Overview

Honours Year will be the most exciting, challenging and rewarding year of your undergraduate career. The research component makes it different in character from the previous years. You will interact one-on-one with individual academics and research groups, and become a member of the university community.

The following links detail the courses and projects on offer in the School of Physics. The research projects allow you to work on forefront topics in research. At UNSW Sydney we are fortunate in having a School of Physics that has many research groups and individuals at the cutting edge of science. Research projects offered by each department are listed under the research areas.

The Honours Director is Michael Schmidt. For more information about the Honours Year, you can submit a query through the online webform at UNSW.to/webforms, which can also be found on the student portal.

PHYS4141

Quantum Mechanics (Honours)

PHYS4142

Statistical physics (Honours)

PHYS4143

Topics in contemporary physics (honours)

PHYS4144

Physics honours research A

PHYS4145

Physics honours research B

PHYS4146

Physics honours research C

  • The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics takes 1 year of full-time study to complete (part time may also be available). Students study higher-level coursework subjects, and complete one research project under the guidance of an academic supervisor.

    Coursework and research each contribute 50% to the final honours grade. Honours grades will be awarded in the following classes:

    Honours Class 1: WAM of 85 or greater;
    Honours Class 2 Division 1: WAM from 75 to 84;
    Honours Class 2 Division 2: WAM from 65 to 74;
    Honours Class 3: WAM below 65.

    High performing students may be recommended for a university medal.

  • Coursework and Research project each contribute 50% to the final honours grade. 

    Coursework is assessed through a combination of assignments, journal club participation, and exams. See course outlines for details for each course.

    Physics honours students complete one full year research project. This is assessed as follows:

    • Research proposal - worth 10%
    • Literature Review - hurdle task
    • Thesis - worth 90%

    All graduating students give a 10 minute talk about their research. This does not contribute to the final grade, but is compulsory for all honours students.

  • Students in the Bachelor of Advanced Science degree need to have completed all Stage 1-3 requirements of their degree before they can enrol into honours.

    Students in the Bachelor of Science must have completed a major in Physics, and maintained a WAM of 65% or above in their Physics and Mathematics courses. Students should have taken at least 24 UOC of Level 3 Physics courses, including PHYS3111 Quantum Mechanics; PHYS3113 Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics; and PHYS3114 Electrodynamics.

    Students from other universities who wish to transfer to UNSW for Honours in Physics should make sure that they have completed equivalent subjects to these.

  • From 2019, the Physics Honours program is available to be studied full time and part time, and students can commence in either Term 1 or Term 3. As all the coursework will be offered in Terms 1 and 2 only, with Term 3 devoted to research, where possible, it is advisable to commence in Term 1. Key dates, application deadlines and information on how to apply can be found here

    Honours in Physics is automatically included in the Bachelor of Advanced Science degree.

    Students in the Bachelor of Science (or dual Science degrees), or students from other universities, will need to graduate from their Science degree and apply for the 1-year Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree program 4500 through UNSW Apply Online

    All potential honours students will need to look at the research projects page and consider what interests them, then contact the academics to discuss possible projects for the honours program. Applicants will also need to nominate three supervisor choices. Research projects and supervisors will be confirmed by the School of Physics.