Master of Science in Environmental Geoscience with Study Abroad

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

If you love the challenge of thinking through a maths question and the satisfaction of having solved a difficult problem, but also appreciate the applications of mathematics in areas of physics and want access to the exciting and specialised subjects offered by the School of Physics, then this four-year, joint honours course can offer you both.

Your mathematics study will focus on the areas of applied mathematics that are most linked to physics, such as the mathematical modelling of physical problems, quantum mechanics and random matrix theory. You will also cover a range of topics in physics, such as special relativity, electromagnetism and superconductors.

There is strong industrial demand for skilled engineers able to span the mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines. This degree will give you the fundamental knowledge and tools to satisfy this demand in a unique way.

You will study units from the mechanical and electrical disciplines along the following themes: design and integration of electro-mechanical systems; energy conversion and actuation systems; embedded systems and control; power electronics and electric drives; and energy management.

Years one and two offer a grounding in mathematics, thermal management, dynamics and control, computing, electrical energy technologies, and analogue and digital electronics. Laboratory work and case studies will draw together these interdisciplinary foundations.

In the third and fourth years you will choose from a range of options and engage in group design projects and an individual research project. This means you can focus on anything from soft robotics and intelligent adaptable power systems to efficient, clean propulsion technologies.

Mechanical and electrical engineering graduates will be able to innovate technologies in a range of areas. These might include:

• The power flow of renewable energy microgrids – from the wind, to the electric generator and the power network, to the user in the home;
• Robotics used in healthcare and manufacturing – by exploring the integration of mechanical and electrical elements to deliver new capabilities;
• The complete power train of future electric vehicles – from the energy storage system, through to the electric motors, to the mechanical drivetrain and traction system;
• Battery-free technology that harvests background energy, allowing sensors to operate in previously inaccessible and far-reaching locations.

You will learn about the fundamental building blocks and forces of nature and how quantum physics and relativity help us understand the world around us.

Year one gives you a comprehensive grounding in physics and mathematics, and year two focuses on the principles of physics. Flexibility and choice are key features of a Bristol Physics degree. You are usually able to transfer between courses in the first two years, and a range of options in the final year means you can specialise in your chosen field or take a more general approach.

Your third year includes a major project or dissertation. Project options include the Physics Education scheme, centred on teaching in a school, and the Industrial Group Project, based on a real problem set by industrial partners. Recent partners have included Sellafield, Bristol Zoo, Siemens and The Fat Duck restaurant.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We provide physics-specific employability sessions and encourage you to develop a broad range of transferable skills, including problem-solving and the ability to communicate complicated concepts. Our graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on these skills.

This course provides a thorough grounding in physics with astrophysics as a key component. It is led by an internationally renowned astrophysics research group and covers a broad range of contemporary astrophysics.

In years one and two the course introduces all of the key concepts in astrophysics and then focuses on cosmology. In year three you will progress to more advanced topics such as galaxies and high-energy astrophysics.

Your final-year project will be with a member of the astrophysics research group. The group currently specialises in cosmology, galaxy cluster astrophysics, galaxy evolution, black holes and active galaxies, and the formation of extrasolar planets.

The course gives you the opportunity to develop a physicist's broad range of skills, including problem-solving, numeracy, teamwork and the ability to communicate complicated concepts. You will also gain the skills needed for astronomical observations and analysis of data from international ground- and space-based observatories.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on the transferable skills that you gain on this course.

This MSc examines the physical processes governing the behaviour of volcanoes. The program is taught by leading scientists working at the cutting edge of research into volcanoes, and will provide you with a strong background for independent research to PhD level or for a career in industry, the public sector or a non-governmental organisation.

Increasing numbers of the global population being at risk means that volcano hazard prediction and mitigation is a fast-growing and competitive area of research that crosses the boundaries between traditional subject areas.

The program is designed to equip you with knowledge of the physical processes of volcanoes, including both sub-surface and surficial behaviour, insights into important historical eruptions, understanding of risk and risk mitigation, and instruction and experiential learning on data gathering, handling analysis and presentation to publishable standard.

You will develop a wide range of skills, such as quantitative and computational skills, including the application of basic mathematical descriptions of physical processes and the use of statistical and data handling software; proficiency in critical analysis of scientific material from a variety of sources, including primary research documents and original data; and the ability to synthesise concise and informative material produced for a variety of audiences. A familiarity with A-level mathematics (or international equivalent) is recommended.

Econometrics is the application of statistical methods to data to estimate economic models. It is used by economists to verify or disprove theories and analyse the impacts of policies and events on the health of the economy. This course combines the study of economics and econometrics with a wide range of optional units. 

Econometrics is a vital tool for economists because, unlike natural sciences, where controlled experiments are used to determine the effect of one thing on another, it is impossible to hold the economy constant while tinkering with a single variable. Econometrics provides the scientific means to overcome the issue using empirical observations.

Alongside mandatory modules in econometrics and the applied economics dissertation, you will select from a wide range of optional modules from within the Schools of Economics, Finance and Management during all three years of your degree.

The Study Abroad course extends your degree to four years, with your third year spent studying economics in English at a top-ranking university in Europe or farther afield before returning to Bristol for your final year. This course allows you to combine the challenging, broad academic content of all our economics degrees with an overseas dimension that reflects the international nature of the economy.

Our Chinese-English Translation MA program will increase your understanding of the field of translation and interpreting. You will explore how practical translation is informed by theory, develop your verbal and written communication skills, and build your IT literacy to help you produce translation of the highest quality. Students graduate from the program equipped with specialist skills in interpreting and localisation, as well as transferable skills such as analytical thinking, research and collaboration, which are essential to today's increasingly global market.

Students coming to the UK from overseas not only learn advanced translation skills from and into Chinese, but also develop their English language competency and their knowledge of UK and international culture. The program is also open to students for whom English is a native language with a high level of Chinese, typically undergraduate level or higher.

Postgraduates are full members of the academic community, with the opportunity to participate in the many research seminars and conferences taking place within the Faculty of Arts.

The School of Modern Languages has an established record in translator training and excellent industry links. Its translation staff include practising professional translators and translation researchers. We are a corporate member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and an institutional member of the American Translators’ Association (ATA). We are on the ATA’s list of approved providers of translator training. Students have an opportunity to obtain SDL Trados translation software certification.

The MSc Education Open Pathway allows you to design your own programme of study based on your areas of interest, rather than tying you in to a particular subject area. You can therefore pick and choose units from across the seven different specialist pathways as well as from our wider bank of optional units. For example, if your interests spanned both educational policy and the use of technology in education you might combine units from the Leadership and Policy Pathway with units from the Learning, Technology and Society Pathway.

A very diverse range of students take this pathway, attracted by the freedom that it offers. Many students are international drawn from a range of countries beyond Europe having recently completed their undergraduate studies. Many of these students nonetheless have some experience of teaching, volunteering or some other work experience in schools or education more broadly.

Other students, are more mature and returning to education after a longer period of work and so bring a wider wealth of experiences, yet wish to formalise their learning. All this diversity in backgrounds and experiences creates a rich learning environment and sharing of ideas among students and academics alike.

After completing the MSc, most students want to work in education in some form. But here too there is range in students’ goals and aspirations. Other students want to use the Masters year to develop their skills as educational researchers in order to go on to study for a PhD with us or elsewhere.