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Unit information: Industrial Experience with Distance Learning in 2020/21

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Industrial Experience with Distance Learning
Unit code PHYS30028
Credit points 120
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director Professor. Fox
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

Normally 120 credit points at Level I/5 Physics units. In order to progress in a degree programme with Study in Industry or with Industrial Experience (and thus spend Year 3 in industry), a candidate is required to achieve a sufficiently high standard in the major subject, including practical work (normally obtaining assessment marks of at least 60 in the Level I/5 units).

Co-requisites

None.

School/department School of Physics
Faculty Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This unit comprises the period spent in an industrial placement, involving work with a company guided on a day-to-day basis by an industrial supervisor and under the general supervision of an academic supervisor, and completion of an industrial project.

In addition there is distance learning via monitored independent study of Core Physics units PHYS30021 Solid State Physics and PHYS32011 Quantum Physics.

Aims:

The aim of this unit is to provide students with additional knowledge and skills derived from spending a period in industry as well offering an insight into the use of physics and the experience of physicists in a commercial environment.

To their knowledge of physics, the industrial placement will add the discipline of time-management, individual responsibility within team-working, an understanding of commercial pressures and entrepreneurial skills.

Students will complete an industrial project of equivalent standard to that taken by students of the MSci in Physics programme.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Intended learning outcomes

At the end of the unit the student should have knowledge and understanding of

  • projects of industrial relevance and have contributed thereto
  • one research project which has been completed alone or with a partner
  • the way in which physics is used in an industrial or commercial environment
  • the value of team-working
  • improved time-management
  • the pressures of working within budget and to time, the importance of good communications.

Teaching Information

Students will maintain regular contact with the School of Physics through an academic supervisor, and also work full-time (35+ hours per week) at an industrial placement under the management of an industrial supervisor.

Time will be allowed within the placement for some 180 hours of study of academic material outlined by the academic supervisor.

Assessment Information

Assessment of the industrial work is on a day-to-day basis by the industrial supervisor. Assessment of placement is by two short reports, the first in week 12 and the second by the end of July.

The Industrial Project report is also due by the end of July and is assessed by both Academic and Industrial supervisors.

The distance learning elements are assessed by open-book written examinations that may be taken remotely.

An interview is conducted by an Academic panel.

Reading and References

Not applicable.

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