Theoretical Physics (2025 Curriculum)

This programme is intended to:

• Provide education and training of high quality in Physics.
• Stimulate and encourage in students a questioning and creative approach, thus developing their enthusiasm for Physics and a capacity for independent judgement.
• Facilitate students' personal development through the acquisition and use of a wide range of transferable skills, which will be taught through a dedicated set of weekly activities.
• Provide students with a sound foundation in Physics, preparing them well for employment or further study and meeting the national needs for qualified graduates as identified by the relevant professional accrediting bodies.

The Physics department also intends to provide students taking this programme with:

• Opportunities to engage with a range of advanced concepts and applications, drawing upon the specialist expertise of the staff.
• The opportunity, through the flexibility provided by a wide range of choices of both degree programmes and modules, to complete a programme of study relevant to their interests and aptitude.
• Regular and frequent small group contact with staff with the appropriate teaching skills and experience, including current activity in high-level research.
• An environment which is caring and supportive in both academic and pastoral aspects and which will have encompassed an appropriate range of teaching methods and broadened their learning experience.

The BSc Theoretical Physics degree is a 3-year full-time programme of study at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 6 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into 3 stages.

This programme is studied in three 'stages' usually over three years and is University-based throughout that time. Physics and Astronomy degrees have a Stage 1 year structured so that transfers between programmes are straightforward in most cases.

The programme is divided into units of study called modules. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload. 1 credit is nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work. The 'level' of a module indicates its position in the progressive development of academic cognitive abilities, and/or practical skills. An 'elective' is an unspecified module that allows the student to broaden their education, e.g. by learning a foreign language. More details are given in the module description template specification.

Interim / Exit Awards

With the requisite number of credits, a student may qualify for a Certificate of Higher Education or a Diploma of Higher Education.

Guidance on Interim and Exit awards (and the difference between than can be viewed here: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pma/introduction/#exit-interim

Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook.

Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook. 

The department has a dedicated Pastoral Mentor, that can provide support for students who face difficulties beyond standard academic matters.

Additionally, the University provides a wide range of student support services including Student Counselling Service, Student Health Centres, Study Skills Service, Nursery (Streatham campus), Student Advice Centre (Guild of Students), Chaplaincy International Office, English and Foreign Language Centres.

In addition to that, the Department provides a personal academic tutor that would follow the student’s path along the degree and will be able to advise on any academic difficulties the student might face during their degrees. Also, the department provides a Physics handbook and web-based learning materials on-line (ELE2), problems class sessions to support the lecture-based material, and a Student/Staff Liaison Committee so students can contribute directly to the enhancement of educational and other provision at discipline level.

The University Careers Advisory Service provides expert advice to all students to enable them to plan their futures, through guidance interviews, psychometric testing, employer presentations, skills events, practice job interviews and CV preparation.

The University Library maintains its principal collections in the main library buildings on the Streatham and St Luke's campuses, together with a large library at Camborne School of Mines and a number of specialist collections in certain Schools. The total Library collection comprises over a million volumes and 3000 current periodical subscriptions.

Information Technology (IT) Services provide a wide range of services throughout the University including open access computer rooms, some of which are available 24 hours, 7 days a week. Helpdesks are maintained on the Streatham, St Luke's and CSM campuses, while most study bedrooms in halls and flats are linked via RESNET to the University's campus network. Additionally, the School of Physics has its own dedicated facilities.

Further information about the above services is published on the Web.

The normal minimum entry qualifications required for this programme are equivalent to Three GCE A levels including Mathematics (or Pure Mathematics) and Physics. Offers of places typically require three GCE A levels at grades in the range AAA-ABB or equivalent (300-340). For more information, refer to the detailed entrance requirements available at https://www.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/physics/physicsbsc/

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed Faculty assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both Faculty and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.

Certain programmes are subject to accreditation and/or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs).

The University and its constituent Departments draw on a range of data in their regular review of the quality of provision. The annually produced Performance Indicator Dataset details admission, progression, completion and first career destination data, including comparisons over a five-year timespan. Progression statistics are included in routine internal monitoring and review processes. This programme will be accredited by the Institute of Physics, pending confirmation expected in November 2025.