Aims of teaching - School of Physics and Astronomy

Aims of our teaching programmes

The following points outline the key aims of our teaching programmes. They reflect what we want students to achieve during their time with us and guide how we plan and deliver teaching in the School.

To provide a systematic functional knowledge and understanding of core physical concepts, principles and theories, and some of their applications.
To provide specialist functional knowledge and understanding relevant to the degree programme, for example in astrophysics, theoretical physics, or physics.
To provide access to physics and astronomy at the frontiers, capitalising on the strengths of the research undertaken in the School.
To develop proficiency in the analysis of complex physical problems and the use of mathematical and other appropriate techniques to solve them.
To develop the ability of students to organise their knowledge in a way that they can articulate the big ideas from the various modules, and can see the inter-relationship of material from different modules. Students should develop the ability to filter their knowledge in such a way that they can access the information that they need to apply to a particular problem or learning situation.
To provide the ability to plan, execute under supervision, analyse and report upon the results of an experiment or investigation.
To provide experience and expertise in experimental investigations for all students at the earlier stages of the programme. At least for students on the Physics degree programmes to develop these skills further in the honours years. At least for students on the Astrophysics degree programmes to develop competence in observational and computational techniques in astronomy. At least for Physics students to develop skills in the use of computers for control, data acquisition, and data analysis in experimental investigations.
To develop the professional skills of teamwork, independent learning, information retrieval, critical analysis, and the communication of scientific concepts in writing and orally.
To develop the ability to be a self-directed learner, including fostering a healthy intellectual curiosity in this and other disciplines, and the ability to determine one's own learning needs and to organise one's own learning.
To enthuse students about the discipline and its applications, and to develop their confidence in their work using the discipline.
To provide students in the School with an educational and social environment which encourages them to become informed, responsible, and respected members of society.
To provide opportunities and support for all students to reach their full potential during their studies.