Physics and Astronomy at University of Leicester: Inspiring Teaching, High Student Satisfaction

1. Student Satisfaction – UK Top 5 (Source: National Student Survey 2011) Leicester in top 10 of National Student Survey every year since it began in 2005 Inspirational research-led teaching leads to the highest levels of student satisfaction

2. physics@le.ac.uk Merry CoatesAdmissions Secretary Dr Mervyn Roy Senior Admissions Tutor Lecturer in Nanoscience Dr Simon VaughanAdmissions Tutor Lecturer in Astronomy

3. Your Departmental Visit

4. Welcome to Physics and Astronomy www.le.ac.uk/physics/admissions

5. Physics Building The Department Space Research Centre (SRC) National Space Centre Founding partners of this national visitor attraction and educational facility

6. Leicester in a nutshell University: consistently top 20 in the UK, top 2% in the world. • Department: Internationally renowned research and teaching • Research earnings per staff member amongst highest in UK (~£8m) • Academic Ranking of World Universities (Physics) • - top 100 in the world, joint 8th in UK. • Friendly! • Medium sized department with an open door policy • Excellent staff student ratio – lots of small group teaching • Strong links between research and teaching • Project work from the first term of the first year • Awarded national teaching innovation grants

7. Research The degree programme Extracurricular activities and careers

8. Facilities Advanced Microscopy Centre XMM-Newton Survey Cryogenics lab Swift Data Centre Clean Rooms Radar Sounding Centre Nanotechnology labs Bio-imaging Unit ALICE supercomputer + undergraduate HPC service - 500 cores

9. Facilities Advanced Microscopy Centre XMM-Newton Survey Cryogenics lab Swift Data Centre Clean Rooms Radar Sounding Centre Nanotechnology labs Bio-imaging Unit ALICE supercomputer + undergraduate HPC service - 500 cores

10. Facilities Advanced Microscopy Centre XMM-Newton Survey Cryogenics lab Swift Data Centre Clean Rooms Radar Sounding Centre Nanotechnology labs Bio-imaging Unit ALICE supercomputer + undergraduate HPC service - 500 cores

11. One of the world leaders in nanocluster physics • Nanoclusters ~ 1-10 nm, ~ 100 atoms 100 nm • Artificial atoms: • graphene, nanotubes, semiconductors • molecular electronics, quantum computing, etc. 5 nm

12. Superfluid Helium B

13. SPEAR Radar facility • Part of national centre for Earth Observation • Monitoring and modelling Earth’s atmosphere • Working on climate change (e.g. with MET office) • Interaction of solar wind with Earth’s ionosphere

14. Largest University based space research programme in Europe Leicester instrument in space every year since 1967 Swift Astrosat Exomars Stardust 20 mm JUICE Space science contributes £7 bn to the UK economy

15. Swift Xmas GRB Oadby Hawaii

16. Make a contribution! G. Provan, S. W. H. Cowley, J. Sandhu and M. K. Dougherty, Planetary period oscillations in Saturn’s magnetosphere: Non-monotonic transition to northern oscillation dominance two years after equinox, submitted to J. Geophys, Res. S. E. Milan, J. S. Gosling and B. Hubert, Relationship between interplanetary parameters and the magnetopause reconnection rate quantified from observations of the expanding polar cap, J. Geophys. Res. 117, A03226 (2012). H. Melin, T. Stallard, S. Miller, M. B. Lystrup, L. M. Trafton, T. C. Booth, and C. Rivers, New limits on H3+ abundance on Neptune using Keck NIRSPEC, MNRAS 410, 641 (2011). P. R. Steele, M. R. Burleigh, P. D. Dobbie, R. F. Jameson, M. A. Barstow and R. P. Satterthwaite, White dwarfs in the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey Large Area Survey: the substellar companion fraction, MNRAS 416, 2768 (2011). C. Power, K. Zubovas, S. Nayakshin and A. R. King, Self regulated star formation and black hole galaxy bulge relation, MNRAS 413, L110 (2011). S.E. Milan, T. A. Evans and B. Hubert, Average auroral configuration parameterized by geomagnetic activity and solar wind conditions, Ann. Geophys. 28, 1003 (2010). A. Brewer and K. von Haeften, In situ passivation and blue luminescence of silicon clusters using a cluster beam/H2O co-deposition production method, Appl. Phys. Letts. 95, 1 (2009) .

17. Research The degree programme Extracurricular activities and careers

18. A Teaching Programme based on Research Excellence • MPhys (4 yr) and BSc (3 yr) Degree Courses in: • Physics • Physics with Nanotechnology • Physics with Astrophysics • Physics with Space Science & Technology • Physics with Planetary Science Offers - MPhys (AAB), BSc (ABB) Jeff Hoffman 5 space missions 21 million miles space travel All degrees are based on our cutting-edge research Taught by experts (including a NASA astronaut)

19. Scholarships • The Chancellor’s Scholarships • £2,000 towards your tuition fee each year • (AAA or equivalent) • Departmental Scholarships • £1,250 towards your tuition fee each year • (ABB or equivalent) • Also - • CULN College Transition Scholarship • University of Leicester National Scholarships www.le.ac.uk/study/fees

20. The Degree Programme • Innovativeapproach to teaching • Lectures • Problem solving workshops • Seminars • Experimental work • Project work (in every year) • Small group tutorials • Opportunity to advance higher level courses Comprehensivestudent support leads to an excellent completion rate • Flexibledegree with plenty of choice • Students choose options to suit interests and career aspirations www.le.ac.uk/physics/admissions → course lists & handbooks

21. A flexible degree Core Physics and Maths. Computing Experimentation Data analysis Physics Speciality options Training courses Projects Astro. Speciality options Training courses Projects Nano. Speciality options Training courses Projects Space Speciality options Training courses Projects Planetary Speciality options Training courses Projects Higher level core courses Extracurricular activities

22. First Year Modules Physics Modern Physics Great Experiments GReP: Elastomers/ Spectroscopy Astro. Observational Astro. The Sun And Stars GReP: Astrophysical Techniques Dynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Light and Matter, Waves and Quanta. Mathematical Physics 1.1 Mathematical Physics 1.2 Core Laboratory Core GRePs (x4) Nano. Nanophysics Digital Electronics GReP: Nano-aerosols Space Space Technology Science From Space GReP: Earth/Space Environment Planetary Planetary Exploration Terrestrial Planets GReP: Planetary Cratering Relativity & Particles Vectors & Matrices Many Variables Physics Societies, Student led projects

23. Third Year Physics Elementary Particles, Applied Nuclear Power Medical X-rays Ultrasound & nuclear Radio Systems Relativity Training wkshp. Astro. Active Galaxies Cosmology Extreme Stars Stellar Structure & Evolution Training wkshp. Atoms and Nuclei Quantum Mechanics Interaction of Radiation & Matter Advanced Vector Calculus Fourier Transforms Physics Challenge Physics at Work Management Sustainable Futures Business skills Science Communication Physics in Education Work Placement Study Abroad Nano. Magnetic Systems Advanced Materials Digital Imaging Training workshop (STM/AFM) Space Solar-Terrestrial Relations Rocket Propulsion Systems Human Spaceflight Spacecraft design Training wkshp. Planetary The Earth from Space Planetary Science Ionospheric Physics Life in the Universe Quantum Solids, Applied Quantum Mechanics Physics Societies, Student led projects Pair project GReP or GrIP

24. An (approximate) week in the life of… …a first year Core lectures 4 Option lectures 1-2 Tutorials 1 Seminars 2 Workshops 2 Labs & GRePs 6 Private study 10-15 Assessment: 30% coursework, 70% exam www.le.ac.uk/physics/admissions → course lists & handbooks

25. An (approximate) week in the life of… …a third year Core lectures 3 - 4 Option lectures 3 - 4 Tutorials optional Seminars 1 Workshops 1 Research Project (term 1) 10 GReP/ GrIP (term 2) 10 Research / private study 15 – 20 + study abroad, ambassadors in schools, work placements, etc. www.le.ac.uk/physics/admissions → course lists & handbooks

26. Research The degree programme Extracurricular activities and careers

27. Outside the Curriculum • Student societies (Phys Soc., LeSEDS, Astrosoc) • Organised trips (e.g. Diamond Light Source) • Student Initiatives • Student outreach and mentoring • CubeSatstudent satellite (PLUME) • Gamma ray detector experiment (BEXUS) • European Space Agency zero-g flight campaign • Planet On Standby!

28. Zero-g Flight Campaign ESA competition won by Leicester students GRAPPA student project (May 2011)

29. Skills of a Leicester Physics Graduate Problem solving Analysis Mathematical Information technology Experimental Software skills Teamwork Leadership Initiative Communication Presentation Business awareness GrIPs - direct student engagement with employers working on real world problems provided by industry

30. Links with Industry • Strong links with science-based industry • e.g. EADS Astrium, ENSOL, Rolls Royce, Schlumberger, Photonis, Qinetiq, SciSys, SSTL, BioAstral, Magnaparvaetc. etc. • This years GrIPs include: Weatherford International, Jorin Ltd, Leicestershire Bee Keepers association!

31. 30 % - PhDs or further training 70 % - in graduate employment (incl. further study) within 6 months Leicester Graduates Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence Industry Forensic Science Meteorology Civil Service The Media Banking Accountancy Commerce Law Management Sales/Marketing

32. Thank you for your time, please enjoy the rest of your visit. www.le.ac.uk/physics/admissions