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Course Structure

For the most up-to-date information on the Master of Physics course structure please refer to the UWA Handbook.  The following summary is provided as an additional overview of the course structure, but may not always reflect recent updates.  The UWA Handbook is the primary source of information and will contain up-to-date information.

The two-year degree has a total workload of 2.0 EFTSL (measured as 96 credit points at UWA). Students take ten coursework units, and six research units, with each unit being 0.125 EFTSL.  Some students may be offered up to four coursework units of Advance Standing for study completed prior to commencing the Master of Physics, but all students are encouraged to make use of the opportunity to complete ten coursework units, to maximise their learning opportunity.

The Master of Physics course includes five specialisations, one of which is Astronomy and Astrophysics. Students in this specialisation must take the following “Core” units: there are four Core coursework units, and the six research units are all core.

 Category  Type  Unit Code  Unit Name  Avail
Coursework Core  PHYS4418  Cosmological Physics  S2
Coursework Core  PHYS4419  Galaxies & Galactic Dynamics  S1
Coursework Core  PHYS5513  Computational Statistics for Physics  S2
Coursework Core  PHYS5514  Radio Astronomy & the Interstellar Medium  S1
Research Core  PHYS5562  Research Proposal in Astronomy & Astrophysics  S1,2
Research Core  PHYS5301  Physics Research Project Part 1  S1,2
Research Core  PHYS5302  Physics Research Project Part 2  S1,2
Research Core  PHYS5303  Physics Research Project Part 3  S1,2
Research Core  PHYS5304  Physics Research Project Part 4  S1,2
Research Core  PHYS5563  Dissertation in Astronomy & Astrophysics  S1,2

Some students will also be required to take up to four conversion coursework units from the following list:

 Category  Type  Unit Code  Unit Name  Avail
Coursework Conversion CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python S1,2
Coursework Conversion MATH2501 Advanced Mathematical Methods S1
Coursework Conversion PHYS2001 Quantum Physics and Electromagnetism S1
Coursework Conversion PHYS2002 Many Particle Systems S2
Coursework Conversion PHYS2003 Physics for Electrical Engineers S1
Coursework Conversion PHYS3001 Quantum Mechanics and Atomic Physics S1
Coursework Conversion PHYS3002  Electrodynamics and Relativity S2
Coursework Conversion PHYS3003 Astrophysics and Space Science S1
Coursework Conversion PHYS3005 Quantum Computation  S1
Coursework Conversion PHYS3011 Mathematical Physics  S2
Coursework Conversion PHYS3012 Topics in Contemporary Physics S2
Coursework Conversion PHYS3101 Quantum Field Theory and Quantum Technology S2

All students must complete at least two “Option” Coursework units. If a student is required to take fewer than four “Conversion” units, then they may replace those units with more “Option” units. “Option” units must be chosen from the following list, and students will take between two and six of these.

 Category  Type  Unit Code  Unit Name  Avail
Coursework Option PHYS4010 Symmetry Principles in Physics S1
Coursework Option PHYS4020 Frontiers in Experimental Physics S1
Coursework Option PHYS4021 Quantum Information and Computing S1
Coursework Option PHYS4415 Special Topics in Physics I S1
Coursework Option PHYS4420 Gravitational Wave and High Energy Astronomy S2
Coursework Option PHYS5010 Differential Geometry and General Relativity S2
Coursework Option PHYS5020  Quantum Measurement and Technology  S2
Coursework Option PHYS5510 Special Topics in Physics II  S2
Coursework Option PHYS5512 Physics Reading Unit  S1,2
Coursework Option SHPC4001 Computational Methods for Physics  S1

Of the coursework units available to students in the Astronomy & Astrophysics specialisation, many may be taught by ICRAR. Details of these ICRAR-taught units are available on the ICRAR Postgraduate Coursework page.

For further information on the course structure and rules see the UWA Handbook. For further information on Admission Requirements, Fees, and How to Apply see the UWA Future Students page.

If you are interested in applying, contact Matthew Young or Luca Cortese , and begin your journey into the exciting world of Astronomy and Astrophysics at UWA.