Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

General Information

Physics is the scientific basis for technologies that have had and will continue to have a profound influence on almost all aspects of modern life. Physics based developments such as the microchip, information technology, data storage, fibre optic communications, satellite navigation, and mobile phones are transforming the infrastructure of society. Modern industry has been transformed by developments in computation, robotics and automation, instrumentation, and miniaturisation. Indeed, there are entire industries which have grown out of developments in semiconductor device physics, optics, laser physics, nuclear physics and medical physics.

In addition to its importance to technology and industry, physics plays a fundamental role in modern culture.The exploration of the solar system by manned and unmanned spacecraft and the discoveries made by advanced observatories such as the Hubble Space Telescope have greatly extended our understanding of the universe and our relation to it.The concepts of space, time, matter, cause and effect have fundamentally changed in the light of developments in modern physics.

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics degree programme recognises the importance of physics to many areas of modern industry and culture.The course provides students with a strong foundation in the fundamental principles of physics together with an emphasis on the application of these principles to problems in industry and the real world.These features ensure that graduates of the programme are uniquely qualified to contribute to the continued industrial, economic and social development of Ireland, while at the same time enjoying interesting careers.

Course Structure

The programme is four years in duration.The first two years provide the student with a strong foundation in the following areas:

• Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Optics
• Electromagnetism
• Modern Physics
• Experimental Physics
• Chemistry
• Electronics
• Computing
• Mathematics

The third and fourth years of study provide core material in the following areas:

An important element of the final year is an Applied Physics project which gives the student the opportunity to study a problem in depth. During the Spring Semester and Summer of third year a period of Cooperative Education gives the student experience of the application of Physics in an industrial environment.

For further details, log on to www.ul.ie/~physics

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least Grade C3 in two Higher Level subjects and Grade D3 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects (including Mathematics; Irish or another language; and English).

In addition applicants are required to hold at least the following in the Leaving Certificate or an approved equivalent: Grade C3 in Higher Level Mathematics and a Grade D3 in a Higher or Ordinary Level paper in any one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering,Technical Drawing/Design & Communication Graphics,Technology,Agricultural Science, Biology.
OR Grade B3 in Ordinary Level Mathematics (Grade D3 in Higher Level Mathematics also suffices) and Grade C3 in one of the following Higher Level papers:Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Biology.

Students can also enter this programme of study via the Science Choice degree LM117. A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

Career Prospects

A key factor in selecting the Applied Physics degree is the flexibility and freedom it allows in choosing a career.Applied physics has the obvious advantage over pure physics courses, for example astrophysics, in that our graduates are better positioned to fill lucrative industrial roles. Many of our students, for instance, have been employed and continue to be employed in semiconductor physics by state of the art companies such as Intel Ireland and Analog Devices.Yet Applied Physics is sufficiently broad in scope that our graduates are also to be found working throughout the high technology sector in companies focussed on areas such as energy, telecommunications, medical physics and nano-technology.

Many also work in research in these applied fields and in fundamental areas including astrophysics, chaos and particle physics. Careers can include

• Semiconductor Devices and Microelectronics
• Lasers and Optoelectronics
• Sensors
• Telecommunications
• Materials Science
• Acoustics
• Geophysics
• Bio and Medical Physics
• Energy