Postgraduate life in the school of Physics

Initial induction courses are organised by the College of Science and the School of Physics for each first year research student in early October of every academic year. Topics include laboratory safety, project and time management skills, library resources, intellectual property, effective research writing, and presentation skills.

All graduate students at the School of Physics undertake modules in Graduate Information Skills, Graduate Research Skills, and Teaching and Learning. These three modules provide students with the necessary core skills to undertake research and to communicate technically at the highest level. Additional modules in transferrable skills are available on technical writing, entrepreneurship etc.

Graduate students are also encouraged to take advanced modules in computational techniques; these courses include courses in Scientific Programming concepts, High Performance Computing and Parallel Programming, Scientific Computing Using Graphic Processor Units, etc.

Where appropriate, research students may be requested to attend 4th level advanced technical courses which will enhance their potential to undertake high quality research in a specific area. These courses (eg. Principles of Optical Design and Image Formation, Physics of Aerosols and Particulate Matter etc.) will be delivered using a variety of methods. The school has access to a number of additional advanced courses through its active involvement in a partnership with other national and international universities; The school has dedicated video conferencing web based learning facilities available for this purpose.

Additional short courses and workshops, targeting the advancement of specific skills are also provided to students. These courses seek to provide the necessary skill sets to MSc and PhD graduates pertinent to the knowledge economy. They include the Campus Commericalisation Programme, a week-long workshop on Nanotechnology and biophotonics.

Many of the research clusters regularly host journal and book clubs. These clubs serve to raise collective awareness within the different research groups of the latest developments in the research area. Attendance at these forums is an important part of the educational programme. During academic term, research students in the School of Physics organise weekly seminars on their research.  This informal forum provides an opportunity for fellow peer researchers throughout the School to understand and comment on a students’ research activity. At a more advanced level, the School of Physics regularly organises a programme of lectures by visiting scientists. These presentations provide topical overview of research performed in other institutions.

Finally, the School of Physics encourages its research students to part-take in some undergraduate teaching activities including tutorials and laboratory demonstration.

Students are also encouraged to participate fully in college life, including the volunteering activities organised by the ALIVE programme.