Subjects: PHS4000, PHS4100, PHS4200
At the honours level, physics offers three subjects, PHS4000 (Experimental physics), PHS4100 (Theoretical physics) and PHS4200 (Applied physics). Students wishing to proceed to fourth year should apply towards the end of their third year. Normally, a credit or a higher grade at third-year level is required. All students are assigned an individual supervisor. All three subjects consist of lecture units and a research-oriented project.
Students may commence work on their projects in the last week in January or the first week in February, by arrangement with their supervisor, although projects are usually undertaken in second semester. The lecture units are normally offered in first semester and are listed below; each lecture unit comprising eighteen hours of class contact. Students are required to choose lecture units in collaboration with their supervisors, and to have that choice approved by the head of the department. Not all fourth-year units listed may be offered in any one year. In special circumstances some variation in the compulsory units listed may be permitted. Students may include units at an appropriate level from those available in other departments of the university. Students who have taken units offered at both third and fourth-year levels, as part of their third-year study, may not repeat those units at honours year.
Experimental physics projects
Students enrolled in PHS4000 (Experimental physics) are required to present a report on an original experimental project chosen in consultation with their supervisor.
Theoretical physics projects
Students enrolled in PHS4100 (Theoretical physics) are required to complete a research project involving some original work on a topic chosen in consultation with their supervisor.
Applied physics projects
Students enrolled in PHS4200 (Applied physics) are required to present a report on an original applied/experimental project chosen in consultation with their supervisor.