Physics is a branch of science which studies matter, energy, and their interactions. However, it's more than just a branch of science but is foundational to all other sciences. Light, heat, sound, gravity, motion, electricity and magnets, are all the classic topics of study for a physicist.
At least seven Nobel Prizes in physics have been fundamental to the invention of the mobile phone, including for semiconductors and transistors, light emitting diodes (LEDs) for screen - and new physics discoveries are happening everyday! Structures in butterfly wings making them green without pigments. The creamy texture of a scoop of ice-cream is physics. A lizard walking upside down on glass. Ice floating on water. Light sensing in the eye. These everyday phenomena often have enormous immediate practical value to our industries, our environment and our well-being.
A physics education hones skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and innovation. These are all skills and attributes in great demand, whether in a career in science or elsewhere. This Physics major provides the essential physics principles found in physics majors throughout the world. You’ll experience this through a hands-on, practical approach focused on applications of these physical principles to our key industries and global challenges.
You can undertake an additional year of study to complete an Honours degree, offering enhanced employment prospects and is the entry point into a Master’s or Doctoral research degree.
3 Reasons to study Physics at Murdoch
- Learn from academics with international expertise in the applications of physics - including critical minerals, agriculture, food technology or medicine.
- Small class sizes mean lots of opportunities for deep interactions with staff and opportunities beyond the classroom to join the physic community at Murdoch and our industry alumni.
- Focus on hands on practical skills that are transferrable to across physics, to other sciences and to other industries.
What you’ll learn
- The breadth and depth of physical laws, concepts and principles.
- Experimental and quantitative principles, concepts and methods in physics-specific and interdisciplinary contexts.
- How to formulate quantitative descriptions for physically mediated scientific, natural or technological phenomena or processes.
- Mathematical and computational methods for the study of processes or problems in physics and use appropriate software to implement scientific computational analyses.
Your future career
Upon completion of this degree, you could pursue a career in a very wide variety of industries. In fact due to their advanced skills in problem solving, simplifying complexity, computer and data analysis grounded in experimental techniques, graduates readily find employment. The relatively small number of physics graduates helps you stand out. Combining a physics with another major is possible too. Physics graduates find roles in areas such as:
- Research and Development in Industry or Academia
- Education and Training
- Finance and Strategic Analysis
- Manufacturing and Design
- Imaging and Characterisation, including Medical Imaging
