Master of Science in Mathematics and Physics

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

This course combines politics and international relations with the study of Portuguese, the seventh most widely spoken language in the world. This provides a valuable skill set, ideally tailored to the increasingly globalised workplace.

Politics is organised around three themes: political theory; comparative and national politics; and international relations. You will study the politics of individual countries and governments and the relationships between countries, communities and individuals.

In Portuguese you will study a combination of language and culture units. Portuguese is spoken throughout the world and Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil and Angola have complex, fascinating cultures. 

You will spend your third year abroad, enabling you to refine your language skills and cultural knowledge and gain valuable work experience. For details on year abroad opportunities, please see Global Opportunities.

Both schools enjoy a strong reputation for teaching and research and this course combination provides intellectual challenge with a cosmopolitan perspective.

Our MA draws on these strengths. It is intended both for students who have a first degree in philosophy who wish to specialise in philosophy of science at a higher level, and for individuals with a background in pure science who wish to make a transition to philosophy of science or to explore foundational issues within the sciences.

The emphasis of the programme is on philosophical issues arising from specific scientific disciplines, with particular focus on physics, biology and mathematics. The history of science is studied in terms of the philosophical debate about the nature of scientific method and knowledge.

One of the broadest engineering disciplines, electrical and electronic engineering uses cutting-edge technology to address some of the major concerns of the modern world. There is growing demand for skilled graduates to work in industries such as consumer electronics, alternative energy and transport, medical engineering and communications.

Years one and two provide a strong grounding in mathematics, computing, analogue and digital electronics, communications, electromagnetics, power electronics and control. In the third and fourth years you will choose from a range of optional units, meaning you can focus on anything from electrical power systems to electronic communications.

Year three includes a group design project and in the fourth year you will undertake an individual research project.

The MEng course provides full accreditation for the qualification of Chartered Engineer. The first two years are common with the BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering and transfer between courses is possible until the end of year two subject to satisfactory performance.

Through our close collaboration with industry you will benefit from excellent employment prospects. Recent graduate employers include Intel, BBC, Dyson, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, Hewlett-Packard, EDF Energy and many others.

If you are curious about our planet and interested in finding solutions to global problems, this course is for you. Learn about the physics, chemistry and history of the Earth through examining earth materials such as rocks, minerals and fossils, and use remote sensing techniques to explore the structure and chemistry of its inaccessible areas.

Learn with experts whose research feeds directly into your studies at the cutting edge of scientific developments. Recent options have included Volcanic Hazards, Global Tectonics, Mineral Resources and Hydrogeology. By your final year you’ll be conducting your own independent research and exploring the questions that matter most to you.

We have a large geology collection and the ability to measure unique geochemical reactions, giving you a real feel for geology in practice.

Field trips are a huge part of why our community is so tight knit, giving you the chance to get to know your course mates while honing your practical skills. 

This MA builds on these outstanding research strengths. It is intended for graduates of philosophy, psychology or biology who wish to study philosophy of science with an emphasis on the biological and cognitive sciences. The programme focuses on philosophical issues arising from these scientific disciplines. The history of science is studied in terms of the philosophical debate about the nature of scientific method and knowledge.

This is a challenging one-year taught master’s degree focused on advanced topics in communication networks (fixed and wireless) and related signal processing, including associated enabling technologies. It provides an excellent opportunity to develop the skills needed for careers in some of the most dynamic fields in communication networks.

This program builds on the internationally recognised research strengths of the Communications Systems and Networks, High Performance Networks and Photonics & Quantum research groups within the Smart Internet Lab. The groups conduct pioneering research in a number of key areas, including network architectures, cross-layer interaction, high-speed optical communications and advanced wireless access.

The program includes units on Optical Networks and Data Centre Networks. Optical Networks focuses on wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks, time division multiplexed (TDM) networks including SDH/SONET and OTN, optical frequency division multiplexed networks, and optical sub-wavelength switched networks. Data Centre Networks focuses on networks for cloud computing, cloud-based networking, grid-computing and e-science. There is a further networking unit: Networked Systems and Applications, which provides a top-down study of a networking system support for distributed applications, from classical web and email to telemetry for the Internet of Things.

The program is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, one of only a handful of accredited program in this field in the UK.

The first two years of this course provide a background in mathematical analysis, modelling and scientific computation and their application to engineering. These core topics underpin the advanced material that follows.

As well as gaining first-hand exposure to pioneering research, after your first two years you will have a wide choice of options from across engineering and mathematics to fit your interests.

A major focus of the course and a key strand throughout the curriculum is real-world problem solving, spanning many different application areas from robotics and social media to medicine and environmental modelling. Problems come from our industrial collaborators or address challenges in current research. Working on these case studies, using theory and techniques from your other units, you will develop your mathematical modelling, collaboration and communication skills.

A highlight is your final year project – a highly creative, challenging and enjoyable experience that is excellent preparation for your future career.

The MA in Philosophy will give you a thorough grounding in the core knowledge and skills required for philosophical research, while also allowing you to pursue your own philosophical interests in depth.

The MA is an exciting programme that provides an opportunity to design a path to match your philosophical interests. You will take three core taught units plus three additional units that you will select from a range of options. Your dissertation is an opportunity to work on an extended and original piece of research on a topic of your choosing, with guidance from a research supervisor. You will develop a deep knowledge and understanding of key areas of philosophy and a sophisticated ability to critically evaluate and assess philosophical theories.