School of Physics UNSW Research Page

Re-enrolment Advice for 2013

Elective Courses In Session 1, 2013 we will be offering PHYS3710 Lasers and Applications. In Session 2, 2012, we will be offering PHYS3170 Cosmology and the Interstellar Medium and PHYS3610 Computational Physics. These will not be offered in 2014, so if you want to take any of these electives (even if you are currently in second year), 2013 is the year to do so! The prerequisite for PHYS3610 Computational Physics is PHYS2120 Mechanics and Computational Physics (or PHYS2020 Computational Physics which is offered in Session 1, 2013. Students currently in second year who are planning on taking honours in Astrophysics in 2015 should not enroll into PHYS3170 Cosmology until their honours year.

All Continuing Students As you are aware, UNSW has changed the degree structure for new students from 2012. This should not affect students who commenced their Science degree in 2011 or earlier. We expect all currently enrolled students to follow the rules in the Handbook for the year in which they commenced their program, i.e. if you commenced in 2010, you follow the rules in the 2010 Handbook. However, if you feel that you will be disadvantaged by being required to follow the rules for the program for the year you commenced, you may lodge a request in writing to sso@unsw.edu.au to transfer to the new program rules, and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Changed Course Numbers Physics has combined a number of 3 UOC courses to create new 6 UOC courses. Where possible, students should enroll into the 6 UOC versions of courses. In 2013 students should only enroll into the 3 UOC versions of these courses if you have already completed the companion course, or if your degree only requires you to complete one of the two courses. You will need to contact Sue Hagon to arrange enrolment in these 3UOC courses. From 2014 we will only be offering the 6 UOC versions – this means it is important to not leave yourself in the position of having a 3 UOC core course to complete after 2013.

Dual degree students check the Handbook for the requirements of your degree! Completing a physics or physical science major major is usually not sufficient to complete the science component of your program. Make sure you have completed enough units of credit of science courses.

Engineering/Science students There are specific second year maths courses for engineering students. However, if you are doing a physical science major it is highly recommended that you do the ordinary maths courses instead. So, for example, a Mechanical Engineering/Physics student would need to take MATH2011, MATH2120, MATH2089 and an Electrical Engineering/Physics student MATH2011, MATH2120, MATH2520, MATH2099. Please check the Handbook page http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/mathematics_BE_BSc_programs.pdf for more information
Honours Students can’t enrol themselves using MyUNSW. We will be sending letters of invitation to new honours students shortly after Session 2 results are released.

General Education Requirements
The General Education Program at UNSW intends to broaden and deepen students' understanding of the environment in which they live and work and to enhance their skills of critical analysis. Students must satisfactorily complete 12 units of credit in General Education courses or their equivalent (unless otherwise entitled to exemption). Dual undergraduate degrees offered with another faculty and leading to the award of two degrees usually satisfy the requirements for General Education within the program, but again, check the Handbook!.

Students can select general education courses from either:

courses that were developed especially for the General Education Program. These have the course identifier that begins with GEN. Science students cannot take any courses beginning with GENS prefix either as a general education course or as an elective.
'mainstream' courses that are offered in the degree programs of other faculties.

It is essential that you read and understand the General Education requirements for your degree. Students will not be allowed to progress into honours, or to graduate, if they have not completed the GE requirements for their degree. If you are unsure about any of this please check with the Science Student Centre (sso@unsw.edu.au, Room 128 Robert Webster Building).

Need more help? If you are having trouble enrolling, need permission for a clash, the computer thinks you haven’t completed prerequisites, or you just want to check that you’re doing the right courses for a physics major, contact Sue Hagon (s.hagon@unsw.edu.au)

Last updated 26th Oct 2012