BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with a Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at the University of Kent

You will develop critical thinking and problem solving skills required to underpin your studies as well as beginning to gain knowledge to enable you to start using measurement instruments, understand forces, and fundamental electric circuits. Your ability to work with results including measurement errors as well as report writing skills will also be developed to support you throughout the degree and your professional life.

A solid grasp of algebra and geometry is a fundamental requirement for advanced study in any STEM subject. In this module, you will study foundational algebra and coordinate geometry required for Stage 1 entry into your chosen degree. Topics in algebra include law of indices, surds, and factoring. In geometry you will learn the essential rules of trigonometry, angles, and straight line geometry. In addition you will learn how to reason with logarithms, exponentials and gain skills in solving equ

A solid grasp of statistics and programming are both essential for modern mathematicians and scientists, in both academic study and the workplace. You'll learn the basics of probability, statistics, and hypothesis testing necessary for advanced study. In particular, you'll gain skills in using measures of central tendency such as the mean, median, and mode, and measures of dispersion such as the range, variance, and standard deviation. You'll learn how to use quartiles and percentiles, and to in

Learn about the interplay of the core concepts physicists and engineers use to describe the behaviour of objects in the world around us. Establish the relevant quantities, units and dimensions giving you the tools to understand mechanics and materials. Learn about characterising the motion of objects through distance, velocity and acceleration with time graphs. You will examine the behaviours of forces through Newtons' Laws and the relationship between those forces and work, power and energy. Yo

Calculus – the study of continuous change – is a pillar of advanced mathematics, with important applications in STEM and Financial subjects. Calculus and in particular differential equations are central to real life applications of mathematics in a wide variety of subject areas, ranging from Physics and Engineering to Biology and Finance. In this module, you will develop your knowledge of mathematical functions to give you a solid foundation with which to grasp calculus and other advanced topics

The principles of matter, waves and vibrations are important underpinning topics in physics and engineering supporting applications as diverse as quantum materials, medical imaging, data communications and astronomical observations. To prepare you for future study in your chosen degree, you will learn to analyse physical waves, vibrations, alternating current and electromagnetic waves. You will also gain awareness of the principles of electrostatics and magnetism, as well as being introduced to

To ensure you make rapid progress in physics, you need to understand mathematics. You'll undertake an in-depth study of calculus, complex numbers and vector mathematics, as well as statistical methods for data analysis. Through the calculus component, you will delve into the fundamental principles of differentiation and integration, emphasising their relevance in physics applications. Additionally, you will be introduced to scientific programming in Python, expanding your horizons in the applica

You'll dive into all the important topics in astronomy, optics and special relativity using straightforward mathematics to help you master the concepts. You'll study light focussing on the key principles of geometrical optics, and how they allow us to design and understand instruments including astronomical telescopes. This will lead into an exploration of important topics in modern astronomy, such as determining distances and observational properties of stars, beginning with our own solar syste

Building on your knowledge developed through 'Mathematics I' you'll explore key mathematical techniques involving multiple independent variables. These include the topics of differential equations, multivariate calculus, non-Cartesian coordinates, and vector calculus that are needed for further study in physics. Use of numerical approaches towards mathematical problem-solving is also introduced, demonstrating use of computational algorithms and techniques to solve diverse problems and graphicall

This is your chance to get hands-on through a series of experiments giving you experience in using laboratory apparatus and equipment. This will also teach you how to accurately record and analyse data in laboratory notebooks and write scientific laboratory reports. You'll carry out experiments covering subjects found in the Physics degree program and are run parallel with Computing Skills workshops in which you will be introduced to the fundamentals of using programming/scripting, and its appli

Embark on an exciting and comprehensive journey into the intricate world of motion, energy, and momenta and thoroughly understand the fundamental laws of motion, including the mathematical principles underpinning them. Explore concepts such as momentum, energy, rotational motion, angular momentum, and gravitational forces, and gain an appreciation of the mathematical description of harmonic oscillations and learn how to apply them to real-world scenarios. In addition to these core topics, you'll

You'll explore waves, fields and the quantum world through two parts, giving you the chance to make rapid progress and get the knowledge you need for further investigation and exploration. The first part of the module introduces you to electric fields, magnetic fields, and electro-magnetic phenomena including the behaviour of electric circuits and electromagnetic radiation. This will culminate in a fundamental, classical understanding of light as an electromagnetic wave. The second part of the m

Mathematical techniques are essential for solving problems in physics and related fields. You will gain comprehensive grounding in the mathematical methods necessary for solving differential equations, understanding special functions, and conducting harmonic analysis. You'll also get a grounding in numerical methods and asymptotic analysis, preparing students for the analytical challenges they will encounter in their studies and professional lives.

Modern science is a collaborative effort, requiring physicists to work in teams of varying sizes, and to communicate their results to a wide range of audiences. We ensure you will develop your ability to conduct complex investigations as a team, and to disseminate your outcomes. You'll do this through producing more comprehensive written reports and using computational scripts to analyse and visualise data. A key focus is on analysis of experimental uncertainties and comparison with underlying p

Dive into the fascinating world of quantum mechanics, where you will develop a comprehensive understanding of wave functions, the Schrödinger equation, and quantum numbers, essential for describing the properties of key physical systems.