Astrophysics

About this programme

The BSc in Astrophysics allows you to embark on a guided exploration of the science of the Universe, from our solar system to black holes and from extrasolar planets to galaxy clusters. You will develop core physics, mathematics, and computational skills to allow you to model these systems and to analyse complicated data sets. Students will be able to use some of the telescopes at the University Observatory, which contains the largest operational optical telescope in the UK. The degree is approximately half core physics and maths, and approximately half astrophysics. It gives you competencies that are useful in a wide range of careers in physics-based industry, in further study and research in astrophysics, in analysing 'big data', and more generally in areas such as finance and management. All St Andrews Physics and Astronomy degree programmes are currently accredited by the Institute of Physics for the UK and Ireland. The BSc in Astrophysics is a four-year course (three years for those taking direct entry to second year) run by the School of Physics and Astronomy. During your degree, you will explore the science of the Universe, from extrasolar planets to cosmology. This course is a physics course with a specialism in astrophysics. The astrophysics component of the course makes good use of the mathematics and physics developed in other modules. In the first two years of your studies, you will also study modules from the School of Mathematics and Statistics, as mathematics is the language of physics. Depending on how many mathematics modules you choose to do, you may b