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Astrophysics and Mathematics - BSc (Hons)

Year of entry: 2021
Course type: Combined Honours
Duration of study: 3 years/ 4 years with International Year

Location: Keele University campus
Subject area / School: School of Chemical and Physical Sciences; School of Computing and Mathematics
UCAS code: FG51

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Course overview

This programme will be made up of a combination of modules from both Astrophysics and Mathematics. In Astrophysics, you will learn to formulate and tackle problems – from below the level of the atomic nucleus to astronomical scales. Alongside this you will be studying Mathematics where you will explore the beauty, elegance and practicality of pure mathematics, applied mathematics and statistics.

Keele Undergraduate Enquiries Form

Please submit your question in the form below and a member our enquiries team will be in touch with you shortly.

Your Name

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Please provide a contact telephone number *

Country of Residence

Year of Entry

Please Select a Course

Are you interested in a Foundation Year

YesNo

Please enter your question below:

Your Preferences

Please keep me informed using email

YesNo

Please keep me informed using phone

YesNo

Please keep me informed using messages/texts

YesNo

What we’re going to do with your data and why?

We will securely store your data and send you essential information (examples include updates on an application or booking confirmations for events such as Open Days).

How long are we keeping it?

We will keep your data for the year that you first enquire with us plus 6 subsequent years. This is to ensure that you are legally protected should you have any issues with the use of your data.

Unsubscribe

What to do if I change my mind?

Gold

In the Teaching Excellence Framework Also Top 5 in the UK (THE ranking, broad-based universities)

Top 3

in England for overall Student Satisfaction NSS 2019 (broad-based universities)

97%

of research world leading, or of international importance Research Excellence Framework, 2014

Student testimonials

Elizabeth Jones, Astrophysics with Mathematics (2014)

"A background in physics is extremely useful for this role. This has enabled me to quickly understand how the company’s products operate based on fundamental principles, and the effects of environmental factors on the different materials within the products. " - read more about Elizabeth Jones, Astrophysics with Mathematics (2014)

Emily Sage, Astrophysics with Mathematics (2012)

"I love the responsibility that I’ve been given, especially at such an early stage in my career." - read more about Emily Sage, Astrophysics with Mathematics (2012)

David McGhee, Astrophysics with Business Management (2015)

"I am very proud to be working with such a reputable brand in the dynamic gaming industry. My job utilises the skills I developed as an astrophysics undergraduate at Keele University to identify and solve complex problems." - read more about David McGhee, Astrophysics with Business Management (2015)

Stephen Towe, Mathematics and Physics (2012)

"I also have the satisfaction that the work I do genuinely impacts people’s lives. I have been lucky enough to spend some time working in hospitals whilst at Elekta and to see the machines that we make in use in a clinical setting gives me great satisfaction." - read more about Stephen Towe, Mathematics and Physics (2012)

Course content

Astrophysics is active wherever the laws of physics are being tested to the limit – and beyond. Keele will help you to use astronomical observations, mathematical models and computer simulation to develop theories explaining some of the most complex phenomena.

You’ll develop your mathematics and computing skills, and apply them to solving a range of problems in the laboratory and beyond (you’ll have access to Keele’s own on-site observatory). You will learn to use maths to develop precise and logical arguments, construct rigorous proofs, and formulate solutions to new problems. You will study in an intellectually stimulating environment amongst mathematicians producing world-leading research.

We operate an open-door policy, which enables you to have excellent and flexible access to staff to seek advice or feedback on their work. This course is enriched by our research interests and international collaborative research programmes.

This combined course is accredited by the Institute of Physics.

Astrophysics can also be studied in the following combinations:

Mathematics can also be studied as a Combined Honours degree in the following combinations:

You may also be interested in:

Variations to 2020/21 courses

Entry requirements

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement BBC
A level Maths at grade B and Physics at grade C or above. If Maths is presented without A Level Physics, please contact Admissions.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course with 64 UCAS points via a Foundation Year.

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4) if not taken at A Level or AS-Level
English Language or English Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DDM
You must have taken sufficient Maths and Physics units, please contact us for advice

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course with 64 UCAS points via a Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate

30 points to include Higher level Physics at 5 and Maths at 6. If Maths is presented without Physics please contact Admissions.

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction. You must have taken sufficient Maths/Physics units, please contact us for advice.

PREPARATION PROGRAMMES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Foundation year

Foundation Year Overview

If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry onto the BSc (Hons) Astrophysics and Mathematics programme, our Foundation Year can provide an alternative route into your degree.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years’ experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you’ll study on campus, joining our community from the outset, and you will have access to a range of support.

Read on to find out about:

Foundation Year indicative modules for the September intake
Foundation Year entry requirements
How to apply
UCAS code for this course

The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course Content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

The Keele Foundation is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Astrophysics and Mathematics degree. For example, the Foundations of Physics module introduces you to the mathematical skills needed to solve problems in physics at level 3 while studying fundamental equations and concepts in classical physics. Your studies will be focused mainly on the key strands in mechanics, including, energy, forces, accelerated motion, moments and gravity. In addition, the Foundations of Mathematical Method module will develop your understanding of the fundamental mathematical techniques and methods used across a wide range of applied mathematics, as well as in other areas of pure mathematics. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course Structure

The module details given below are indicative and will give you a good idea of the range of subjects that we teach. We regularly review our teaching to ensure that the modules we offer are up-to-date; therefore, the modules available to study are liable to change.

Semester One Modules

FYO-00185	Practical and Academic Skills in Science	15 credits
FYO-00217	Foundations of Mathematical Methods	30 credits
FYO-00205	Foundations of Physics	15 credits

Semester Two Modules

FYO-00207	Advancing Physics	30 credits
FYO-00229	Advancing Mathematical Methods	30 credits

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to Apply

Students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Astrophysics with Foundation Year (UCAS code: F513) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will then be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct Entry Students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office to enquire about direct entry onto this course.

International Entry

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course may have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year stand-alone programme.

Please visit the International Foundation Year pages for information on how to apply, entry requirements and course details.

Career prospects

96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (DLHE, 2017)

An Astrophysics degree from Keele will prepare you for many different careers, which need not be directly related to astrophysics. You could take up many roles in industry, management, and public services, including teaching, health and finance. Many employers recognise that the versatility and flexibility of astrophysics means that graduates possess a wide range of very valuable skills, from independent and critical thinking to the solving of sophisticated problems.

With a Keele Astrophysics and Mathematics degree you could take up roles as a research scientist, medical physicist, or enter the space, telecommunications or nuclear industries. You may instead find employment as a science writer, chartered accountant or IT consultant. Many of our graduates go onto further study at Master’s/PhD level.

Through the combined honours degree in Mathematics, it helps you to take novel approaches to problem solving and make critical interpretations of data and text; your skills will be in demand wherever there’s a need for logical thinking. An extremely wide range of career paths is open to mathematicians, where high levels of mathematical ability are desirable. This can include fields of work as diverse as finance, data analytics, teaching, engineering, medical statistics and management consultancy.

Recent employers

Apple
Center Parcs
Jaguar Landrover
BT
Capita
Co-op Bank
Deloitte
NHS
RAC
Local Government
Edmundson Electrical
Vitalograph Ltd
Bet365

Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do:

Geophysicist
Research Scientist
Science Teacher
HE Lecturer
Medical Physicist
Operational Researcher
Software Engineer
Radiation Practitioner
Aeronautical Engineer
Operational Researcher
Actuary
Statistician
Secondary Teacher

Regardless of which career you pursue after Keele, employers will want evidence of the range of skills and personal qualities you possess and which are required for the job. Your degree is important in this respect but don’t forget the extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility, jobs and voluntary work you may have been engaged in while studying at Keele. These activities allow you to demonstrate the skills and personal qualities required by employers and will be vital in your attempts to secure graduate employment.

It is estimated that 60% of jobs are open to graduates of any discipline. This demonstrates the flexibility of many graduate employers when setting out their academic requirements and that students are not necessarily restricted to careers related to their degree.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.