Master of Science Optoelectronic and Quantum Technologies

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

Physics is a truly international venture. This degree generally follows the structure of the MSci Physics course, offering a comprehensive grounding in physics and mathematics, practical work in the laboratory, and computational physics, alongside the study of a language to prepare you for your third year in Europe.

You will be placed at a partner university in Europe for an academic year, studying units that parallel, as far as possible, the third year of the Bristol degree programme. For further details of year, abroad opportunities visit Global Opportunities.

In your final year back in Bristol you will undertake a major project or dissertation, working in a research group with a member of staff. Our students' final-year projects address questions at the frontier of our research fields, and the most successful have been published in scientific journals.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We encourage you to develop a broad range of skills, including problem solving and communication while experiencing life as a physicist in a different culture.

Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on these skills.

This four-year degree combines years one, two and four of our MEng Aerospace Engineering with the chance to spend your third year at an English-speaking partner university overseas.

The first two years cover underpinning material organised into three streams:

• Aerodynamics
• Dynamics and control
• Structures and materials.

These subjects are taught with aerospace applications and examples. Further context, such as space applications and aviation operations, is covered in specialist units.

You will also learn skills that cross all three streams, such as computing, systems engineering and design.

If you achieve the required grades in your first two years and are selected, you will spend your third year at a partner institution overseas, for example in the US, Canada or Australia. Your third-year studies will match the course at Bristol. Visit our Global Opportunities website for more information about where you can study abroad.

You will rejoin the course in Bristol for your final year and will choose from a range of topics. Some options relate to particular application areas, such as helicopter aerodynamics, space systems or wind power. Others study particular technologies, such as composites analysis and experimental aerodynamics, or you can choose to undertake a research project.

This degree combines the challenging, broad academic content of all our courses with an overseas dimension that reflects the multinational nature of the modern aerospace industry.

Theoretical physics aims to understand and predict phenomena in the physical world based on a conceptual and mathematical understanding of the laws of the universe.

This course includes topics such as quantum physics, quantum information, relativistic field theory and condensed matter physics. Our MSci Theoretical Physics degree incorporates a greater level of mathematics and theory with less laboratory work than MSci Physics.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. Many theoretical physics graduates pursue further academic research then progress to careers in research and teaching. The problem solving and mathematical skills you can gain during this degree are highly valued in finance, IT and management, as well as a wide range of other careers.

This joint degree combines a rigorous training in mathematics with an understanding of computer science and its applications.

Mathematics is the language of the sciences and is of core value in an advanced understanding of computer science. Computer science provides many of the key tools needed to solve the most important and pressing problems of the modern age.

The degree is ideal for someone looking to apply themselves in fields as varied as high finance, cryptography, quantum computing, algorithm design, machine learning and data science.

In your first year you will study essential core components of mathematics and computer science, giving you a rigorous foundation for future years. Subsequently, you will have the opportunity to tailor your mathematics and computer science options so that you graduate with a balance of theoretical and practical skills that reflect your interests.

Do you enjoy both physics and computing? Our three-year BSc Physics with Scientific Computing combines study of the building blocks and forces of nature with training in the computational and data-science skills that are currently revolutionising science and society.

Computing skills are vital across many physics-related careers. Computers control advanced instrumentation and simulations predicting the properties of the universe, from subatomic particles to the formation of galaxies. This course offers a unique combination of units and projects blending programming, machine learning, data science and high-performance computing with fundamental concepts in physics to produce a new kind of scientist – one with a firm foundation in physics, a sound appreciation of scientific computing and an understanding of what can be achieved by combining them.

Year one gives you a comprehensive grounding in physics, mathematics and programming, while year two focuses on the principles of physics with further emphasis on scientific coding. In your final year you will undertake a research project or dissertation supervised by staff with expertise in physics and computing.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We encourage you to develop a broad range of skills, including the experimental, theoretical and computational skills needed for a career in research and industry. Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on these skills.

If you have a fascination for physics and an appetite for scientific computing, you will enjoy this program.

If you are curious about our planet and interested in finding solutions to global problems, this course is for you. Learn about the physics, chemistry and history of the Earth through examining earth materials such as rocks, minerals and fossils, and use remote sensing techniques to explore the structure and chemistry of its inaccessible areas.

Learn with experts whose research feeds directly into your studies at the cutting edge of scientific developments. Recent options have included Volcanic Hazards, Global Tectonics, Mineral Resources and Hydrogeology. By your final year you’ll be conducting your own independent research and exploring the questions that matter most to you.

We have a large geology collection and the ability to measure unique geochemical reactions, giving you a real feel for geology in practice.

Field trips are a huge part of why our community is so tight knit, giving you the chance to get to know your course mates while honing your practical skills. 

This course is ideal for students interested in learning more about how to use numbers and data within geography. It provides training in practical and analytical skills, which will enhance your career prospects and provide you with a strong platform for postgraduate study. No prior knowledge of statistical techniques is required.

About two thirds of your studies will follow the single honours Geography course, where you will acquire core knowledge in your subject. You will develop a wide range of geographical and scientific skills, gaining an advanced overview of both human and physical geography in year one, and choosing from a wide range of specialist units in later years.

The remaining third of your course will provide interdisciplinary training in quantitative methods. In year one of the quantitative pathway we discuss how numbers and data are used to tell convincing stories in the media and social research. We consider what is meant by segregation and how it can be mapped and measured.

Year two offers practical classes in social statistics and applied data analysis, which will develop your skills in numeracy and analysis and enable you to undertake your own individual research project in an area of quantitative social science in year three.

In year four we offer training in more advanced quantitative methods suitable for postgraduate research.