Master of Science (Physics) (MC-SCIPHY) // Course structure

Course structure

The Master of Science - Physics program offers students an exciting array of topics designed to prepare students for a career as a professional physicist and beyond. Students must complete 200 pts comprising:

• Discipline Component subjects (87.5 points);
• Professional Skills subject (12.5 points);
• Research Project (100 points).

Subject options

Discipline Component

Students must select seven of the following subjects:

*Students may substitute at most two approved subjects at 300 level or higher. It will be compulsory to take 300-level Statistical Physics or 300-level Electrodynamics if the student did not take these subjects (or their equivalent at another institution) during undergraduate studies. Please contact course coordinator for approval.

Professional Skills

Students must take one of the following subjects:

Research Project

Students will gain research experience in Physics by completing a 100 point Research Project comprising: 

• Satisfactory outcomes for Progress Review Reports completed at the end of each semester (pass/fail);
• Group seminar (15 min + 5 min questions) or preliminary research report (5 pages of mixed text, diagrams, and mathematical formulas) due after the student has enrolled in 25 points of Research Project (pass/fail); 
• A preliminary literature survey and research plan at the end of year one or after the student has enrolled in 25 points of Research Project, (10 pages of mixed text, diagrams, and mathematical formulas) (pass/fail);
• Major thesis, comprising up to 50 pages of mixed text, diagrams, and mathematical formulas, due at the end of the final semester of Research Project enrolment (70% of the final grade);
• Assessment of research performance based on attendance, application, initiative and demonstrated skills (20% of the final grade);
• An oral presentation lasting up to 30 minutes, given at the end of the final semester of Research Project enrolment (10% of the final grade);
• Successful completion of a seminar series and/or reading course (depending on the research stream) providing advanced theoretical and/or practical training, marked on a pass/fail basis. Enrolment in the seminar series is required after completion of 25pts of Research Project.  

The research project will be taken over consecutive semesters (to a maximum of four) and will begin on the Monday of the first semester of research project enrolment (semesters 1 or 2) and continue until the end of the final semester of research project enrolment. The research project work continues over summer and winter breaks, minus recreation leave of 4 weeks per year

For how long and at what time within the enrolment the actual period of leave is to be taken needs to be negotiated with a student's supervisor.

The thesis will be due for submission at the end of the formal examination period of the final semester of research project enrolment (usually fourth semester) if an earlier date is not specified.

Students may enrol in a combination of research project subjects and coursework subjects as long as once the Research Project is commenced, the consecutive enrolment requirement is met and to ensure they have completed a total of 100 points for the research project by the end of their course.

You must consult your supervisor to discuss an appropriate study plan prior to enrolling in your subjects online through the Student Portal. In particular, it is important that you agree an appropriate combination of research project points and coursework point enrolment each semester.

The research project can be sequenced according to one of the following streams:

STREAM A (FOUR SEMESTERS)

STREAM B (THREE SEMESTERS)

STREAM C (THREE SEMESTERS)

Last updated: 30 January 2024