BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics Bachelor's degree at Keele University

A fundamental understanding of physical principles follows from investigating the composition and movement of matter through space and time. You will find out how the universe is put together, from the very big to the very small, exploring motions on scales from atoms and molecules to stars and planets, and encounter the boundaries of classical Newtonian physics with an introduction to quantum ideas and Einstein's Special Relativity.

Electricity, magnetism and wave-like phenomena are foundational topics in the study of physics. Beginning with fundamental physical laws you will learn how to describe ideal cases and then apply your knowledge to diverse real-world devices, scenarios and engineering problems that involve electric charges, magnetic fields and oscillating systems, culminating in the analysis of alternating currents, resonance and the essential properties of waves in light, sound and other media.

A physicist often needs to solve real-world problems presented in many different ways, using mathematics as the language to describe physical phenomena. Here you will learn the art of problem-solving, including mathematical and statistical modelling and the analyses of uncertainty and risk, applying these skills to scenarios focused on linear and rotational mechanics, gravitation and harmonic motion. Regularly working in groups, you will gain valuable employability skills such as teamwork and co

A professional physicist requires a range of specialist skills, which you will start developing in this module. You will acquire hands-on practice in conducting a variety of physical experiments, effectively and accurately recording and analysing your data using specialist software. You will develop the art of scientific writing and reporting, and practise the principles of the scientific method, including error analysis, risk assessment and critical thinking. These skills are the foundations of

Scientific programming is a key skill in fast-evolving science fields like Physics and Astrophysics. In this module you will learn the basics of computer programming with python, including flow control, defining functions, the use of external libraries and the generation of graphs and images. You will demonstrate how these highly-valued programming skills can be used to solve a series of computational problems faced by physicists and astrophysicists, and equip yourself for future study and caree

Humanity is compelled to understand the Universe. You will be introduced to planets, stars and galaxies and their place in the Universe. You will explore how we measure their properties, from the distances to celestial bodies to the masses and temperatures of stars and planets, and even the mass of our Milky Way galaxy. You will learn about the tools and techniques that Astronomers use to investigate the Universe and make your own measurements at our on-campus observatory.

Your university study may be driven by curiosity about the physical world, but it is also about developing graduate attributes that lead to successful and fulfilling careers. The activities and milestones in our career planning modules will grow your potential beyond Physics knowledge. In Level 4, you will learn to identify, evidence and showcase your collaborative, organisational, presentational and problem-solving skills. You will acquire tools to effectively select and prepare for potential w

The way light and matter interact happens on minute scales but results in macroscopic effects that can be described by global behavioural laws. In this module, you will learn about optics and thermodynamics, including how light waves interfere and diffract and how systems achieve equilibrium. These fundamental concepts underpin a vast range of phenomena beyond the topics of this module, and have a variety of real-word applications, from engines and the weather to optical fibers and the most powe

Quantum mechanics is the foundation of technologies that have built the modern world and gives us the tools to study nature at its most fundamental, microscopic level. This module will introduce you to the weirdness of quantum theory, quantum statistics and atomic physics, equipping you for more advanced topics to come. You will investigate applications ranging from scanning tunneling electron microscopes and superconductors to white dwarfs and nuclear fusion in stellar astrophysics.

Nuclear physics is a key component in decarbonising our energy generation and is literally at the heart of stellar astrophysics. You will extend the ideas developed in quantum and atomic physics to understand the components and composition of atomic nuclei, nuclear stability, fusion, fission and radioactive decay. You will then apply those concepts to the generation of nuclear power, both here on Earth and at the centres of the Sun and other stars.

You will build upon the practical laboratory skills developed at level 4, extending your abilities to plan, execute and communicate scientifically. You will work on individual experiments and team investigations to prepare you for level 6 research projects. Astrophysicists routinely make use of specialised software to derive the fundamental properties of astronomical objects; you will practise techniques to acquire and analyse astronomical data to derive the temperature and luminosity of stars,

Real-world physical problems often require a blend of physics know-how, mathematical analysis and computational techniques for their solution. Building on your Level 4 foundations, you will gain important new applied mathematical skills and practise more advanced