Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminars / Tutorials | Workshops: 18 Hours |
| Other | 16 hours guided reading; 16 hours independent Literature Research; 48 hours preparation of assignments |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 3 x Reports 1500 words or equivalent | 100% |
| Supplementary Exam | As determined by the Departmental Examination Board | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Undertake self study and research of different topics in materials physics
2. Identify research tasks and the appropriate research methodologies to address them
3. Discuss the structure of materials on different length scales
4. Identify experimental techniques for structural investigations and for testing materials' properties
5. Relate structure/property/function relationships for materials on the basis of experimental data
Aims
Among the typical career fields of our MPhys candidates are research and development in both academia and industry as well as engineering and related areas. Providing them with knowledge of the physics of modern advanced materials is therefore crucial to prepare them for a successful start into the labour market. The module acts also as a bridge between undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the field of Materials Physics, with a postgraduate recruitment perspective in mind.
Brief description
The module draws on the breadth of experience in materials science available within the Institute by exposing the students to a selection of workshops. Out of a range of topics, three workshops will be taught in any given year. The workshop contents are intended to reflect the dynamic of the Institute's evolving research interests.
Content
- scattering techniques
- spectroscopic techniques
- semiconductor applications
- functional materials
- glasses and ceramics
- soft matter
- advanced instrumentation
- engineering materials
- modelling and visualisation
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Calculations and estimations of physical properties based on structural parameters, e.g. strength of materials from diffraction results. |
| Communication | Essay writing, web site design, oral and poster presentations are variants of assignments used in this module. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Independent literature research and reading is an important component of the module. Students are expected to read on from initial material given to them and show in their assignments that they have done so. |
| Information Technology | Computer programming, web site design, use of material property and literature data bases. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | A wide range of applications of advanced materials will be covered in the workshops. These will be applications from the cutting edge of current research and development. Hence the topics covered will be of immediate importance for those students who pursue careers in research, development, or engineering. |
| Problem solving | There is no project work on this module given the large proportion of 4th year credits that the final year project carries. |
| Research skills | Literature research is a key component. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Dependent on the particular workshop contents. |
| Team work | It is open to individual lecturers to allow students to form small working groups where this is appropriate. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7