Master of Physics
A Master of Physics (or MPhys) degree is a specific master's degree for courses in the field of physics.
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United Kingdom
In the UK, the MPhys is an undergraduate award, available after pursuing a four year course of study at a university. These are taught courses, with a research element in the final year -- this can vary from a small component to an entire year working with a research group -- and are not available as postgraduate qualifications in most cases, although depending on institution the final year can be considered as approximately equivalent to an MSc. Most British universities offer both the traditional three year or four courses in physics, leading to a BSc, as well the MPhys.
Structure
In terms of course structure, MPhys degrees usually follow the pattern familiar from bachelor's degrees with lectures, laboratory work, coursework and exams each year. Usually one, or more commonly two, substantial projects are to be completed in the fourth-year which may well have research elements. At the end of the second or third years, there is usually a threshold of academic performance in examinations to be reached to allow progression into the final year. Final results are, in most cases, awarded on the standard British undergraduate degree classification scale, although some universities award something structurally similar to 'Distinction', 'Merit', 'Pass' or 'Fail' as this is often the way that taught postgraduate master's degrees are classified.
See also
Categories
Master's degrees | Academic degrees