Physics and Astronomy studies at the University of Glasgow www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/

Scotland...

Where is it?

Scotland – the Nation

• 1 of 4 unique nations in the UK

• Scotland’s population is 5 million

• Scottish Government

• Diverse and beautiful countryside

• Hospitable and welcoming people

• 4 major cities

Café culture Glasgow Countryside Castles

The Scottish Climate

• Moderate:

• 27C maximum in summer

• About 5C in winter

• Sunshine and rain in all seasons

• Snow is rare in the city

• Long summer days

The City of Glasgow

• One of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe

• Population around 800,000

• Host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games

• A cultural city

– free art galleries and museums

– home to Scottish Opera, Orchestra, Ballet, Theatre

– famous festivals: music, comedy, film, whisky, arts

– excellent restaurants, bars and nightclubs

– Lonely Planet named Glasgow as one of the world’s top 10 cities in 2008

– UK City of Architecture 1999

• A commercial city

– Historically known for shipbuilding and heavy engineering

– today: media, creative arts, electronics, financial services, education, bioscience, tourism

Main campus

The University Tower

The main campus at night

Biomedical

Centre

William Rankine

Famous Glasgow names

Four colleges

Arts

Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences

Science and Engineering

Social Sciences

Facilitate collaboration, multi-disciplinarity and joint working

Enhance efficiency and effectiveness of academic units

Facilitate improved research performance

Improve communication to stimulate creativity

Enhance the postgraduate student environment

Support strategies to improve student success

Build on the high quality student experience

The College of Science & Engineering

School of Chemistry

School of Computing Science

School of Engineering

School of Geographical & Earth Sciences

School of Mathematics & Statistics

School of Physics & Astronomy

School of Psychology

Research Institute in Neuroscience and Psychology

www.glasgow.ac.uk/colleges/scienceengineering

The College of Science & Engineering

Research funding circa £35 million per annum provides unique facilities that also support our postgraduate researchers

~270 academic staff, ~70 research fellows, ~120 research associates, and ~80 research assistants

In excess of 600 PhD students

More than 300 postgraduate taught Masters students

Four of the UK’s top ten Research Units in the RAE 2008 – Computing Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, and Psychology

Research

Research in Physics & Astronomy

Research themes:

Astronomy and astrophysics

Gravitational research

Materials and condensed matter physics

Nuclear physics

Optics

Particle physics

Collaboration with Physics departments throughout Scotland through Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA), and with Universities and Faculties all over the world.

www.glasgow.ac.uk/schools/physics/research/

Research in Physics & Astronomy

Astronomy and astrophysics

theory and simulation of solar and astrophysical plasmas;

understanding particle acceleration and energy release through the evolution of EM fields;

cosmology;

low-temperature gas-plasmas for commercial use.

Institute for gravitational research

spearheading the development of leading instrumentation for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors, on the ground and in space

Research in Physics & Astronomy

Nuclear physics

First precision measurement of charge distribution within the neutron at the Mainz Microtron

Optics

Optical momentum, its foundations and applications, from making knots of light, showing new forms of quantum entanglement and imaging to the holographic optical control of bacteria and cells

Theoretical particle physics

The world’s most accurate calculations using the theory of the strong force have given us quark properties to 1%, testing the Standard Model of particle physics

Research in Physics & Astronomy

Experimental particle physics

the world’s largest computer GRID now exceeds 100 sites solving problems in Particle Physics, Bioinformatics, Computing and Engineering

Materials and condensed matter physics

functional materials by nanoscale control

advanced imaging and characterisation for development of novel polymers, semiconductors and magnetic materials leading to new solar cells, memory and much more

Kelvin Nanocharacterisation Centre

Why study in Scotland?

• Over 500 years of higher education

• Internationally recognised and accepted qualifications

• Comparably low costs

• Very high quality of teaching and research

• The University of Glasgow is rated 1st in the UK for international student

satisfaction, according to the International Student Barometer 2011.

Great facilities

Library

• Established 1475

• One of Europe’s largest

• Over two million items over 9 floors

Sport and Recreation facilities

• Two large sites, indoor and outdoor

• Swimming pool

• Fully-equipped gyms

• 50+ classes per week

• All-weather pitches

• 3 tennis courts

• Cricket oval

Student life

• Students’ Representative Council

• Two student unions

– Glasgow University Union (GUU)

– Queen Margaret Union (QM)

• Clubs and societies

• GUSA – Sports Association

• Student media

• Student volunteering

Sports clubs

• Swimming

• Skiing & snowboarding

• Karate

• Cheerleading

• Hockey

• Ultimate frisbee

• Curling

• Cricket

• Golf

• Windsurfing

• Boxing

• Rugby

• and many more…

Clubs and Societies

Over 150 clubs and societies

• Cecilian Society

• Photography Society

• European Geography

• Juggling Club

• Student Theatre

• GU Alchemists’ Society

• Computing Society

• Astronomy Society

• GU Veterinary Medical

Association

Student accommodation

• 3,300 bed spaces in University owned/managed accommodation

• International students guaranteed a place for year of entry

• Self-catered

• Catered

• Residence fees are inclusive of:

– heating and lighting

– internet access

– bedding

– group insurance cover for possessions

– laundry allowance

– on-site warden

– free access to SRC minibus campus to halls (evenings during term time)

Studying science at Glasgow

Science at Glasgow

Flexibility

Choice

Excellence

Flexibility

Entry to science

Degree subject not fixed till third year

Possible to take non-science courses in

1st and 2nd year

At least 350 subject combinations

Possible to transfer to Arts or Social

Sciences in some cases

Choice

First-year science courses

Archaeology Exploring the cosmos

Astronomy Geography

Biology Mathematics

Chemistry Physics

Computing science Psychology

Earth science Science fundamentals

Environmental science Statistics

You may also include subjects offered in other areas

Excellence

• Teaching Excellence Awards

recognise and celebrate members of

staff whose teaching is of a particularly

high standard

•Student Representative Council

Prizes for Excellent Teachers (PETS)

•National Student Survey 2011 90% student satisfaction overall

Three subjects ranked top in the UK

•International Student Barometer 2011 94% satisfaction with the University’s expert

lecturers

Our degrees

BSc (three years)

BSc Honours (four years) MSci Honours (five years) • advanced first degree with

work placement for one year in some courses

Adviser of Studies

Looks after you during your degree

Gets to know you

Monitors your progress

Advises on course choices

Helps with personal problems

Directs you to other sources of help

Undergraduate study

• 4-year BSc/BEng Honours and 5-year MSci/MEng programmes (some with

work placement)

• A wide range of joint honours degree programmes

• A number of international partnerships (e.g. 2+2, 3+1) with overseas institutions

• Most degree programmes accredited by Professional Societies

• Scholarships available for excellent international students

• Very high scores in National Student Survey (NSS) and International Student

Barometer

More information at: www.glasgow.ac.uk/scholarships/

www.glasgow.ac.uk/undergraduate/

www.glasgow.ac.uk/international/abroadexchange/

Graduate destinations

Entered study or training 40%

Entered work 45%

Other 6%

Seeking employment or training 9%

What were our 2010 science graduates doing six months after graduation?

Join us for a PhD?

• Funded University Scholarships – www.gla.ac.uk/scholarships/internationalscholarships/postgraduateresearch/

– www.gla.ac.uk/scholarships/homeandeuscholarships/

• Funded Studentships from Scottish Universities Physics Alliance

– www.supa.ac.uk/Graduate_School/prize

• General contact: pgadmissions@physics.gla.ac.uk

www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunitieshowtoapplyforaresearchdegree/

www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/

China Scholarships Council

• How to Apply:

– The first wave of applications are received by CSC between 20

February and 20 March every year.

– At the time of applying, applicants must have already received:

an unconditional offer from University of Glasgow, accompanied by

confirmation that tuition will be waived on gaining CSC stipend

a recommendation from the applicant's home (Chinese) university.

– Potential applicants should first apply for a University of Glasgow

PhD in the normal way. See instructions on how to apply here:

http://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/

– State clearly on the PhD application form that you wish to apply

for CSC funding.

JOIN US FOR A TAUGHT MSC (ONE-YEAR)

Taught postgraduate masters in:

• Astrophysics

• Physics: Energy and the Environment

• Physics: Advanced Materials

• Physics: Life Sciences

• Physics: Global Security

• Physics: Nuclear Technology

• Theoretical Physics

Funded University Scholarships

General contact: physics-pgtadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/howtoapplyforataughtdegree/

www.gla.ac.uk/scholarships/internationalscholarships/postgraduatetaught/

Join us for a MSc

It’s me!

Physics and Astronomy

Postgraduate taught programmes

Physics: Energy and the Environment

Physics: Advanced Materials

Physics: Life Sciences

Physics: Global Security

Physics: Nuclear Technology

Aim to give students an understanding of the principles and methods of modern physics, with particular emphasis on their application to global challenges, at a level appropriate for a professional physicist

Physics and Astronomy

Postgraduate taught programmes

Astrophysics

– provides students with the theoretical, observational and computational skills necessary to analyse and solve a range of advanced astrophysics problems

Theoretical Physics

– aims to give you an understanding of the principles and methods of modern physics, with particular emphasis on the theoretical aspects of the subject, at a level appropriate for a professional physicist

These programmes provide an excellent foundation for a career of scientific leadership in academia or industry.

Further information at: www.glasgow.ac.uk/schools/physics/postgraduate/

Physics and Astronomy

• Physics and Astronomy at Glasgow

• Studying Physics and/or Astronomy at Glasgow offers you a fundamental

understanding of the way the Universe works, brings you to the forefront of

technology, and provides the opportunity to work in world-leading research

groups.

• Astronomy lectures are complemented by our observatory, planetarium and

telescope facilities. The University has close links with the Glasgow Science

Centre, home to one of the UK’s best planetariums.

Fees and funding

• In 2011-12, the annual fee is £15000 for international students

Note: All full-time registered students in

Scotland are covered for free health-care

•Free doctors’ consultations

•Free hospital treatments

University of Glasgow - summary

• One of the UK's most prestigious universities

• International reputation for research and teaching

• At or near the top of National and International Student Surveys

• One of the top for transferable skills training

• Flexibility and choice

• Friendly and supportive

• A great European city

1370 Chinese students at the University of Glasgow. 168 of these students are

undergraduates, and one of them is an undergrad in Physics and Astronomy.

See also: http://www.gla.ac.uk/international/country/china/