Master of Science in Physics

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

This course combines philosophy with study of Portuguese, providing a valuable skill set that is ideally tailored to the increasingly globalised workplace.

For philosophy, you will study units covering introduction to philosophy, logic, and realism and normativity.

Portuguese is the seventh most widely spoken language in the world, and Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil and Angola have complex and fascinating cultures.

You will spend your third year abroad working or studying at a partner institution in a Portuguese-speaking environment. This will enable you to refine your language skills and cultural understanding. For further details of year abroad opportunities visit Global Opportunities.

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

Data science is an exciting, emerging discipline that has a profound impact on society. The world produces increasing volumes of data every day and making sense of this data has the capacity to be transformative.Data science combines mathematical, statistical and computational approaches to enable knowledge discovery from data. Employability prospects in this field are very strong.

Bristol’s data science expertise means that you’ll be taught the sophisticated theory and methods needed to address modern data-analytic challenges by leading academics in this field. You will study units involving a blend of theoretical background and practical skills designed especially for this new course, including Mathematical Tools for Data Science, Advanced Linear Modelling and Classification, and Algorithms and Machine Learning.Our highly interdisciplinary program features links with the Bristol Institute for Scientific Computing (BriSC) as well as exposure to real-world problems from our industry partners.

With applications across a wide range of industries, studying data science will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to fast-track your career. Pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, market research, social media, finance, sports and disaster management are all fields with high demand for data scientists.

If you’re interested in pursuing further research, our Centre for Doctoral Training, COMPASS, offers the opportunity to study computational and statistical science through a four-year PhD program.

This MSc conversion program is for students from a variety of academic backgrounds who have little or no previous academic computing experience. The aims of the programme are to build:

• An understanding of the basis of computer science and its importance in software development;
• An understanding of the underlying principles of computer systems and their applications;
• An introduction to industrial-style methods of analysis, design, implementation, testing and documentation in software development;
• An appreciation of the current state and future directions of technological advances in computer science.

Do you enjoy both physics and computing? Our MSci Physics with Scientific Computing combines study of the building blocks and forces of nature with training in the computational and data-science skills that are currently revolutionising science and society.

Computing skills are vital across many physics-related careers. Computers control advanced instrumentation and simulations predicting the properties of the universe, from subatomic particles to the formation of galaxies.

This course offers a unique combination of units and projects blending programming, machine learning, data science and high-performance computing with fundamental concepts in physics, to produce a new kind of scientist – one with a firm foundation in physics, a sound appreciation of scientific computing and an understanding of what can be achieved by combining them.

Year one gives you a comprehensive grounding in physics, mathematics and programming, while year two focuses on the principles of physics with further emphasis on scientific coding. In your final year, you will undertake a major research project, supervised by staff with expertise in physics and computing. Our students' final-year projects address questions at the frontier of our research fields. The most successful have been published in scientific journals.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We encourage you to develop a broad range of skills, including the experimental, theoretical and computational skills needed for a career in research and industry. Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on these skills.

If you have a fascination for physics and an appetite for scientific computing, you will enjoy this programme.

Sociotechnical changes create a wide range of challenges and opportunities for educators and those who participate in and support learning around the world. Digital technologies (such as microcomputers, digital games, mobile devices, massive online open courses, artificial intelligence, robots, social media, big data, and virtual or tangible technologies) are increasingly becoming embedded in our societies and being used in both educational settings and our everyday learning. The Learning, Technology and Society pathway is designed for those who wish to take a critical perspective on the use of technology in diverse educational settings.

It is suitable for people with a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences, including teachers and lecturers, creative technologists and those who support informal learning settings such as museums and public spaces.

The pathway will provide you with a firm foundation for developing your career in teaching and facilitating learning in formal and informal settings, education leadership, research or learning technology. You will develop an in-depth understanding of sociotechnical change and a critical perspective on if and how digital technologies can support learning in a wide variety of settings. In addition, the pathway will prepare you to undertake further research in this rapidly developing field.

This pathway is taught in an international centre of excellence in teaching, research and educational technology. The tutors on the course are world-class academics with excellent research records in the field of education, technology and society.

Criminology is a multidisciplinary subject comprising elements of sociology, law, social and public policy, history, psychology and philosophy. BSc Criminology with Study Abroad is an exciting course that gives you the opportunity to study criminology within a broader framework of policy studies. You will also have the opportunity to study at a partner overseas university in your third year.

The course will provide you with an understanding of crime and justice and related social harms and an analysis of public policy interventions that contribute towards a fairer, safer and harm-free society.

The course follows a similar structure to the three-year BSc Criminology. In your first and second years you will take a range of mandatory and optional units that introduce you to the interdisciplinary study of criminology and justice.

You will spend your third year at one of our partner institutions overseas, where you can take criminology or broader social sciences, arts and humanities subjects. For more information about studying overseas see Global Opportunities.

You will return to Bristol for the final year of the course, which is identical to the third year of the BSc Criminology, and will complete a dissertation and further criminology-related units.

Our education master's degrees give you the opportunity to design a tailored program of study that suits your cultural and learning needs. You will be able to specialise and receive an award in a particular disciplinary area.

The Policy and International Development pathway focuses on the relationship between education policy and practice and international development. It probes the influence of global policy agendas on education and the contribution that education makes to social justice, economic growth and sustainable development.

In line with the sustainable development agenda, development is treated as an international issue and the pathway considers case studies from countries around the world as well as from within Bristol. It examines formal and informal education through diverse institutions and organisations, including schools, universities and community organisations.

This MSc takes a critical look at ideas about social development, such as human rights, the capability approach and peace building, and their implications for education policy and practice. There will be opportunities to explore how educational theories and practice travel between and are adapted to specific contexts. You will analyse the role of key organisations involved in the global governance of education, including civil society, international non-governmental organisations, development agencies and commercial bodies.

The Policy and International Development pathway develops your skills in using international and comparative research, both in education and in analysing education policy. You will be supported to develop your own reasoned position and distinctive critical voice for commenting on education policy and education’s role within social development at international, national and local level. You will have access to first-class library and information services, allowing you to study the specific ideas, issues, initiatives and policies you are interested in.

This course provides a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of computer science. There are extensive opportunities to specialise in a range of advanced areas while gaining skills in system development and enterprise. We review our curriculum constantly to ensure it remains at the leading edge.

Core ideas are introduced in years one and two. You will cover the principles of algorithms and programming, covering three key paradigms: imperative, functional and object-oriented.

You will study mathematics and statistics underpinning modern computer science; how a modern computer architecture is organised; concurrent systems and networks; and foundations of human-computer interaction, cybersecurity and theoretical and data-driven computer science.

A key component of year two is the software group project in which you work in a team to develop an application for a real-world client with help from an industrial mentor.

In your final two years you will choose from a wide range of optional units in order to specialise in selected advanced areas of computer science. You will undertake a significant group project working with industrial mentors. You will also conduct an individual project, co-created with a supervising member of staff, with opportunities to work with industrial and research partners.