Master of Science in Geophysics

at University of Southampton - Highfield Campus United Kingdom

On this MPhys degree you’ll explore photonics – the science of light – while deepening your knowledge in the core areas of physics. An unrivalled range of specialist modules will allow you to fine-tune skills that are in high demand in this well-paid, rapidly expanding industry.

We’re home to the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) - the largest photonics research institute in the UK.

We’re also the only UK university to offer an undergraduate physics degree with photonics and you’ll join a research community with a history of revolutionary discoveries. These include the optical fibres and amplifiers that make the internet possible.

Our direct link with the ORC, a global hub for photonics research, gives you a unique opportunity to explore all the possibilities in depth.

As part of your course you’ll also:

• Learn key skills in computer modeling, mathematics and statistical analysis
• Use the latest equipment in our physics and photonics labs
• Develop problem-solving skills to test theories and conduct experiments

Additionally, you’ll spend time in one of our research groups in year 4. Past projects have included holography, photosensitive materials, nanoscale x-rays, optical fibre and silicon photonics.

With climate change challenging our conservation efforts, now is the time to play a role in the future of conservation by studying our MRes Wildlife Conservation course. We’re the only university in the UK offering a Masters of Research in close collaboration with a conservation organisation.

Studying this Masters of Research gives you the opportunity to complete a research project in a real and very critical cause; conserving wildlife and their supporting ecosystems. Our wildlife degree in research is designed to give you the professional and research skills to either study a PhD or become a conservation biologist. 

During your studies, you’ll be based at the Science and Learning Centre at Marwell Wildlife where you’ll be considered part of the team. You’ll learn the foundations in advanced field research with access to their top of the range research equipment.  

You’ll be able to apply your research skills to immediate use during a 10-day trip to Kenya, which is covered as part of the course fees. You’ll collect data and report your findings to stakeholders giving you real-life work experience of a conservation biologist working in Africa.  

As part of this course you'll be given a choice of independent research projects to complete. This could take you from the local eco-systems in the UK, to the ranches of Kenya, or the mountains of Tunisia. The selection changes every year.

Students previous projects have looked at the following subjects: 

• Conservation grazing and its effect on local biodiversity
• Re-introducing species, considering the effect of climate change
• Evolution of species behaviour whilst in captivity
• Management of large herbivores, considering socio-economic constraints

Our teaching staff are experts and the learning environment is open and inclusive, with a focus on self-reflection. This enables you to measure your own personal growth as a researcher during this transformational point in your wildlife conservation career.

Develop the analytical and statistical skills for success in industry, business or public sector on this MSc Operational Research and Statistics at the University of Southampton. You’ll work with multinational industry partners on real case studies, and learn operational research techniques and applied statistical methods at an advanced level. You’ll graduate with the knowledge and practical skills in 2 highly valued disciplines. 

Operational researchers use analytical methods to help organisations become more productive through better planning of strategy and delivery. 

Statistics is an important tool for operational researchers, because it involves decision-making in the face of uncertainty. 

On this operational research UK master’s course you’ll learn to develop solutions to complex organisational problems using mathematical modelling, experimental design, statistical analysis and numerical computation. 

You'll gain essential skills in the 4 main areas of real-world problem-solving: 

• Analysing the problem through designing experiments, and collecting and visualising data
• Formulating the problem mathematically and offering solution approaches
• Providing statistical analysis and computation
• Presenting and communicating the results

A highlight of this statistics and operational research course is the 3-month summer project, when you’ll have the chance to compete to work with an external organisation on a real problem. This could relate to operational research, statistics, or both. 

Our MSc Environmental Pollution Control course provides excellent training for careers in air, water and waste pollution management. Students explore the scientific basis of pollution and practical approaches to its control. Through the optional modules you’ll get the chance to learn about the legal and business framework and the many environments affected by pollution.

The ability to accurately monitor emissions to the environment and mitigate their harmful impacts sits at the heart of this diverse environmental science master’s degree.

On completing the course, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The importance of environmental concepts, terms, principles and methods
• The value of using techniques and ideas in different subject disciplines
• The socio-economic context of environmental issues and the legal framework for environmental regulation
• The contribution of science, engineering or communication to the identification, understanding of environmental issues and concerns
• The human causes and consequences of environmental impacts
• General environmental concerns, which may include: biodiversity; environmental limits to economic or population growth

This course develops the professional skills required for a rewarding career as an environmental scientist in air, water and waste pollution management.

Explore the brain and study all aspects of the nervous system from the molecular to the behavioural with our MSc Neuroscience degree. Help improve understanding of brain function and address key challenges facing society such as neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions.

This course is ideal if you want to pursue a career in neuroscience or work in the neuro-pharmaceutical industry, or are interested in further study.

Learn about brain function and dysfunction, and gain experience in some of the latest experimental neuroscience techniques. You’ll learn from neuroscience researchers at the forefront of their specialisms and gain a breadth of knowledge in experimental, applied and translational neuroscience.

Key areas of your learning include advanced human neuroanatomy, and neuronal and glial physiology in health and disease. This is complemented by research focused, experimental workshops covering:

• Neuro-drug discovery
• Model organisms in neurological disease
• Dementia research including ipsc-models and neuropathological studies
• Neural networks
• Behavioural neurosciences
• Cell and molecular neurobiology
• Interdisciplinary neuroscience

You’ll carry out an individual research-based project, in one of 14 research labs in our purpose-built Life Sciences building. Themes could include anything from circadian biology, ageing processes and synaptic physiology to dementia research, neuroinflammation and translational research.

You can choose optional modules such as:

• Critiques on current research seminars
• Neuroimaging
• Critical thinking

There's also an exciting opportunity to attend a national or international neuroscience conference.

Develop the skills to tackle complex political challenges, such as cyber threats, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, on this MSc International Security and Risk degree at the University of Southampton. You’ll use advanced research on risk analysis and decision-making to understand and inform global security policy. You’ll graduate with the knowledge and practical skills to become a security specialist.

This UK master’s course combines security studies, cyber security and risk analysis to reflect a global political environment that demands new thinking.

On this course we take a multidisciplinary approach to teach the skills and understanding you'll need to work in the modern political landscape.

You’ll have the chance to develop new solutions to these complex challenges by undertaking wide interdisciplinary study. You'll examine the key security issues facing the world today, including:

• Cyber threats
• Terrorism
• Weapons of mass destruction
• The challenges posed by states and non-state actors

With a focus on understanding the real-world policy implications of these security challenges, you'll have the chance to develop practical, policy-relevant proposals.

Using advanced research on risk analysis and decision-making, you'll learn how to apply advanced interdisciplinary skills and knowledge in addressing global security issues.

You’ll consider historical, social, scientific, technological and military factors as you examine the issues of modern security.

his MPhys Physics with Astronomy degree covers all aspects of astronomy over 4 years. It will prepare you for a range of careers in physics or fuel a life-long passion for the subject if you choose a different profession. As well as investigating awe-inspiring astronomical events, you’ll study advanced physics. You’ll be taught by academics directly involved in world-leading research.

You’ll study in our labs and clean rooms and use our on-site rooftop observatory, equipped with 2 high-spec telescopes and CCD detectors for astronomy imaging.

There will also be a chance to spend a week using research-grade telescopes at an observatory in Tenerife.

You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of:

• The make-up, dynamics and environment of galaxies
• White dwarfs, black holes and neutron stars
• How radiation is produced and detected in a cosmic setting
• The space environment and space weather
• Concepts of modern cosmology, including dark matter

Learn about some of the world’s biggest challenges, from renewable energy to improving the study of disease, with our MSc Chemistry degree. Study in depth traditional areas including analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. You’ll choose from a wide range of specialist modules to match your interests.

Combine theory, practical and research work to develop skills in demand by industry, or prepare for further research study.

On this chemistry master's you’ll take part in sessions to develop your practical, scientific writing, communication and presentation skills. You'll work in state of the art laboratories and gain master's level knowledge of the core areas of chemistry, along with your chosen area of specialisation

Choose from our specialist pathways, including:

Organic chemistry: This covers synthetic reaction and mechanisms. It’s suitable if you already have an undergraduate grounding in nomenclature, stereochemistry and reaction mechanisms. You can specialise in:

• Organic synthesis
• Medicinal chemistry
• Bio-organic chemistry

Inorganic chemistry and materials: The focus here is on functional inorganic, solid-state and supramolecular materials. It’s ideal if you have BSc level knowledge of fundamentals and applications of inorganic chemistry. It addresses challenges in:

• Energy
• Sustainability
• Healthcare and diagnostics
• The deposition of nanostructured materials

Physical chemistry: This is suitable if you have an undergraduate level grounding in physical chemistry, especially quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, thermodynamics and kinetics. You’ll be able to specialise in:

• Computational chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Electrochemistry
• Surface science
• Magnetic resonance

General chemistry: Further your knowledge in a combination of organic, inorganic and/or physical chemistry. Choose this option if you’re interested in developing your expertise across the different disciplines within chemistry.

This specialist astrophysics course offers an unrivalled opportunity to study astrophysics with a year abroad. You'll spend your fourth year on a research project at the prestigious Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in Boston, USA. We are the only UK university that partners with Harvard in this way.

This flagship course is offered to the best University of Southampton astrophysics students studying our MPhys Physics with Astronomy degree at the end of year 2.

Another feature is a 2-week field trip to Tenerife where you’ll take part in a space mission design project.

You’ll also spend a week at an observatory learning to use high-spec telescopes.

As part of your astrophysics degree, you’ll develop an in-depth understanding of:

• The make-up, dynamics and environment of galaxies
• The life cycle of stars
• How radiation is produced and detected in a cosmic setting
• The space environment and space weather
• Concepts of modern cosmology, including the nature of dark matter

You’ll also learn the science behind powerful phenomena such as white dwarfs, black holes and neutron stars, the evolution of the universe, the formation of galaxies and space weather.

Become a leader in sustainable chemical engineering with this full-time master’s degree in Advanced Chemical Engineering. You’ll gain real-world insights working on actual industrial issues and will be equipped with the specialist skills needed to design sustainable technologies and processes.

As a chemical engineering graduate, you'll have excellent job prospects in sectors such as energy, pharmaceuticals and biochemicals. The skills you’ll gain in state-of-the-art reactor design, advanced understanding of safety and risk management and computer systems to control processes are in demand from companies around the world.

This chemical engineering degree has a strong focus on sustainable chemical engineering. On completion, you’ll have the skills to help the world transition to a more sustainable future. Through your optional modules, you can personalise your learning to a particular theme. You could focus on:

• Wastewater
• Reactors
• Biochemical engineering
• Electrochemical engineering
• Sustainable energy systems

Employability is embedded throughout this degree. As part of a group design project you'll work with a team to time and budget to design, prototype, computer model and/or manufacture a product that meets an industrial brief. Your project will be showcased in our annual Engineering Design Show.

You'll also complete an independent research project. Conducting independent, original and critical research on a subject of your choosing. This research can be done on an industrial placement.

We’ve recently invested £12 million in our chemistry laboratories, which include specialist chemical engineering equipment. You’ll work in our purpose-built engineering design studios using industry-standard tools and facilities.