Astronomy courses Scotland
Fully accredited by the Institute of Physics, our courses offer a diverse curriculum, from astronomical phenomena to quantum mechanics
If you think that physics can be about much more than the Higgs Boson and the Large Hadron Collider then the University of Dundee is the place for you. Our focus is on the applications of physics in a wide range of cross disciplinary areas.
Our staff carry out research in biophysics, in medicine, advanced materials and photonics. They help understand how extra-solar planets form, and help build optical diagnostic devices for CERN.
We have a diverse, up-to-date curriculum that offers you all the skills needed to allow you to excel in industry or to progress to postgraduate courses for further study.
What is physics?
Physics involves the exploration of nature in the broadest possible sense. Physicists discover how the universe behaves and use that knowledge for the benefit of humanity.
Dundee physicists have had a tremendous impact on the modern world. The electronic devices driving pixels in virtually all laptop computers were first conceived and made here. Plus ground-breaking work on satellite-borne environmental monitoring began in Dundee.
Our staff work in some of the most exciting areas of current physics. Many such areas are also those earmarked by the government as the critical scientific topics for the future:
- renewable energy and the environment
- robust sensors
- physics applied to medicine and biology
We use the most powerful microscopes available, each capable of resolving individual atoms, to characterise and develop materials such as the next generation of energy efficient solar cells.
We explore the boundaries of biophysics and laser science, especially in medical contexts where the University of Dundee as a whole boasts a world renowned reputation. Biophysics research is undertaken at state-of-the-art facilities in the University's Institute for Medical Science and Technology and also at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
Your final year project could be developing optical techniques to examine cancerous tissue excised from hospital patients - using physics to make a real difference to people's lives. Or you might choose to investigate the behaviour of positrons in solar cell materials with the aim of identifying missing atom defects that degrade performance.
You can get directly involved in active research groups in Level 1: a fast-track route to applying the knowledge and skills that we will teach you.
The following are the minimum, up-to-date entry requirements.
| Courses starting 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Level 1 Entry | Advanced Entry to Level 2 |
| SQA Higher/Advanced Higher |  BBBB (minimum) - AABB (typical) at Higher including mathematics and physics or an engineering subject for BSc degrees, or mathematics and physics for MSci degrees |
AB at Advanced Higher including mathematics and physics, plus AB at Higher in different subjects |
| GCE A-Level | BSc: BCC (minimum) - BBB (typical) including A-Level mathematics and physics or an engineering subject
MSci: ABB at A-Level including mathematics and physics |
BBB (minimum) - AAB (typical) including A-Level mathematics and physics |
| Irish Leaving Certificate (ILC) | AABB (typical) at Higher including mathematics and physics or an engineering subject for BSc degrees, or mathematics and physics for MSci degrees | Level 2 entry is not possible with this qualification |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma | BSc: 30 points at Higher Level grades 5, 5, 5 to include mathematics and physics or an engineering subject
MSci: 32 points at Higher Level grades 6, 5, 5 to include mathematics and physics. A combination of IB Certificate plus other qualifications, such as A-Levels, Advanced Placement Tests or the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP), will also be considered. |
 34 points at Higher Level grades 6, 6, 5 to include mathematics and physics |
| Graduate Entry | ||
| BTEC | A relevant BTEC Extended Diploma with DDM | A relevant HND with Merits in appropriate Science/Mathematics modules
A relevant BTEC Extended Diploma with DDD |
| SQA Higher National (HNC/HND) | A relevant HNC with B in the Graded Unit including Mathematics for Engineering 1 | A relevant HNC with A in the Graded Unit including Mathematics for Engineering 2 and 120 SCQF points
A relevant HND with BB in the Graded Units including Mathematics for Engineering 2 |
| Scottish Baccalaureate | BSc - Pass with BC at Advanced Higher in Mathematics and a Science/Engineering subject
MSci - Pass with BC at Advanced Higher in Mathematics and Physics |
BSc - Distinction with AB (MSci) at Advanced Higher in Mathematics and a Science/Engineering subject
MSci - Distinction with AB (MSci) at Advanced Higher in Mathematics and Physics |
| SWAP Access | Relevant science subjects with ABB grades including Mathematics and Physics Units at SCQF Level 6 | |
| Advanced Diploma | BSc - Grade B with ASL-A Levels at AB in Mathematics and a Science/Engineering subject
MSci - Grade B with ASL-A Levels at AB in Mathematics and Physics |
BSc - Grade B with ASL-A Level at AA in Mathematics and a Science/Engineering subject
MSci - Grade B with ASL-A Level at AA in Mathematics and Physics |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | BSc - Pass with A level at AB in Mathematics and a Science/Engineering subject
MSci - Pass with A level at AB in Mathematics and Physics |
BSc - Pass with A level at AA in Mathematics and a Science/Engineering subject |
