Future Students

Physics

Its focus ranges from the origin and fate of the universe to matter on the subatomic scale—and everything in between.

The knowledge generated through the study of physics is the driving force behind most new technologies—from radar to lasers, from transistors to quantum computers, and from optical microscopes to advanced medical imaging scanners.

The Physics major can open the door to these creative fields of endeavour. Particularly exciting for students at UWA is the fact that WA has been short-listed as a potential site for the SKA (Square Kilometre Array), a multibillion-dollar project that will reveal amazing new horizons in radioastronomy.

There are several alternatives for completing a physics major:

• Bachelor of Science (Physical Science) with a major in physics. This degree course equips you with the skills to become a scientist working at the frontiers of modern physics. It also provides you with a range of skills that are highly valued by employers in many areas of industry, business and government where problem-solving and analytical thinking are important.
• Combined courses (Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Commerce) with a science major in physics. This combination of studies allows you to access jobs at the exciting boundaries between physics and other disciplines. For example, modern technology and high-tech industries are very reliant on the combination of skills obtained in a Bachelor of Science with Bachelor of Engineering (BSc/BE).

Topics covered in a typical major in physics include:

Level 1
Kinematics and dynamics, special relativity, gravitational and electromagnetic fields, heat and properties of matter, waves and optics, astronomy and introductory quantum theory.

Level 2
Many-particle systems, signals and noise, particle and nuclear physics, astronomy, electromagnetism, computational physics and quantum mechanics.

Level 3
Atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics, relativity, electromagnetic radiation, condensed matter physics, lasers, instrumentation, astrophysics, mesoscopic quantum physics, advanced quantum physics and quantum fluids.

Honours and Postgraduate
The School of Physics has a strong honours and postgraduate program, involving state-of-the-art fundamental research in such areas as: astrophysics, biomagnetics, cryogenic gravity gradiometry, condensed matter physics, femtosecond laser physics, gravitational radiation detection, nanomagnetics, particle physics, quantum field theory, ultra-stable sapphire resonators, and atomic, molecular and surface physics.

Career opportunities

Recent graduates from the School of Physics at UWA have obtained positions as-

• Research physicists in universities, high-tech industry and government organisations such as CSIRO, ANSTO, DSTO
• Medical physicists in hospitals
• Meteorologists with the Bureau of Meteorology
• Analysts with consulting companies
• Patent attorneys
• Teachers and senior masters
• Physicists with international oil and gas and minerals exploration companies
• Graduate entrants with the Defence Signals Directorate and Department of Defence