Courses and Qualifications

We are the major provider of distance-learning courses in physics and astronomy in the UK and Europe. Our modular programme allows you to study courses that build towards an undergraduate diploma or a BSc degree, or simply to study individual courses. You can achieve a BSc degree focussed in physics and/or astronomy and planetary science, or a degree that combines these subjects with other sciences, with mathematics, with technology, or with other subjects that interest you.

Our teaching programme was rated as 'excellent' in the recent Teaching Quality Assessment. It makes use of innovative teaching materials, including books and other printed materials that we write for each course, DVDs containing video programmes and interactive multimedia, as well as web-based activities. You can attend tutorials in a local study centre and participate in computer conferences, and some courses include a week-long residential school largely devoted to practical work.

Our undergraduate programme is discussed in the next section, but if you are already an OU student, you may also wish to look at the Physics and Astronomy Subject Website for further information (only accessible when you login with your OU computer username).

At postgraduate level we offer an MSc in Science, for which further details are available on the MSc programme website. It is also possible to study for a PhD within the Department - the Jobs and Studentships section of this website gives further information.

If you are interested in teaching Physics at Secondary School, please read the section below to learn how the OU can help you to achieve this.

Physical Science: Study programmes and awards

Physical Science is generally recognised as the most fundamental of the sciences, and the key to understanding the world around us.

The Physical Science programme offers you the opportunity to gain an understanding of the processes that govern the workings of the Universe. You can learn about interactions such as gravity and electromagnetism, theories such as quantum mechanics or relativity, and the processes that go on in stars and galaxies, black holes and supernovae.

There are many different courses available in the area of Physics and Astronomy which  you can study as stand alone modules or combine to achieve an award. The awards available within the Physical Science programme are: 

Certificate in Physics (C79) This is a 70 point level 2 certificate awarded for successful completion of S207 The physical world and SXR207 Physics by experiment.

Certificate in Astronomy and Planetary Sciences (C58) This is a 60 point level 2 certificate awarded for successful completion of S282 Astronomy and S283 Planetary science and the search for life .

Diploma in Physical Science (E04) This is a 130 point diploma awarded for successful completion of a selection of predominantly level 2 courses.

BSc (Hons) Physical Science (B27) This is  a 360 pt batchelors degree awarded for successful completion of a selection of courses at levels 1, 2 and 3. If you wish, you can select courses such that your degree has either a physics or an astronomy focus. To help you to choose courses that fit together particularly well, and to decide on the sequence in which to study them, we have produced two maps of recommended study routes with either a physics or astronomy focus. 

      

List of Undergraduate Courses

List of MSc Courses

A word about maths

Whatever your choices of courses in the Physical Science degree programme,  the first thing that you should consider is how well prepared you are mathematically for this programme of study.

It may seem a long way ahead, but to gain a Physical Science degree, you will need to take level 3 courses that are mathematically demanding. To prepare for this you will almost certainly need to take MST209 Mathematical methods and models prior to your level 3 studies. The level 1 maths course MST121 Using mathematics provides most of the preparation for MST209: there is some bridging material available to allow students to move on to MST209 without taking MS221 Exploring mathematics .

MST121 should be taken before you embark on any level 2 Physical Science courses unless you are absolutely sure that your previous mathematical training is sufficient for you to proceed without it. If you have had recent training in mathematics (say A level) the short course S151 Maths for science may be adequate for you to proceed to level 2.

Interested in teaching physics at secondary school?

In order to teach science at secondary school level you will need a degree in science and a PGCE. If you plan to teach physics, you will need specialist physics knowledge and pedagogic awareness related to learning physics and science in general.  You can obtain the relevant qualifications though the OU. Our BSc in Physical Science and our Professional Graduate Certificate in Education can give you the qualifications you need.

If you already have a non-physics degree and plan to do a PGCE specialising in teaching physics, our Certificate in Physics decribed above can provide you with the specialist knowledge you need to teach physics. This certificate is endorsed by the Institute of Physics as providing sufficient content for those seeking to be physics specialists on entry to PGCE studies.

If you are already a qualified teacher, but have not studied undergraduate physics before,  our Certificate in Physics decribed above can also  provide you with the specialist knowledge you need to switch to teaching physics. This certificate is endorsed by the Institute of Physics as providing sufficient content to support the teaching of secondary school physics to A-level.

So if you have have ANY undergraduate degree and a PGCE plus effective pedagogic mentoring, you can use our Certificate in Physics to become a physics teacher with the confidence and status of having a university level qualification in physics.