MPhys Physics with Theoretical Physics / Course details

The Yr3 Physics Laboratory (PHYS30181) offers an 8-week practical course designed to develop advanced laboratory and data analysis skills in final-year physics students. It combines hands-on experiments with presentations and written reports to assess experimental competence and scientific communication.

• The course includes 64 hours of practical lab work with paired students conducting experiments, assessed through a 70% interview and 30% report grading split.
• Students must achieve at least 40% overall to pass, with strict policies on report length, late submissions, and interview attendance.
• Learning outcomes emphasize critical evaluation of results, error analysis, professional record-keeping, risk assessment, and scientific writing, supported by 100 notional learning hours and detailed feedback mechanisms.

The third year laboratory aims to develop your laboratory and data analysis skills on a range of finals level physics experiments.

Classes:

Most students will take 10 credits of lab per semester (PHYS30181/PHYS30182), though some programmes only have one semester of lab. Each semester students will work on a single 8-week lab experiment, running for the first 8 weeks of the semester. Lab hours are 09:00 to 17:00 (with reasonable rest break periods permitted) on Tuesdays or Thursdays (the lab day will be allocated at the start of semester).

Students will usually work in pairs on their experiment and will be given a great deal of freedom in the way they perform their experiments, but demonstrators will discuss their experiments with them at the beginning and will be available to assist and advise at all stages.