Undergraduate degrees
- Undergraduate physics courses
- Scholarships available to undergraduate students
- Bachelor of Science on Study@ANU
RSPE's Physics Education Centre offers a range of Majors, Minors and Specialisations in Physics. Our Physics Major provides opportunities for students to develop experimental, theoretical and computational skills at the same time as building their understanding of the physics underpinning modern technologies and contemporary research. This is our most flexible Major, allowing students to complement courses in core areas with studies in specialist fields such as nuclear physics, astrophysics or optics. The Theoretical Physics Major has a stronger focus on theoretical and computational skills. Our Specialisations include Advanced Physics (allowing students to increase the breadth of fields studied in the Physics or Theoretical Physics Majors), Optics (focusing on contemporary research and applications in this highly active field) and associated Specialisations in Astrophysics, Earth Physics and Mathematical Physics. All Majors and Specialisations include opportunities for students in their third year to undertake substantial research projects under the guidance of active researchers through our Special Topics modules.
A degree in Physics can lead to many different futures. A recent study produced by the American Institute of Physics found that more than half of physics graduates took employment in the private sector, with employers in a diverse range of fields from high technology and defence, through manufacture and mining to the food industry and finance. Other graduate destinations include the public sector, advisory positions to government, teaching and further research. Our undergraduate programs open the door to postgraduate work and study anywhere in Australia or around the world.
The various Physics Majors and Specialisations can be undertaken as part of the ANU’s BSc and BSc (Advanced) Honours programs. Students undertaking the PhB are not required to specify majors or minors, but may wish to consider how these offer a structured learning pathway as they design their degree.
The Physics Education Centre also offers a Physics Minor, for those students who wish to undertake physics beyond year 11/12 but who do not see it as their primary focus.
For more information on Majors, Specialisations and Minors in Physics, see the study@ pages or contact Anna Wilson.
Our undergraduate students can benefit directly from the world class research being done in the school. Students who enrol in the ANU's innovative PhB in Physics undertake a flexible tailored degree program which includes a substantial research component throughout the degree.
Special courses are offered in 3rd year for highly motivated students to complete a research project.
Fourth year honours enables undergraduate students to work with any of the research groups within the school to undertake a piece of original research
The school also runs a summer research scholarships program for third and fourth year students who wish to undertake a research project within the school over the summer break.
