School of Physics & Astronomy
Choice and Flexibility
A major feature of our course provision is in the choices available for students. There is a choice of entry point, there are choices in exit point, and there is major flexibility in choosing modules and changing degree intentions along the way.
Students
who have done sufficiently well in Advanced Highers or
A levels (or equivalent) in physics and
mathematics may opt to start some of our degree courses
at either level one or level two. If they enter
at level two on our accelerated-entry scheme then they
can then proceed to a BSc honours degree in physics, astronomy, or the joint degrees with Mathematics in three years, or the MPhys honours degree
in four. If they enter at level one these degree
programmes take a year longer, but the students can benefit
from the broad based first year provision, and can choose
modules in subjects from across the University. Entry at level one also allows a wider choice of degee
intention, including the joint degrees that we have with chemistry and with computing and with logic and philosophy of science. In recent years between about a quarter and a half of our entrant
students took the level two entry option. In appropriate
circumstances students may change their level of entry
in the first weeks of study at St Andrews.
Students
who join us straight from Highers will find level one
physics courses designed to dovetail onto their school
studies at a level similar to Advanced Highers and some
of A-level, though going somewhat further in certain areas.
These students can also benefit from the traditional
broad-based first year, taking modules from across the
University. Some students from an Advanced Higher
or A-level background may also appreciate the revision
of core concepts that can be undertaken with the underpinning
material in our level one courses, and the emphasis on seeing how the various ideas and equations are determined.
In common with many universities across the UK, we provide both an honours BSc degree and an honours MPhys (sometimes called MSci) integrated masters degree programme. Both are classified first degrees with honours, but the MPhys is a more advanced degree than the BSc. Those students who have done sufficiently well in their assessments in the first part of their study at St Andrews are given the option of aiming to graduate with a BSc at the end of level four, or to remain in St Andrews for a further year to aim towards the MPhys degree.
Within
the School we offer a number of degree titles, and students
readily change from one degree intention to another, as
long as they have taken the appropriate prerequisite modules.
Indeed, with the flexible system within the University
we see many students changing their degree intention from
one academic discipline to another. For example,
a level one student taking physics, maths, and chemistry
may be able to choose at the start of level two any one of these
subjects (or combinations) for their final degree.
Indeed, it would often be possible for students to postpone
a final decision between (say) physics and mathematics
until the start of level three. This sort of change
of degree option is commonplace; the ability of students
to experience university-level education in in a number
of subjects before making their final degree choice may
be one of the reasons for the very low non-completion
rate at St Andrews.
In addition, even within a particular degree programme, there can be substantial module choice at honours levels (levels three, four, and five).
Last updated BDS 9.17