University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry > Chemical Physics (BSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 2PHYS004U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Neil Fox
|
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
School/department | School of Chemistry |
Second School/department | School of Physics |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Accrediting types: |
Accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry for partially meeting the academic criteria for Chartered Chemist (CChem). (http://www.rsc.org/) Accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP) for the purpose of partially meeting the educational requirement for Chartered Physicist. (https://www.iop.org/education/support-work-higher-education/degree-accreditation-recognition) |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups |
Chemistry (2019) (benchmark statement)
Physics, astronomy and astrophysics (2019) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 3 years (full time) |
This programme aims to develop the student's interest in and knowledge and understanding of:
The interdisciplinary area of chemical physics, in preparation for a career as a professional scientist (in Chemistry, Physics or Materials Science related subjects) or an area of employment requiring the skills of scientific reasoning, critical evaluation and numeracy.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Acquisition of basic knowledge and understanding is through a combination of lectures, tutorials (year 1 small group teaching), workshop problems classes (years 2 and 3 small group teaching), coursework problems and IT projects and supervised practical classes. Research skills are acquired through supervised practical work or project work. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Testing is through a combination of unseen written examinations, assessed coursework, literature survey/IT project reports, assessed problems classes, research project reports and oral presentations. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. Analysis and problem-solving skills are further developed through tutorials and problem-solving workshops. Communication skills are developed through report writing, oral presentation of research project work and poster presentations. Practical skills are developed through supervised laboratory courses. General research skills are developed through a research project carried out in the research group of a member of staff. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Analysis and problem solving skills are assessed through unseen written examinations. Communication skills are assessed through laboratory reports and oral presentation of research work. Practical skills are assessed through laboratory reports. General research skills are assessed through continuous assessment of research performance, written reports and oral presentations of research work. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Transferable skills are developed through the teaching and learning programmes outlined above. Decision making, time management and efficiency skills are further developed through research project work. Report writing and general communication skills are developed throughout the course of study through feedback on practical write-ups, draft research project reports, and oral presentations. Group working skills are developed through membership of a research group during the final year of the programme. Skills in the area of information and communication technology are acquired through literature survey/IT projects and also during the course of research project work. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Transferable skills are assessed continuously through reports on formal practical work, literature survey/IT projects, oral presentations, practical performance on project work, written report on final year research project. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
They will have a sound knowledge of the basic concepts of a subject, and will have learned how to take different approaches to solving problems. They will be able to communicate accurately, and will have the qualities needed for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
They will have developed a sound understanding of the principles in their field of study, and will have learned to apply those principles more widely. Through this, they will have learned to evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems. Their studies may well have had a vocational orientation, enabling them to perform effectively in their chosen field. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
They will have the qualities necessary for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making. They will have developed an understanding of a complex body of knowledge, some of it at the current boundaries of an academic discipline. Through this, the graduate will have developed analytical techniques and problem-solving skills that can be applied in many types of employment. The graduate will be able to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions, to reach sound judgements, and to communicate effectively. They should have the qualities needed for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility, and decision-making in complex and unpredictable circumstances. |
Level M/7 - Masters |
Much of the study undertaken at Masters level will have been at, or informed by, the forefront of an academic or professional discipline. Students will have shown originality in the application of knowledge, and they will understand how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research. They will be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, and they will show originality in tackling and solving problems. They will have the qualities needed for employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative, in complex and unpredictable professional environments. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
F323: Industrial placements are organised and arranged by the Department. These placements are all with major companies in the UK or abroad and are supervised jointly by a project leader in the industrial company and a member of the academic staff of the School of Chemistry.
School of Chemistry Administration Office
Tel: 0117 928 7645
Fax: 0117 925 1295
Web page: http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Chemistry/Bristol_Chemistry.html
Students will be offered a blended educational experience with a mix of in person and online teaching. The in person teaching will consist of small group work, laboratory practicals and field work/alternative activities. To achieve the intended learning outcomes across the programme and to satisfy any accreditation requirements, students will be expected to undertake some in person teaching.CHEM10013 Building Blocks of Chemistry, CHEM10014 Practical Work for Chemical Physics, and PHYS10009 Introductory Mathematics for Physics are must pass units.
For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes at
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/annex/glossaryhtml
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Building Blocks of Chemistry | CHEM10013 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Practical Work for Chemical Physics | CHEM10014 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Core Physics I:Mechanics and Matter | PHYS10006 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Core Physics II: Oscillations, Waves and Fields | PHYS10005 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Essential Maths for Physics | PHYS11400 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Introductory Mathematics for Physics | PHYS10009 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
CHEM20009 Core Concepts in Chemistry for Chemical Physics and CHEM20006 Intermediate Practical Chemical Physics are must pass units. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes at
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/annex/glossary.html.
Students will be offered a blended educational experience with a mix of in person and online teaching. The in person teaching will consist of small group work, laboratory practicals and field work/alternative activities. To achieve the intended learning outcomes across the programme and to satisfy any accreditation requirements, students will be expected to undertake some in person teaching.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Mathematical Physics 202 | PHYS23020 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Intermediate Computational Physics | PHYS20032 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Intermediate Practical Chemical Physics | CHEM20006 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Core Concepts in Chemistry for Chemical Physics | CHEM20009 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Mechanics, Oscillations and Quantum Mechanics I | PHYS20028 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Classical Physics II: Electromagnetism and Waves | PHYS20020 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Select 20 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Materials Chemistry: Materials for Energy | CHEM20005 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Chemical Models and Prediction | CHEM20008 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Diploma of Higher Education | 130 |
CHEM30004 Advanced Chemistry Project is a must -pass unit. For the definition of must-pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Symmetry, Structure, Catalysis and Dynamics | CHEM30033 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Solid State Physics 3021 | PHYS30021 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Nanophysics | PHYS32600 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2D |
Students choose 40 credit points by selecting either: | ||||
Advanced Chemistry Project | CHEM30004 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 |
Or: | ||||
Skills for Science 301 | PHYS38011 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
And 30 credit points from the following: | ||||
Physics Project 333 | PHYS39330 | 30 | Optional | TB-4 |
Physics Education 333 | PHYS39332 | 30 | Optional | TB-4 |
Industrial Group Project | PHYS30007 | 30 | Optional | TB-4 |
Select 20 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Advanced Applications of Computing in Chemistry | CHEM30023 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Advanced Environmental Life Chemistry | CHEM30029 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Materials Chemistry: Material Interfaces | CHEM30031 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Advanced Chemical Models and Prediction | CHEM30032 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Plus 10 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Quantum Physics 301 | PHYS32011 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Biophysics 321 | PHYS31211 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Chemical Physics (BSc) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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