Physics: Physical Sciences

What is Physics?

Physics is the study of the material world and natural phenomena around us, including the fundamental particles of nature and their interactions, properties of atomic nuclei, atoms, molecules, gases and solid matter. It includes fields such as astrophysics, cosmology, and physics of materials. The laws of physics are the laws which govern electricity and magnetism in modern devices such as mobile phones, computers, the internet, radio and television, the mechanics of aviation and space flight and the quantum mechanics underlying magnetic resonance imaging in medicine.

Physics: The course for you?

If you enjoy laboratory and computational work and have an interest in how fundamental physical theories such as quantum mechanics and electromagnetism explain the world that we live in, then this may be the course for you.

Physics @ Trinity

Trinity’s Physics course includes a strong background in core physics subjects as well as modules in condensed matter physics, semiconductor devices, metal physics, photonics, magnetism, superconductivity, nanoscience and high energy physics. Practical aspects of the course include modules in electronics and instrumentation. Physics at Trinity offers you the opportunity to study with world-leading experts in the School of Physics, with modules designed to provide you with a qualification for employment across a range of research and industry settings.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

All of Trinity;s Physical Science undergraduate degrees are accredited by the Institute of Physics, which is the professional body for physicists in Ireland and the UK. Holders of one of these degrees can follow a route to Institute of Physics Membership and the 'Chartered Physicist' (CPhys) professional qualification. Our graduates are always in high demand in Ireland and abroad in modern high-technology industries, as well as in teaching. You may also find a career in academic institutions, government and industrial research organisations and production facilities or in the meteorological service. There are diverse opportunities in electronics, telecommunications, biophysics, hospital and health physics, automation and computing. Your course will give you the opportunity to acquire problem solving skills which will be valued by your future employer. It could also give you useful primary training for a legal, managerial, financial services or actuarial career, where a technical, computational, mathematical and problem solving background is attractive and advantageous.

Your degree and what you’ll study

In the first two years students will study both Physics and Mathematics and modules from other subject(s). Our Physics course includes topics in Astrophysics, Statistics, Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity, Acoustics and Optics, Nuclear Physics and Quantum Physics. The Mathematics course includes topics in Calculus, Linear Algebra, Fourier Analysis and Mechanics. You spend three hours per week in experimental or computational laboratories. You will learn computer coding skills through the Python programming language which you use to analyse your experimental data.

In the third year you take lecture modules in Physics and spend one day per week in the experimental laboratory as well as receiving training in communication and presentation skills. In the fourth year you carry out an experimental or computational Capstone research project during the first nine weeks of the first semester and then take lecture modules in Physics which cover core Physics at a more advanced level as well as approved modules.

THIRD YEAR LECTURE MODULES

Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Condensed Matter Physics, Atomic and Nuclear Physics, Stellar and Galactic Structure, Statistical Mechanics, Dynamical Systems and Experimental Techniques.

FOURTH YEAR LECTURE MODULES

Quantum Physics, High Energy Physics, Condensed Matter, Nanoscience, Electromagnetic Interactions, Modern Optics, Advanced Topics in Physics.

Study abroad and internships opportunities

You may undertake your fourth-year Capstone project at a research institute or university in the EU or further afield, provided you attain a sufficient standard in the third-year examinations. In recent years, students have worked at the Information on the year abroad programme for second or third year students, and a list of partner universities, can be found at: www.tcd.ie/study/non-eu/study-abroad

VISIT US:

Maths/Physics Open Day is held in November each year, see: www.tcd.ie/Physics/outreach/open-days/