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Physics  (PYS1)

BSc (NFQ Level 8) · Academic Year 2025/2026
School
School of Physics
Attendance
Full Time
Level
Undergraduate
NFQ Level
8
Award
Bachelor of Science
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Dr Thomas McCormack
Overall Programme Credits:
240
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 2
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 3
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 4
Core/Option: 60 Electives: 0
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 3: 50
Stage 4: 60

Curricular information is subject to change.

Physics is about the fundamental laws of the universe that govern living as well as non-living systems. It is a fundamental science, involving a deep understanding of nature derived from mathematical and experimental insights. Physics is the subject that constantly asks “why?”, questioning why matter and energy exist and act as they do, and discovering the underlying rules that govern their behaviour. Physicists now believe that all phenomena observed in the universe can be explained in terms of a handful of forces: gravity, electricity, magnetism, and weak and strong nuclear interactions.

This program provides a positive experience of physics and encourages students to foster and maintain an intellectual curiosity in the discipline. 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. 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 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 experimental aspects in any research and development team.

Students’ performance will be reviewed at the end of the academic year. Students who fail 50% or more of their registered modules, and who fail to progress to the next stage of their programme, will be identified under the UCD Continuation – Academic progress policy. Students’ performance will continue to be reviewed in subsequent trimesters and students will be invited to meetings with the College of Science office for support and guidance.

Where the rate of progression and performance over two academic years is deemed unacceptable, a case will be submitted to the Governing Board for review. A recommendation for discontinuation may be the outcome of this review.

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.

Students can apply to study for a trimester or year in third year in a number of universities worldwide including University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Santa Cruz; San Jose State University, and University of Melbourne.

The UCD Physics degree is an accredited Physics degree and recent Physics graduates have pursued careers in areas such as energy technology, medical physics, meteorology, advanced materials (e.g. semiconductor industry), Geoscience, ICT and financial industries, and semi-state bodies such as EPA’s Office of Radiological Protection.

Graduates are also eligible to apply for MSc programmes in NanoBio Science, Space Science & Technology, Nanotechnology, Medical Physics or Meteorology, or for PhD programmes in Ireland and abroad in diverse areas such as Radiation Physics, Physics of Advanced Materials, Atomic Physics, Particle Physics and Astrophysics.

UCD Science Office

You can contact the UCD Science Office in the following ways:




  • Submit your query using our dedicated Contact Form.

  • Drop into the office in the UCD O'Brien Centre for Science, Science East, Room E1.09. Our office opening hours are 10am to 4pm (during term time).


Stage 3

Students take 5 core modules. Overall, 50 programme credits must be completed in Stage 3. Students may select 10 credits from elective modules or alternatively, additional modules can be selected from the BSc programme.

Stage 4

Students take 4 core modules (35 credits) and five option modules (25 credits).

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 3 Core Modules
 PHYC30300 Advanced Laboratory I 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  20
Stage 3 Core Modules
 PHYC30020 Classical Mechanics and Relativity Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 PHYC30030 Quantum Mechanics Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 PHYC30070 Electromagnetism Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 PHYC30080 Optics & Lasers Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must take PHYC20100 if not taken in stage 2, otherwise they must take PHYC30050
 PHYC20100 Thermo & Stat Physics Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must take PHYC20100 if not taken in stage 2, otherwise they must take PHYC30050
 PHYC30050 Condensed Matter Physics Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 1 of:
If not taken in Stage 2 students must take ACM20030. If ACM20030 had been taken in Stage 2, students must take PHYC30090 in Stage 3. PLEASE NOTE: Students wishing to take PHYC40110 Medical Physics in stage 4 must take PHYC30090 in stage 3
 ACM20030 Computational Science Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 1 of:
If not taken in Stage 2 students must take ACM20030. If ACM20030 had been taken in Stage 2, students must take PHYC30090 in Stage 3. PLEASE NOTE: Students wishing to take PHYC40110 Medical Physics in stage 4 must take PHYC30090 in stage 3
 PHYC30090 Nuclear Physics Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students are required to complete 50 programme credits (cores/options) in Stage 3. Additional modules may be selected from the list below or alternatively, students may select 10 credits from elective modules to complete Stage 3.
 ACM30220 Partial Differential Equations Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students are required to complete 50 programme credits (cores/options) in Stage 3. Additional modules may be selected from the list below or alternatively, students may select 10 credits from elective modules to complete Stage 3.
 PHYC30100 Stellar Astrophysics & Astronomical Techniques Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Students are required to complete 50 programme credits (cores/options) in Stage 3. Additional modules may be selected from the list below or alternatively, students may select 10 credits from elective modules to complete Stage 3.
 PHYC41070 Techniques in Biophysics Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 PHYC40960 Physics Project 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
Stage 4 Core Modules
 PHYC40970 Advanced Laboratory II (15) 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  15
Stage 4 Core Modules
 PHYC40020 Applied Quantum Mechanics Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 PHYC40080 High Energy Particle Physics Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of:
If not taken in Stage 3, students MUST TAKE PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 in Stage 4.
PHYC30050 Condensed Matter Physics Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of:
If not taken in Stage 3, students MUST TAKE PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 in Stage 4.
PHYC30090 Nuclear Physics Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 ACM40750 Gen Relativity & Black Holes Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC30100 Stellar Astrophysics & Astronomical Techniques Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40120 General Relativity & Cosmology Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40470 Computational Biophysics and Nanoscale Simulations Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40930 Ultrafast Soft X-ray Photonics Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC41070 Techniques in Biophysics Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 SCI30080 Professional Placement-Science Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40570 Physics Demonstrating\Tutoring Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 ACM30200 Mathematical Fluid Dynamics I Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 ACM41040 GR and Gravitational Waves Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40030 Galaxies, Observational Cosmology & the Interstellar Medium Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40110 Medical Physics (Selected Topics) Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40200 Quantum Theory of Condensed Matter Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40210 Applied Optics Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40360 Theoretical Astrophysics Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40650 Advanced Statistical Physics Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 3 of:
Students should select a minimum of 3 Option modules from the list below. Students who are required to register to the Programme Core PHYC30050 or PHYC30090 should only register to 4 modules from this list. Students who are required to register to both PHYC30050 and PHYC30090 should select 3 modules from this list. Students who take ACM41040 must also take ACM40750. Students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be manually registered to this module by the College of Science Office.
 PHYC40800 Quantum Field Theory Spring  5

See the UCD Assessment website for further details, including worked examples of how degree award GPAs are calculated

Module Weighting Info
 
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
BHSCI001 Stage 4 - 70.00%
Stage 3 - 30.00%
 Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20
Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67
Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07
Pass

2.00

2.47
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