This program provides a positive experience of physics and encourages students to foster and maintain an intellectual curiosity in the discipline, specifically in the area of physics with astronomy and space science. We encourage/educate our students to become active, lifelong and autonomous learners with good prospects of employment in economic sectors requiring analytical skills or for further study of the subject. Our students will become well grounded in the fundamentals of physics with an appreciation of more specialised knowledge and the current frontiers of research. Our learning environment emphasises laboratory work at all stages, combining in-class, project and problem-solving work including data analysis and programming. Our students will be imbued with professional values including scientific integrity and ethical behaviour, and the ability to communicate complex information effectively. We deliver targeted modules throughout the degree complemented by specialised laboratories and field trips, to focus on all aspects of astronomy and space science. Assessment is based on individual work, group work, work in the laboratory, project work including student presentation and written report.

1 - On successful completion of the programme, students will have acquired a good understanding of the core of physics (as defined by the Institue of Physics degree accreditation document), and students will appreciate the current boundaries of scientific knowledge.
2 - Students will be able to tackle problems in physics and formulate an appropriate solution
3 - Students will be able to use mathematics to describe the physical world
4 - Students will be able to plan, execute and report the results of an experiment or investigation
5 - Students will be able to compare results critically with predictions from theory
6 - Students will also have acquired communications skills
7 - Students will have acquired analytical skills
8 - Students will have acquired IT skills
9 - Students will have acquired personal skills, the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, interact constructively with other people, and show leadership in their area of expertise.
10 - Students will have acquired ethical behaviour, including critical thinking, understanding of arguments and consequences, and scientific integrity
11 - Students will be flexible, able to adapt and contribute to the specific research and development in the space science sector.

Approved Additional Standards for Continuation in undergraduate degree programmes in Science (all majors):

Students who return failing grades in a semester amounting to 15 credits, or more, will be identified under the UCD Continuation and Readmission Policy. Students whose rate of progression and performance over two academic sessions (2 years) is deemed unacceptable will be referred to the Academic Council Committee on Student Conduct and Capacity for exclusion from the programme.

As Stages 3 and 4 have the most dynamic components of the programme, and the material studied previously may no longer be relevant, a student who has been away from the programme for a significant period should be required to register again to Stage 3. The upper limit for completion of Stages 3 and 4 should be six years, if they choose to do 120 credits with 20 in each year.

This programme is particularly appealing if you are interested in exploring the Universe through physics and/or pursuing a career in the space industry.

This is primarily a physics degree programme, with an emphasis on the applications of physics in astrophysics and space science. You will gain an understanding of how ground-based and space-based technologies are used to explore the universe and how modern science can be used to understand it.

The course contains modules in physics, mathematics, astronomy and space science. Advanced topics include stellar and planetary formation and evolution, black holes, galaxies and cosmology. Related modules on relativity, elementary particle physics, nuclear physics and quantum mechanics provide a rigorous foundation in the science underpinning astronomy and astrophysics. There is a significant hands-on practical component where you will gain experience in experimental and observational techniques as well as scientific computing.

STAGES 1 & 2
In Stage 1 the focus is on building a strong foundation in Physics and Mathematics, and you will undertake a module called ?Astronomy and Space Science?. In Stage 2 you will continue to acquire core Physics and Mathematics skills and will undertake a module entitled ?Exploring the Solar System? which includes a dedicated laboratory component.

STAGE 3
In Stage 3 you will undertake advanced Physics modules on topics such as Mechanics and Relativity, Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics, Optics and Lasers, as well as a module entitled ?Stellar Astrophysics and Astronomical Techniques?. In addition, practical skills are developed through laboratory work which includes experiments on a range of topics in Physics and develops skills in computer interfacing, data analysis and computational physics. In addition, there are dedicated laboratories for understanding astronomical detectors, with emphasis on analysis of data produced by telescopes utilising CCD detectors, in preparation for the Stage 4 observing trip.

STAGE 4
In Stage 4 you will undertake core modules such as Applied Quantum Mechanics, High Energy Particle Physics and Galaxies and Observational Cosmology. Optional modules include Theoretical Astrophysics, General Relativity and Black Holes, as well as other topics including Medical Physics, Biophysics and Photonics. You will also undertake a trip to an observatory in Spain where you will obtain optical data for your final-year astronomy project.

Support will be provided for students in applying to summer internship programmes at NASA, ESA, CERN and the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

The Physics with Astronomy and Space Science degree is accredited by the Institute of Physics and positions graduates to pursue careers in many diverse areas underpinned by physics. Well-qualified graduates have opportunities to pursue careers in the rapidly growing space industry sector and with space agencies such as ESA and NASA. Additional career paths include medical physics, meteorology, energy technology sector, ICT industry, financial sector, geoscience and semi-state bodies. Graduates may apply for MSc programmes in areas such as Nanobio Science, Medical Physics, Meteorology or for PhD programmes in Ireland and abroad in diverse areas such as radiation physics, atomic physics, particle physics and astrophysics. The UCD School of Physics has a dedicated Masters program in Space Science and Technology for those interested in pursuing a career in the space industry.

Assoc. Prof. John Quinn
UCD Science Centre North
Belfield, Dublin 4
+353 1 716 2278
Email: john.quinn@ucd.ie
Web: Physics with Astronomy Space Science

Students should take 5 core modules and two option module module. Students are required to complete 50 programme credits in Stage 3. In addition, students may select 10 credits from elective modules to complete Stage 3 or alternatively, select additional modules from the BSc programme.

Students must take 60 credits of Physics modules, seven specified core (C) modules worth 50 credits, and two option modules. If not taken in Stage 3, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 as one of their option modules in Stage 4.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 3 Core Modules
PHYC30170	Physics with Astronomy and Space Science Laboratory I	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	20
PHYC30020	Classical Mechanics and Relativity	Autumn	5
PHYC30030	Quantum Mechanics	Autumn	5
PHYC30100	Stellar Astrophysics & Astronomical Techniques	Autumn	5
PHYC30070	Electromagnetism	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - A)1OF: Students must take PHYC20100 if not taken in stage 2. If PHYC20100 had been taken in Stage 2, students must take PHYC30050 in Stage 3.
PHYC20100	Thermo & Stat Physics	Autumn	5
PHYC30050	Condensed Matter Physics	Autumn	5
Stage 3 Options - A)1OF: Students must take PHYC20100 if not taken in stage 2. If PHYC20100 had been taken in Stage 2, students must take PHYC30050 in Stage 3.
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN1OF: If not taken in Stage 2 students MUST TAKE ACM20030. If ACM20030 had been taken in Stage 2, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 in Stage 3.
ACM20030	Computational Science	Autumn	5
PHYC30080	Optics & Lasers	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN1OF: If not taken in Stage 2 students MUST TAKE ACM20030. If ACM20030 had been taken in Stage 2, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 in Stage 3.
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN0OF: Students are required to complete 50 programme credits (cores/options) in Stage 3. Additional Option modules may be selected from the list below instead of Elective modules to complete Stage 3. Students wishing to take PHYC40110 Medical Physics in stage 4 must take PHYC30090 in stage 3.
ACM30220	Partial Differential Equations	Autumn	5
STAT20070	Data Modelling for Science	Autumn	5
PHYC30090	Nuclear Physics	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN0OF: Students are required to complete 50 programme credits (cores/options) in Stage 3. Additional Option modules may be selected from the list below instead of Elective modules to complete Stage 3. Students wishing to take PHYC40110 Medical Physics in stage 4 must take PHYC30090 in stage 3.
Stage 4 Core Modules
PHYC40600	Physics with Astronomy and Space Science Laboratory II	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	15
PHYC40890	Astronomy Field Trip (10)	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	10
PHYC30050	Condensed Matter Physics	Autumn	5
PHYC40020	Applied Quantum Mechanics	Autumn	5
PHYC40080	High Energy Particle Physics	Autumn	5
PHYC30090	Nuclear Physics	Spring	5
PHYC40030	Galaxies, Observational Cosmology & the Interstellar Medium	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules
Stage 4 Options - A)2OF: Students must take 2 option modules from the list below. If not taken in Stage 3, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 as one of their option modules in Stage 4.
ACM40090	Riemannian Differential Geometry	Autumn	5
PHYC40120	General Relativity & Cosmology	Autumn	5
PHYC40470	Computational Biophysics and Nanoscale Simulations	Autumn	5
PHYC40930	Ultrafast Soft X-ray Photonics	Autumn	5
PHYC41070	Techniques in Biophysics	Autumn	5
ACM30200	Mathematical Fluid Dynamics I	Spring	5
ACM40750	Gen Relativity & Black Holes	Spring	5
PHYC40110	Medical Physics (Selected Topics)	Spring	5
PHYC40200	Quantum Theory of Condensed Matter	Spring	5
PHYC40210	Applied Optics	Spring	5
PHYC40360	Theoretical Astrophysics	Spring	5
PHYC40650	Advanced Statistical Physics	Spring	5
PHYC40800	Quantum Field Theory	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - A)2OF: Students must take 2 option modules from the list below. If not taken in Stage 3, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 as one of their option modules in Stage 4.
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN0OF: If not taken in Stage 3 students MUST TAKE PHYC30080
PHYC30080	Optics & Lasers	Spring	5