UCL MEDIA RELATIONS

UCL granted degree awarding powers

27 September 2005

UCL (University College London) today announced that its application for taught and research degree-awarding powers has been successful. The Privy Council Office has now invited UCL to submit amendments to the UCL Charter so as to make its new power to award its own degrees explicit.

In common with all of the colleges of the University of London, UCL currently awards degrees in the name of the University of London. UCL's successful application for powers to award its own degrees was pursued on the understanding that these would be held in reserve rather than exercised immediately, pending further consideration. The University of London has recently introduced provisions in its ordinances which enable colleges of the university to award their own degrees.

“UCL believes that holding its own degree awarding powers is a logical step, given our demonstrable experience of assuring of academic quality and standards, maintaining and enhancing the learning environment of our students, and developing and sustaining the research and teaching excellence of our academic staff,” said Professor Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of UCL. “I am naturally delighted therefore that the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has recommended to the DfES that we be awarded such powers.

“While there is a clear understanding that the powers are to be held in reserve rather than exercised straight away, I believe that it is in the interests of UCL academics and students for these powers to be available to us to invoke as necessary. This is especially so at a time when the University of London is consulting about its future as a federal university. Given that UCL, along with all of the other colleges of the university, is an autonomous institution responsible for its finances, educational quality and research, I believe it makes sense for us to be able to respond flexibly to potential structural changes in the university in the coming years. The award of degree awarding powers, following a stringent audit of our activity, is therefore news that I believe will be welcomed by the whole UCL community.”

Notes for Editors:
UCL Council agreed in December 2002 to submit a DAPS application to the Privy Council and Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in December 2002, and this application was formally submitted in November 2004.
A team of auditors/assessors, appointed by the QAA (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/), visited UCL in March 2005 to conduct an Institutional Audit, in combination with scrutiny of UCL's application for taught and research degree-awarding powers (DAPs).

Postgraduate Degree Variations

Queen Mary, University of London
Physics and Astronomy Masters Programmes (2012)

The MSc in Physics (EuroMasters)

Introduction

The MSc in Physics (EuroMasters) degree is a two-year Masters level degree in physics which is intended to follow on from a three-year undergraduate degree complying with the Bologna treaty for European degree structure. The first year of the course consists of high level taught courses whilst the second year is research work in a chosen area of specialty within physics and astronomy. You can choose to spend both years in Queen Mary or one of the two years in Queen Mary and one at one of our SEPnet partner universities.

The MSc in Physics (EuroMasters) is fully compatible with the European Credit Transfer Accumulation System (ECTS) across the European Union and other collaborating European countries, and qualifies students to pursue a career in Physics or a PhD upon completion. It is also open to UK entrants. (One ECTS credit corresponds to two Queen Mary credits).

The EuroMasters is a two year programme, the first year involving lecture courses, project work and skills training, and the second, which can be at a SEPnet partner university, or at a research institution such as CERN or the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, is a research year. Each year is worth 60 ECTS credits, or 120 Queen Mary credits.

There are two pathways in the MSc programme: Physics and Astrophysics.

The Astrophysics pathway consists of

Year One :
Taught modules taken from the following MSc Astrophysics modules:

ASTM001: Solar System
ASTM002: The Galaxy
ASTM005: Research Methods in Astronomy
ASTM041: Relativistic Astrophysics and Gravitation
ASTM108: Cosmology
ASTM109: Stelar Structure and Evolution
ASTM112: Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
ASTM115: Astrophysical Computing
ASTM116: Astrophysical Plasmas
ASTM735: Extrasolar Planets and Astrophysical Discs

Year Two :
Advanced Reserach Methods
ASTM024 MSc Astrophysics Project and dissertation.

The Physics pathway consists of

Year One :
An agreed combination of taught modules, a research review project and a programme of skills training

I10140 Mathematical Methods for Theoretical Physics
I10085 Lie Groups and Lie Algebras
I47082 Statistical Mechanics
I17147 Advanced Quantum Theory
PHY-415 Relativistic Waves and Quantum Fields
PHY-966 Electromagnetic Theory
I17140 Galaxy and Cluster Dynamics
I17148 Atom and Photon Physics
I17150 Quantum Computation and Communication
I17151 Molecular Physics
I17152 Particle Physics
I47086 Particle Accelerator Physics
I17153 Order and Excitations in Condensed Matter
I10129 Theoretical Treatments of Nano-systems
I10102 Physics at the Nanoscale
I47079 Superfluids, Condensates and Superconductors
I10141 Standard Model Physics and Beyond
I47074 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

I47080 Computing and Statistical Data Analysis
I10142 String Theory and Branes
I10143 Supersymmetry and Gauge Symmetry
MTH725U Stellar Structure and Evolution
MTH703U Advanced Cosmology
MTH720U Relativity and Gravitation
MTH707U Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
I17149 Planetary Atmospheres
I17154 Solar Physics
MTH724U Solar System
MTH726U The Galaxy
MTH708U Astrophysical Plasmas
I17117 Space Plasma and Magnetospheric Physics
MTH735U Extrasolar Planets and Astrophysical Discs
I17224 Molecular Biophysics
INK7001 Theory of Complex Networks
INK7002 Equilibrium Analysis of Complex Systems
INK7003 Elements of Statistical Learning
INK7004 Dynamical Analysis of Complex Systems
INK7005 Mathematical Biology

And/or other MSci and MSc physics and astrophysics course options.

Year Two :
The second year of the EuroMasters (Physics pathway) involves a year-long research project and the MSc dissertation. The Physics research project for the second year will be in an area of current active enquiry.

(From QMUL MSc Physics course outline 2012).

[Note that the MSci Physics degree is an integrated 4-year degree offered by the University of London, whereas the MSc and EuroMasters degrees are postgraduate Masters degrees (1-2 years duration) as stand alone qualifications after having previously completed a typical 3-year Bachelors degree in the UK, or equivalent BSc degree elsewhere.]

MPhil and PhD Structure

Physics and Astronomy PhD degrees usually take 4 years full-time study or the part-time equivalent over a longer period. You are enrolled initially as an MPhil for the 1st year and later transfer into the PhD degree after the first 1-2 years upon successful completion of the MPhil requirements including (usually) an MPhil thesis and Exams.

Year 1 : Research Training Programme (MPhil)

In the first year, students attend a rigorous PhD-level training programme assessed by coursework and examinations. Crucial to the first year is the preparation and presentation of your PhD research proposal and outline.

The 1st year training programme draws on the Department's experience to ensure that your research is underpinned by methodological understanding and a widening knowledge base. With input from your supervisors, you will define and focus your research questions within the context of relevant academic and scientific literature and the demands of doing original research. You will usually be based with a relevant research group and participate in carrying out current research in your field.

Research may be of an experimental, computational or observational nature, but must be new and original.

Year 2 : Completion of the MPhil and progression to PhD

The second year is devoted to fleshing out details of the research programme outlined in your MPhil thesis (usually around 60,000 words - see PhD guidelines). This will provide an in-depth literature review of the topic as well as formulating the research questions and hypotheses to be pursued.
[Depending on circumstances and the amount of research work already completed, a student may opt to finish as an MPhil instead of continuing onto the final 2 years of the PhD degree.]

Continuing students: At the end of year 2 you will submit a Transfer Report which summarises your research results to date and provides a detailed plan of your future research.

Year 3 and 4 : Transfer to PhD status and viva voce

At the beginning of year 3 you will transfer onto the PhD subject to approval. Transfer is achieved by the presentation of a transfer report to an academic staff panel and the successful grading of both the report and presentation by that panel.

During years 3 and 4 you will deepen your research, finishing individual research articles and presenting them at international workshops and conferences, and giving talks or lectures.

Your studies will conclude with submission of your research in the form of a formal report written up as a PhD thesis (usually around 100,000 words - refer to PhD guidelines) and attendance at a viva voce examination.

Academic Supervision of Research Students

As an MPhil student you will be allocated a primary supervisor who will act as your mentor and your main point of contact within the College. However, during the first term you will focus fully on the training programme.

From the second term onwards you will spend more time with the primary supervisor while developing a research proposal. During or before the third term of year one a second supervisor will be appointed. The supervisory team acts to support you in developing a coherent research programme in the form of an MPhil thesis (usually around 60,000 words).

Supervisory support includes assistance with the process of refining your ideas, suggesting appropriate reading and commenting on drafts of chapters of the thesis, and so on. However, it is important to note that you are expected to show a significant degree of autonomy and resourcefulness in planning and executing your research. You will also need to agree a placement with a relevant research group.

The main emphasis of the PhD program is to give the student practical experience of participating in current active and original research, usually based within a professional research group, in their field of interest within physics or astronomy. This is to prepare them for a future career in research, whether in science, academia or industry.

( Rough draft outline of a typical 4-Year PhD incl. MPhil, but specific details may vary depending on PhD program and institution.)

Typical Full-time study commitment :	Levels (1B to 4C or ASTMxxx)
Physics or Astronomy BSc Degree - usually 3 years (see Degree Outlines 2012)	Level 1-3 courses
Physics or Astronomy MSci or MSc Degree - 4th year (see Degree Outlines 2012)	Level 4 and approved Level 3 courses
PhD including MPhil degree - Years 5-8	( Not dealt with in these Lecture Notes as
Postdoctoral Research and higher DSc degree	- mainly research based )
( The Part-time equivalent commitments will vary )	----