Module manager: Dr Peter Adams
Email: P.G.Adams@Leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Level 2 Physics or equivalent
| PHAS3010 | Advanced Techniques in Experimental Physics |
| PHAS3020 | Advanced Techniques in Astrophysics |
| PHAS3030 | Advanced Techniques in Theoretical Physics |
PHYS3152
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module is the final-year research project for students undertaking BSc programmes in Physics and Astronomy. It gives third year students the opportunity to choose a project from a list of projects proposed by the research staff who are experts in those topics. Students will carry out research and make use of concepts learnt from their core physics or astronomy modules. Conducting this project will require them to make use of professional skills, including project planning, holding meetings and reviewing progress. Delivery of a final report and presentation will give students the opportunity to apply critical analysis and detailed research in addition to developing their communication skills.
For this module, the objectives are to:
- Identify an original research gap based on scientific literature in a specialised research field of Physics or Astronomy.
- Design and plan a programme of research (experimental, computational, theoretical or pedagogical) in physics, astronomy or a related discipline under the guidance of the supervisor.
- Complete an investigation which performs research around a defined research question that addresses a gap in the literature, under the supervision of one or more members of research staff.
- Set timelines and goals early in the project, monitor progress and adapt this plan, as needed.
- Generate a “project notebook” as a record of the weekly progress of the data acquired and analysis undertaken during the research.
- Attend weekly supervision meetings and proactively participate in discussions about the project progress and future plans.
- Produce a high quality and quantity of research outputs for which the reliability and uncertainty have been analysed.
- Develop and demonstrate an ability to drive a project, learning from others and becoming independent in all aspects of the project.
- Apply ethical considerations to the project as suitable to the topic (including considering health and safety, human participants, confidentiality, integrity, sustainability, as appropriate).
- Produce a report on the research findings of the project that presents scientific concepts, results and methodology in extended formal scientific English with figures and references to literature, in the style expected from the research literature of the topic.
- Deliver an audiovisual presentation about the research topic, the outcomes of the project and the future research directions. The student will answer questions related to this presentation.
These objectives are related directly to the (new) Marking Criteria that we assess.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Search and assess the existing literature of scientific publications in a research field.
2. Plan and execute independent scientific research, which will involve one or a combination of the following activities: experiments and/or computations and/or simulations and/or building apparatus or software and/or educational research and/or critical analysis of scientific literature.
3. Interpret the results of the scientific research and evaluate their accuracy as compared with theoretical predictions and/or published data.
4. Engage productively with a project supervisor to discuss the progress of the research and gain feedback, which allows plans to be updated.
5. Present scientific concepts, results and methodology in extended formal scientific English with illustrations and figures and references to literature sources as necessary.
6. Deliver presentations including scientific concepts, results and methodologies and answer related questions.
7. Manage time and plan work to meet deadlines.
Skills Learning Outcomes
a) Planning and executing experimental/computing/theoretical/literary projects.
b) Confidence in report writing and ability to present work to a small group of peers through an audiovisual presentation.
Covering two terms, the physics/ astronomy project comprises some or all of the following elements: analysis, design, experimentation or computation, theory. The experience gained is of the type of detailed physics project work commonly encountered in industry and academia.
Each student carries out an individual project, although two or more projects may have a common theme, under the supervision of an individual member of academic staff.
Descriptions of the projects, in the form of abstracts, are posted during the summer and students choose 5 preferences. One project will be allocated from these preferences, to each student, in week 0.
Lectures will include advice on project planning, project management, how to gain from supervision meetings and time management. There will be specific lectures focussing on literature searching, on report writing and on presentation skills.
During the first semester, students are required to write a short report document, which is to clearly identify the scope of their project based on a literature search and project planning and may show some initial results.
During the first half of the second semester, students are required to write a final report document, which will present the scientific background, methodology, results and discussion, in the style expected for the research discipline.
After the final report has been submitted, students will prepare slides and practice delivering an audiovisual presentation (PowerPoint or a similar format). Students will deliver this presentation, typically to a small group of other students and staff (typically 6 or fewer).
Note: Only students on the Physics with Astrophysics programme typically carry out projects in astrophysics.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Lecture | 3 | 1.5 | 4.5 |
| Practical | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Private study hours | 379.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 400 | ||
379.5 hours of Private Study Time.
Students will have weekly meetings with the staff member(s) acting as supervisor of the project. Typically, this will amount to 15 meetings, each of approximately 1 hour in length. These meetings will be held in teaching weeks of Semester 1 and Semester 2 until the Easter break. These meetings are crucial opportunities for students to discuss what they achieved during their previous week and to discuss their research challenges and opporuntities to make progress.
Students are expected to prepare for each meeting to present their progress and their plans. In each meeting, students will receive feedback about the quality of their work so far and receive advice to refine their ideas and their research plans.
Students will receive feedback on draft versions of their reports and draft versions of their presentation slides from their supervisor.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team