxy clusters:
Galaxies in clusters; intracluster medium; dark matter and mass measurements; cluster scaling relations; cosmology with clusters.
6. Frontiers of galaxy formation:
Ν-body simulations; semi-analytic models; hydrodynamic simulations; outstanding problems.
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
Peacock, J. Cosmological Physics (CUP)
Coles, P. & Lucchin F., Cosmology: The Origin and Evolution of Cosmic Structure (Wiley)
Binney, J. & Tremaine, S. Galactic Dynamics (Princeton) (2nd edition)
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
| Lectures | 24 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 74.5 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Michael Brown | Unit coordinator |