Physics with Industrial Placement University of Southampton

Overview

This  Physics with Industrial Placement MPhys course offered by the University of Southampton is offered to all students on our Master of Physics degree at the end of year 2.

We regularly place students with companies such as global radiation detection company Symetrica, fibre laser specialists NKT Photonics, and electronics and engineering consultancy Roke Manor Research Ltd.

Unlike the sandwich-year placements offered by many other universities, this industrial placement won’t add an extra year to your studies.

That means you’ll be able to enter the job market after 4 years with real-world professional skills and a commercial awareness that will impress employers.

Many students are employed by their placement company when they graduate.

Year 1 overview

Core modules will give you a grounding in the key principles of physics and experimentation.

These include topics like:

• physics skills
• mathematics
• waves and light
• energy and matter
• motion and relativity
• electricity and magnetism

You can also choose from optional modules covering topics like as space science, photonics and linear algebra.

Year 2 overview

Core modules include:

• electromagnetism
• quantum physics
• mechanics
• wave physics

You can choose from a range of optional modules such as:

• mathematical models
• photonics
• medical physics
• galaxies
• energy in the environment

Year 3 overview

Core modules in year 3 cover everything from particle physics to theories of matter, space and time and atomic physics.

You’ll also do an individual dissertation and follow your interests by choosing from a wide range of advanced optional modules.

Year 4 overview

In the fourth year you’ll have the opportunity to spend about 6 months on an original research and development project in an industrial laboratory.

Projects are intended to cover a broad area. They could range from practical work in photonics or materials to computational and theoretical work underpinning industrial problems related to physics or astronomy.

You will return to the university in the second semester and finish your studies.

Career Opportunities

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including: Information and Communication, Manufacturing, Education, Finance and Insurance, Public Administration and Defence, Scientific and Technical.

Careers directly related to this course:

• Nanotechnologist

• Nuclear engineer

• Research scientist

• University lecturer

• Radiation protection practitioner