BSc (Hons) Astrophysics

Overview

NFQ Level 8, Major Award

Students may enter Second Science from the First Science Area of Study Physics and Astrophysics (CK408), and may proceed to a BSc Single Honours Degree in Astrophysics, Science Education (Physics Route only) (for students who entered prior to 2023/24) or Physics, or a Joint Honours Degree in Mathematical Sciences and Physics.

BSc Single Honours Degree

To progress to Second Science Single Honours Physics students must have passed the First Science Examination overall.

Students registered for the BSc Single Honours Degree in Physics may re-register for the BSc Single Honours in Astrophysics programme (or vice versa) at the end of their First or Second Years, subject to having passed the First Science Examination overall.

Students in the Physics and Astrophysics Area of Study (CK408) wishing to proceed to the Chemical Physics degree programme must have taken either CM1006 (10 credits) or CM1007 (15 credits) from the list of electives for CK408 and passed First Science in order to be eligible for entering the Chemical Physics degree programme.

BSc Joint Honours

Students in the Physics and Astrophysics Area of Study (CK408) who have passed First Science are eligible to enter the Joint Honours programme in Mathematical Sciences and Physics.

Students from the Mathematical Sciences Area of Study (CK407) who have taken the Physics modules PY1052 and PY1053 in First Science, and who pass First Science, will be eligible to enter the Joint Honours programme in Mathematical Sciences and Physics.

The programme structures for Physics are shown in Table 7.

Table 7 - Physics

First Science Second Science Third Science Fourth Science
CK408:
Physics Physics
PY + AM + MA + AM/CM/CS/MA/PY/ST/BL PY (40 credits) + AM (10 credits) + MA/AM/CM (10 credits) PY (40 credits) + AM (20 credits) PY (60 credits)
or or
Astrophysics Astrophysics
PY (45 credits) PY (60 credits)
AM (15 credits)
BSc Joint Honours
CK408:
PY + AM + MA + ST PY (30 credits) + AM (25 credits) + MA (5 credits) PY (30 credits) + AM (30 credits) PY (30 credits) + AM (30 credits)
or or
PY (30 credits) + AM (10 credits) + MA (20 credits) PY (30 credits) + MA (30 credits) PY (30 credits) + MA/MF (30 credits)

 
BSc Single Honours - Physics or Astrophysics

NOTES:

  1. At most 35 credits can be taken in any one Semester.
  2. The substitution of taught modules by Project modules requires special permission from the Head of the Department.
  3. Other Elective modules may be selected from outside the Physics Department with the approval of the Head of Department.
  4. Individual elective modules may occasionally not be offered in some calendar years.

Examinations

Single Honours

Students who pass the Third University Examination and qualify to proceed into Fourth Science may opt instead to be conferred with a BSc Ordinary Degree.

Students who pass the Third University Examination in Science, but do not qualify to proceed into Fourth Science will be awarded a BSc Ordinary Degree.

Joint Honours

Students who pass the Third University Examination in Science (Physics) and who qualify to proceed into Fourth Science may opt instead to be conferred with a BSc Ordinary degree.

The Fourth Science Research Project must be passed for the award of a BSc (Hons) Degree. There is no Autumn Supplemental Examination in the Research Project module which, if failed, must be repeated in a repeat year.

BSc Ordinary Degree - NFQ Level 7, Major Award

Students who pass Third Year may choose not to proceed to Fourth Year and may opt instead to be conferred with a BSc Ordinary Degree.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.