During your first year of study you will study eight core modules over two semesters. Semester one will focus on topics that directly address core material as specified by the Institute of Physics including distinct mathematics and laboratory components. In semester two you will develop much broader astrophysical, mathematical, computational, statistical and laboratory competencies.

In your second year you will continue to deepen your knowledge in core areas of physics such as thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. You will then apply this to the study of stellar astrophysics and the physics of galaxies, and further develop your skills in mathematical and numerical methods. Laboratory work is embedded throughout, including investigations in optics and learning the photometric and spectroscopic techniques used in astronomy.

Year three will allow you to deep dive into more advanced modules including electromagnetism, cosmology and data analysis, a dissertation on an astrophysical topic of your choice and optional modules featuring, for example, exoplanets, General Relativity and black holes or fluid mechanics. You will also participate in an astrophysics group project, which will give you an opportunity to apply the skills you have developed during your degree to a real research project.

Your final year of study has a greater research focus, more independent working, and the ability to undertake substantial open-ended projects. The compulsory modules you will study aim to develop the understanding and skills needed for a future career in academia, data analysis or modelling.

Compulsory modules

Gravitation, Relativity & Matter 
A fundamental understanding of physical principles follows from investigating the composition and movement of matter through space and time. You will find out how the universe is put together, from the very big to the very small, exploring motions on scales from atoms and molecules to stars and planets, and encounter the boundaries of classical Newtonian physics with an introduction to quantum ideas and Einstein’s Special Relativity.

Electricity, Magnetism & Waves 
Electricity, magnetism and wave-like phenomena are foundational topics in the study of physics. Beginning with fundamental physical laws you will learn how to describe ideal cases and then apply your knowledge to diverse real-world devices, scenarios and engineering problems that involve electric charges, magnetic fields and oscillating systems, culminating in the analysis of alternating currents, resonance and the essential properties of waves in light, sound and other media.

Fundamental Mathematics for Physics 
Mathematics is the language used by physicists to describe our universe. Through interactive sessions you will gain the fundamental mathematical skills required to understand and analyse physical phenomena, enabling you to solve problems throughout your degree and beyond in physics and astrophysics. You will regularly work in groups, enabling you to gain valuable employability skills such as teamwork and communication, whilst allowing you to learn from others and build peer networks. 

Practical and Academic Skills for Physics 
A professional physicist requires a range of specialist skills, which you will start developing in this module. You will acquire hands-on practice in conducting a variety of physical experiments, effectively and accurately recording and analysing your data using specialist software. You will develop the art of scientific writing and reporting, and practise the principles of the scientific method, including error analysis, risk assessment and critical thinking. These skills are the foundations of a successful physics or astrophysics graduate.

Scientific Programming 
Scientific programming is a key skill in fast-evolving science fields like Physics and Astrophysics. In this module you will learn the basics of computer programming with python, including flow control, defining functions, the use of external libraries and the generation of graphs and images. You will demonstrate how these highly-valued programming skills can be used to solve a series of computational problems faced by physicists and astrophysicists, and equip yourself for future study and careers. 

Problem Solving for Physics 
How likely is an asteroid to hit the Earth? How fast would it be travelling? A physicist is often called upon to solve problems that have definite or open-ended, qualified solutions and that are presented in many different ways. Here you will learn the arts of problem-solving, mathematical and statistical modelling and the analyses of uncertainty and risk, applying these skills to scenarios in physics and astrophysics focused on linear and rotational mechanics, gravitation and harmonic motion. 

Astronomy, the Solar System and Measuring the Universe 
Humanity is compelled to understand the Universe. You will be introduced to planets, stars and galaxies and their place in the Universe. You will explore how we measure their properties, from the distances to celestial bodies to the masses and temperatures of stars and planets, and even the mass of our Milky Way galaxy. You will learn about the tools and techniques that Astronomers use to investigate the Universe and make your own measurements at our on-campus observatory. 

Physics Career Planning and Employability Skills 
Your university study may be driven by curiosity about the physical world, but it is also about developing graduate attributes that lead to successful and fulfilling careers. The activities and milestones in our career planning modules will grow your potential beyond Physics knowledge. In Level 4, you will learn to identify, evidence and showcase your collaborative, organisational, presentational and problem-solving skills. You will acquire tools to effectively select and prepare for potential work placements in Levels 5 and 6.

Compulsory modules

Optics & Thermodynamics 
The way light and matter interact happens on miniscule scales but results in macroscopic effects that can be described by global behavioural laws. In this module, you will learn about optics and thermodynamics, including how light waves interfere and diffract and how systems achieve equilibrium. These fundamental concepts underpin a vast range of phenomena beyond the topics of this module, and have a variety of real-word applications, from engines and the weather to optical fibres and the most powerful telescopes.

The Quantum World 
Quantum mechanics is the foundation of technologies that have built the modern world and gives us the tools to study nature at its most fundamental, microscopic level. This module will introduce you to the weirdness of quantum theory, quantum statistics and atomic physics, equipping you for more advanced topics to come. You will investigate applications ranging from scanning tunneling electron microscopes and superconductors to white dwarfs and nuclear fusion in stellar astrophysics. 

Nuclear Physics 
Nuclear physics is a key component in decarbonising our energy generation and is literally at the heart of stellar astrophysics. You will extend the ideas developed in quantum and atomic physics to understand the components and composition of atomic nuclei, nuclear stability, fusion, fission and radioactive decay. You will then apply those concepts to the generation of nuclear power, both here on Earth and at the centres of the Sun and other stars.

Practical and Professional Skills for Astrophysics
You will build upon the practical laboratory skills developed at Level 4, extending your abilities to plan, execute and communicate scientifically. You will work on individual experiments and team investigations to prepare you for Level 6 research projects. Astrophysicists routinely make use of specialised software to derive the fundamental properties of astronomical objects; you will practise techniques to acquire and analyse astronomical data to derive the temperature and luminosity of stars, distances to galaxies, and ages of stellar populations.

Analytic and Numerical Techniques 
Real-world physical problems often require a blend of physics know-how, mathematical analysis and computational techniques for their solution. Building on your Level 4 foundations, you will gain important new applied mathematical skills and practise more advanced programming and numerical techniques. You will use these to formulate solutions to a wide variety of problems in physics and astrophysics and to plan and execute a short project on an astrophysical topic that interests you.

The Astrophysics of Stars and Galaxies 
Stars are the principal source of energy and chemical elements necessary for life, and are found in large numbers inside gravitationally bound galaxies. You will explore how stars and galaxies form and evolve, and how they can be modelled with fundamental physics, mathematics and computation. Through practical and investigative work, you will develop a deeper grasp of how we can use observations and theory to improve our understanding of these phenomena and complex systems in general. 

Physics Career Planning and Employability Skills 
Your university study may be driven by curiosity about the physical world, but it is also about developing graduate attributes that lead to successful and fulfilling careers. The activities and milestones in our career planning modules will grow your potential beyond Physics knowledge. In Level 5, the emphasis is on careers research, building your CV, auditing your skills and placement opportunities. 

Optional modules

Radiation Physics 
From medical diagnostics to industrial quality control, ionising radiation is used across an array of sectors. You will find out how radiation interacts with our world, and how it is detected, quantified and utilized in the NHS, nuclear industry and beyond. You will gain an appreciation of the wider effects of radiation on both humans and the natural environment through critical analyses of historical events, ensuring an understanding of how to employ this principal energy source both effectively and safely. 

Flexible Work Placement (Level 5) 
In a competitive job market, practical skills and understanding workplace dynamics are crucial. This module allows you to gain hands-on experience, enhance your employability skills, and provide valuable insights into the professional world. You will be supported via a range of activities to secure a role and can source your own placement or apply to university-sourced roles. This module has built-in flexibility on when and how you complete your placement around existing demands.  

Compulsory modules

Astrophysics Research Project and Professional Development 
You will have the opportunity to apply skills developed during your degree to an independent astrophysics research project. Working on world-class astronomical research material in a small group, and as an individual, you will plan, execute and report your results, including a presentation aimed at potential employers. You will exploit and expand upon the skills portfolio built up in Levels 4 and 5 of your degree to establish yourself as an astrophysicist with all the necessary investigative and professional attributes.

Electromagnetism & Solid-State Physics 
From mobile communications to the generation and detection of light from distant quasars, much of our universe is understood in terms of the fundamental topics of electromagnetism and solid-state physics. You will learn how Maxwell unified electricity and magnetism, how electromagnetic waves are generated, how we understand the (semi-)conduction and magnetic properties of solids at a microscopic level, and apply this knowledge to modern technology, solving diverse problems spanning anything from lasers to superconductors or radio pulsars. 

Synoptic Physics and Real-World Applications 
In a complex, increasingly irrational world, physicists have a key role in synthesising scientific thought across disciplines. Working in groups on a problem of current or potential future concern, you will gather and analyse evidence, propose solutions and provide advice in the form of a report aimed at policy-makers.  You will develop advanced teamworking and project-management skills and use the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the connections between the physics, mathematical and computational techniques acquired throughout your degree. 

Data analysis and Modelling 
Physics and Astrophysics are data-intensive sciences. Using hands-on exercises, you will gain proficiency in using "industry-standard" statistical and modelling techniques for analysing scientific data. Along with an appreciation of the theory underpinning these techniques, you will develop the highly transferable skills required to apply them to real data sets and gain the expertise required to judge which techniques are applicable in any given scenario, and to interpret and present the results. 

Physics Career Planning and Employability Skills 
Your university study may be driven by curiosity about the physical world, but it is also about developing graduate attributes that lead to successful and fulfilling careers. The activities and milestones in our career planning modules will grow your potential beyond Physics knowledge.  In level 6 we will help you make the most of all you have learned on your Keele journey, for instance how to present your work to wider audiences, craft your CV, prepare for interviews and get your feet on the first rungs of the career ladder, whether that be in research, industry or elsewhere. 

Optional modules

Quantum Physics
This advanced quantum module builds on the topics introduced at Level 5 to investigate exciting applications of quantum mechanics at the cutting-edge of modern physics such as quantum computing and quantum cryptography. You will also explore the quantum mechanics behind powerful investigative techniques used in laboratories and in astrophysics such as Raman spectroscopy and look in detail at experiments in quantum physics that challenge our common-sense understanding of the nature of reality. 

Materials for Green Technology 
The growing energy demand and environmental impact of fossil fuels create an urgent need for efficient renewable energy solutions. Current renewable technologies face challenges such as high cost, scarcity and low efficiency. In this module you will explore how discovering, designing, and engineering advanced materials is crucial for developing high-performance devices for sustainable energy applications. You will have the opportunity to engage in discussions on recent advances and current challenges in the development of materials for various renewable energy technologies. 

Cosmology
Cosmology is the study of the universe as a whole. You will investigate the origin of our universe in a Big Bang, 13.8 billion years ago, and how that gave rise to everything we see when we look up into the night sky. You will engage with the latest evidence for dark matter and dark energy and how, by observing distant supernovae and the cosmic microwave background, we can infer the history and fate of our universe. 

Advanced Topics Sem 1 
Based on student preference, advanced topics are offered from a range of options such as (but not limited to) Particle Physics and Accelerators, Atmospheric Physics or Binary Stars and Exoplanets. Informed by world-class research (and researchers) and cutting-edge applications, you will gain a unique insight and appreciation of forefront fields in physics and astrophysics. Through innovative and authentic assignments, you will enhance your skill set, including data analysis, mathematical modelling and critical reading of research literature.

Advanced Topics Sem 2 
Based on student preference, advanced topics are offered from a range of options such as (but not limited to) General Relativity, Black Holes and Gravitational Waves, Life in the Universe or Fluid Mechanics. Informed by world-class research (and researchers) and cutting-edge applications, you will gain a unique insight and appreciation of forefront fields in physics and astrophysics. Through innovative and authentic assignments, you will enhance your skill set, including data analysis, mathematical modelling and critical reading of research literature.

Research & Communication 
Are you passionate about a Physics, Astrophysics, or Renewable Energy topic and want to learn more? With the support of a tutor, you will select a topic you are interested in and undertake a literature review of its recent advances, challenges, and prospects. Through varied assessment types, you will be able to showcase your different skills. This is an opportunity to enhance your scientific communication abilities as well as your research and critical analysis skills. 

Flexible Work Placement (Level 6) 
In a competitive job market, practical skills and understanding workplace dynamics are crucial. This module allows you to gain hands-on experience, enhance your employability skills, and provide valuable insights into the professional world. You will be supported via a range of activities to secure a role and can source your own placement or apply to university-sourced roles. This module has built-in flexibility on when and how you complete your placement around existing demands.  

Professional Experience in Education  
This module gives students interested in pursuing teaching or training as a career the opportunity to gain experience in the world of teaching in schools and colleges. You will develop skills highly valued by employers such as communication, and interpersonal skills, whilst learning to address individual needs and developing engaging teaching materials. You will be supported via a range of activities to prepare for your placement and have the choice to source your own placement or apply to university sourced roles.

Compulsory modules

MSci Astrophysics Research Project
You will conduct a substantial original research project as part of the Astrophysics Group at Keele, aiming to produce work of professional quality. You will earn credit for planning, conducting and documenting the progress of your project, reporting your results to a publishable standard and contributing a research-level presentation. You will be supported and advised by a member of the Keele Astrophysics Group, and have access to the data, instrumentation and computing power needed to apply state-of-the-art analysis techniques. 

MSci Literature Review and Science Communication
Scientific research is only worthwhile if it is communicated, and communicated effectively. You will select an interesting research field at the cutting edge of modern Astrophysics, and explore its history, current achievements and future potential. You will present your work as a formal written document, a viva, a recorded presentation, and a final assessment of your choice. You will gain high-level investigative and communication skills that are essential attributes in academic careers or roles in industrial research and development.

Research Training
Learn the skills necessary to conduct research in Astrophysics at a world-class level. You will attend and summarise seminars by other researchers and give a seminar of your own. You will critically evaluate research grant applications and then write your own for supercomputer access or time on a big telescope. You will also learn about research ethics, intellectual property, research financing, public engagement and impact, and the sustainability of scientific research.

Advanced Skills in Astrophysics
The ability to analyse large and multi-faceted datasets is key in many fields of modern astrophysics and transferable to other areas of scientific research and data science. You will further enhance your data analysis and interpretation expertise, applied to a variety of astrophysical datasets including photometry, spectroscopy and big databases. You will master these vital skills through the hands-on use of research-grade software tools during computational laboratory sessions.

Frontiers in Astrophysics 
You will study several scientific areas which are at the forefront of current research in Astrophysics and become familiar with the opportunities they offer to further our understanding of planets, stars, galaxies and the Universe. The topics included will vary as the world's knowledge of Astrophysics progresses. You will deploy advanced mathematical and computational techniques to solve problems in these scientific areas, and gain new expertise relevant to a future career in scientific or industrial research.