BSc Honours in Physics with Meteorology

• Awarding institution
• Teaching institution
• Programme accredited by
• Final award
• Programme title
• UCAS code
• Relevant QAA subject benchmarking group
• Postholder with overall responsibility for QA
• Date of production/revision
• External summary
• Education aims of programme

• Programme Outcomes
• Knowledge and understanding
• Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry
• Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy
• Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication
• Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness
• Technical/practical skills

• Programme structure and features
• Teaching and learning methods and strategies
• Assessment methods and strategies
• Career opportunities
• Other items

External Summary

Physics is the fundamental human endeavour to understand the structure and evolution of the universe. Its scope runs from quarks and leptons, the smallest fragments of the universe, through the material world we perceive directly with our senses, and on to stars and galaxies, and the origins and fate of the universe itself. Meteorology is the application of physical principles to the understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere. Our aim is to guide you through this territory; to share with you our enthusiasm for it; and to equip you with a range of thinking and practical skills which you will need if your subsequent career is in Physics or Meteorology, and which you will value even if it is not.

Studying Physics at Edinburgh allows students to develop:

•    knowledge and understanding of the natural world and the underlying mathematical methodologies used to describe it;
•    knowledge of frontier activities capitalising on the strengths of a thriving and diverse research environment in the School of Physics & Astronomy and the School of GeoSciences;
•    the attitude of mind conducive to critical questioning and creative thinking and the capacity to formulate ideas mathematically and explore them algebraically, graphically, and numerically;
•    to develop an understanding of laboratory experimentation, critical evaluation of experimental data;
•    to develop an understanding of data analysis techniques and numerical modelling; 
•    the skills required for employment in data science, science-based industry, education, and professions requiring numerate problem-solvers.

Educational Aims of Programme

The educational aims of the Physics with Meteorology programme at Edinburgh are:

• To provide a degree programme with flexibility and choice, accommodating a range of entrance qualifications and experience;
• To provide a thorough grounding in the fundamental principles underpinning of physics and applications in atmospheric and climate physics;
• To provide a thorough grounding in experimental techniques and the critical analysis of experimental data;
• To provide exposure to frontier activities, capitalising on the strengths of a thriving and diverse research environment in Edinburgh in both physics and geoscience;
• To provide a balanced training in the methodologies of modern physics specialising in atmospheric and climate physics;
• To develop general transferable skills related to computing, data analysis, problem-solving and communication;
• To provide a platform for employment in science-based industry, education and the wide spectrum of professions calling for numerate problem-solvers.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding

By engaging with and completing a degree in Physics with Meteorology, graduates will acquire knowledge and understanding of:

• the core knowledge base of Physics including classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, subatomic physics;
• specialist knowledge in meteorology and atmospheric physics;
• balanced training in the methodologies and research skills of modern theoretical and experimental physics.

Programme outcomes: Graduate Attributes - Skills and Abilities in Research and Enquiry

The degree programme aims to develop:

• the attitude of mind conducive to critical questioning and creative thinking;
• a capacity to formulate ideas mathematically and explore them algebraically, graphically, and numerically;
• the ability to harness these skills in tandem with the core knowledge base to solve problems;
• the ability to assimilate and evaluate advanced literature from a range of diverse sources;
• the ability to critically analyse experimental data and compare mathematical or computational predictions.

Programme outcomes: Graduate Attributes - Skills and Abilities in Personal and Intellectual Autonomy

The degree programme aims to develop:

• a disposition to approach unfamiliar situations with a spirit of critical enquiry;
• the ability to formulate a physical problem using the appropriate mathematical, numerical or experimental methodologies.

Programme outcomes: Graduate Attributes - Skills and Abilities in Communication

The degree programme aims to develop the skills to:     

• formulate a coherent written and oral presentation based on material gathered and organised independently on a given physics or meterology topic;
• formulate a mathematical argument or analysis of experimental data and communicate this effectively to peers and educators;
• function effectively as a member or leader of a team working towards a joint report and presentation.

Programme outcomes: Graduate Attributes - Skills and Abilities in Personal Effectiveness

The degree programme aims to develop:

• the ability to collaborate effectively and productively with others in the process of inquiry and learning including those with a range of backgrounds and knowledge;
• the ability to organise their own independent learning to an effective schedule;
• a commitment to manage time effectively, utilise resources and meet deadlines.

Programme outcomes: Technical/Practical skills

The degree programme aims to develop:

•    confident users of Linux and Microsoft operating systems and software;
•    scientific programming skills in Python; 
•    numerical programming and computer simulation techniques; 
•    computer algebra and symbolic manipulation;
•    the ability to analyse experimental data and assess what can be inferred from it in the light of theoretical expectations and experimental uncertainties;
•    scientific writing and presentation skills.

Programme Structure and Features

The programme structure is a full time, 480 credit point Scottish Bachelors with Honours with entry at first- or second-year level and is fully compliant with the University’s Curriculum Framework and Scottish Qualification Framework.
 

First Year 
Total of 120 credits of courses, normally at SCQF Level 8

Specified compulsory courses are:
•    Physics 1A [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Physics 1B [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Mathematics for Physics 1 [20 credits] SCQF Level 8 
•    Mathematics for Physics 2 [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    40 credits of free choice from Schedules A-Q, S, T, W and Y at Level 7/8. 
 Progression to second year requires passes in all first year specified compulsory courses. By concession 40 credits of courses may be carried but must not include specified courses.

Second Year 
Total of 120 credits of courses, normally at SCQF Level 8

Specified compulsory courses are:
•    Physics of Fields and Matter [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Dynamics and Vector Calculus [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Experimental Physics 2 [10 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Programming and Data Analysis [10 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Modern Physics [10 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Linear Algebra and Several Variable Calculus [10 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Meteorology: Atmosphere and Environment [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Meteorology: Weather and Climate [20 credits] SCQF Level 8

Progression requires 120 credits of courses from second year. 


Second Year Point of Entry 2 (Direct Entry) for suitably qualified students
Total of 120 credits of courses, normally at SCQF Level 8

Specified compulsory courses are:
•    Physics of Fields and Matter [20 credits]  SCQF Level 8
•    Dynamics and Vector Calculus [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Experimental Physics 2 [10 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Programming and Data Analysis [10 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Modern Physics [10 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Linear Algebra and Several Variable Calculus [10 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Physics and Mathematics for Direct Entry [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Meteorology: Atmosphere and Environment    [20 credits] SCQF Level 8
•    Physics and Mathematics for Direct Entry [20 credits] SCQF Level 8

Progression requires 120 credits of courses from second year. 


Junior Honours (Third Year) 
Total of 120 credits of courses, normally at Level 9

Specified compulsory courses are:
•    Fourier Analysis and Statistics [20 credits] SCQF Level 9
•    Quantum Mechanics [20 credits] SCQF Level 9
•    Thermal Physics [20 credits] SCQF Level 9
•    Electromagnetism [20 credits] SCQF Level 9
•    Research Methods in Physics [10 credits] SCQF Level 9

Either:
•    Experimental Physics 3 [20 credits] SCQF Level 9
Or:
•    Atmospheric Science Field Skills [10 credits] SCQF Level 10
And:
•    Experimental Physics 3 (CP10) [10 credits] SCQF Level 9

Either:
•    Computer Modelling [10 credits] SCQF Level 9
Or:
•    Numerical Recipes [10 credits] SCQF Level 10

Progression requires 120 credits of courses at first sit. Students obtaining 120 credits after August re-sits are eligible for the BSc Ordinary Sciences PHY degree.


Senior Honours (Fourth Year) 
Total of 120 credits of courses, normally at Level 10 or 11

Specified compulsory courses are:
•    Relativity, Nuclear and Particle Physics [20 credits] SCQF Level 10
•    Physics Skills [10 credits] SCQF Level 10
•    Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics [10 credits] SCQF Level 10
•    Group Project [10 credits]  SCQF Level 11
•    Atmospheric Physics [10 credits] SCQF Level 10
•    Atmospheric Dynamics [10 credits] SCQF Level 10
•    Physics of Climate [10 credits]  SCQF Level 10
•    Senior Honours Project [20 credits]  SCQF Level 10
Or:
•    Science Education Placement: Physics [20 credits] SCQF Level 10
•    20 credits of free choice from Schedule M - Q at Level 10/11. 
Additional courses from other schedules subject to approval.



Classification of Honours
Honours classification is determined on the 240 credits of courses taken in the Junior Honours and Senior Honours years, with years weighted on a 50:50 basis. Classification is based on the University Common Marking Scheme. 

Equality and Diversity
The School is an active participant in the Institute of Physics JUNO project with “Champion” status where we monitor and report on the equality and diversity across the whole School including activities of academic staff, research staff, post and undergraduate students. 

Teaching and Learning Methods and Strategies

Assessment Methods and Strategies

Each course has its own assessment criteria appropriate to the specified Learning Outcomes of the course as detailed in the on-line course specification. All courses are assessed using the University Common Marking Scheme. Typical modes of assessment through the programme are detailed below:

Pre-Honours: (first and second year)

Lecture based physics and mathematics courses are assessed by end of course written examinations (unseen) with typical weight of 80% being augmented by weekly hand-in assignments typically weighted at 20%. These are marked throughout the semester and returned with feedback comments typically within 10 days of submission. All semester 1 pre-honours lecture based courses offer examination feedback workshops as the start of semester 2 where students can view their marked scripts and receive personal feedback from the course staff. Class performance and common error feedback on semester 2 examinations are supplied via the School intranet.

Practical and computing classes are assigned by continuous assessment either via written submitted reports, laboratory notebooks or, for computing classes, specified checkpoints assessed during the assigned workshop classes. All submitted reports and notebooks are returned with written feedback, and students receive verbal feedback and advice on computer checkpoints from the assessors.

Honours:

Lecture-based physics and mathematics courses are mainly assessed by either end-of-course, or end-of-year written examinations (unseen). Core courses at Junior Honours are augmented by periodic hand-ins with a typical weight of 20% which are marked throughout the course and returned with written feedback. The reduction in frequency of these hand-ins, compared to pre-honours, encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning and time management. In courses with no course work, students are encouraged to attempt course questions in advance and seek feedback on their work at the course workshops/tutorials. All students have access to their marked examination scripts via the School Teaching Office.

Practical and computing courses at Junior Honours are assessed as in pre-honours, with laboratory work assessed via written laboratory reports (on which feedback is provided). Project work at Senior Honours level is assessed via laboratory performance, written report and poster presentation; written feedback is provided on all aspects. Group exercises in Research Methods and the Group Project are assessed by a written group report, group presentation and peer moderation (feedback is provided on all aspects).

Career Opportunities

Academic and Student Advisers