Introduction for Prospective Students

Physics presents us with the exciting and ongoing challenge of attempting to understand the physical world around us and of applying this knowledge to enable future technological advances.  Reflecting this challenge, our courses deal not only with the fundamentals of physics such as electromagnetism, quantum physics and mechanics, but also explore the latest discoveries and state-of-art applications, for example in lasers and fibre-optical devices, quantum nanostructures and novel materials.  Our close research collaboration with industry (and other Universities) results in our ability to structure our courses to provide students the knowledge and skills required for a future career in physics.  We continually revise course content in response to guidance from our Industrial Advisory Comittee and to reflect recent scientific advances.

We offer a range of Undergraduate Physics courses at BSc(Hons) and MPhys levels.  Details of these courses are available on our Undergraduate Studies pages.  Additional information can be obtained from the main University Undergraduate Prospectus.

At a postgraduate level we offer taught courses at Masters level withand PhD and EngD research courses.  Additional details are available on our Postgraduate Studies  pages and from the Unversity Postgraduate Prospectus.

The Masters taught course in 'Photonics and Optoelectronic Devices' benefits from a joint course structure with St Andrews University.  Masters students spend part of their studies at St Andrews, part at Heriot-Watt, with the remainder as a summer industrial placement.