What will my study involve?

Courses

UC offers the following postgraduate programmes in Physics:

• Graduate Diploma in Science
• Bachelor of Science with Honours
• Postgraduate Certificate in Science
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science
• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy

See the individual qualification pages for more information on degree requirements.

To complete a GradDipSc with a Physics focus, students will need to complete at least 60 points in 100 to 300-level PHYS courses throughout their degree. In total 90 points must be at 300-level in the GradDipSc from Physics and/or other Science courses.

Complete PHYS480 Physics Research Project, and another 90 points chosen from:

• MDPH403 Radiation Physics
• MDPH406 Medical Imaging
• ASTR 421–425
• PHYS 411–460 (with a maximum of two courses from PHYS 440–460)

Complete at least 45 points in 400-level PHYS courses for the major. In total 60 points must be completed for the PGCertSc from Physics and/or other Science courses.

At least 120 points (8 courses) is required for the major. You can chose from two pathways:

• PHYS407 Research Tools
• PHYS480 Physics Research Project
• Five courses chosen from MDPH403 Radiation Physics, MDPH406 Medical Imaging, ASTR 421–425, and PHYS 411–460 (with a maximum of two courses from PHYS 440–460)

OR

• Eight courses chosen from MDPH403 Radiation Physics, MDPH406 Medical Imaging, ASTR 421–425, and PHYS 411–460 (with a maximum of three courses from PHYS 440–460)

Part I of the MSc in Physics is 120 points (8 courses), including:

• PHYS407 Research Tools
• PHYS480 Physics Research Project
• Five courses chosen from MDPH403 Radiation Physics, MDPH406 Medical Imaging, ASTR 421–425, and PHYS 411–460 (with a maximum of two courses from PHYS 440–460)

You will need a B+ Grade Point Average to proceed to Part II of the degree.

Part II requires PHYS690 MSc Thesis.

In the PhD, you will complete a thesis of original research in the Physics field (PHYS790 Physics PhD).

Career opportunities

Many of our graduates are employed as physicists and can be found at Crown Research Institutes, the National Radiation Laboratory, medical physics departments of hospitals or universities, and the Meteorological Service, among others.

Some Physics graduates are not employed as scientists – however, their analytical skills, numeracy, and all-round thinking ability are in demand in many industries. Some of these graduates are snapped up by the IT and electronics industries, but those same skills are equally valued by merchant banks, stock brokers, and other financial services companies, as well as by the armed services, police, and aerospace industries (including airlines such as Air New Zealand).

Teaching, journalism, and science communication also need people with Physics training.

Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Physics.