The School of Physics at UNSW is one of the leading Physics departments in Australia, in the quality and breadth of research programs, in the stature of our academic staff, in the strength and vitality of our teaching programs, and in our community outreach activities.

The School currently has some 26 permanent academic staff, approximately 25 research staff and 30 support staff. We teach over 1500 1st Year undergraduates, mainly in servicing subjects. Approximately 15-20 students graduate each year with an Honours degree, and over 50 students are currently enrolled in research degrees. Many of these students come from overseas countries. Many of our postgraduate students go on to occupy exciting positions at leading research institutes both in Australia and internationally.

At the undergraduate level we offer a rigorous traditional curriculum, within both the Science program and the Advanced Science program. The latter is for high achieving students and includes additional components of project and research work. Our undergraduate program is distinguished by a wide choice of elective subjects in higher years and by high quality laboratory subjects. We also offer, within the Advanced Science Course, specialist programs in Engineering Physics, Medical Physics, Physics and Astronomy, and Physics with Computer Science. An increasingly popular option is that of a "double degree" where a Bachelor degree in Physics is combined with one in Commerce, Engineering or Law.

The School has an accomplished record in a number of research areas. These include astrophysics, biophysics, environmental physics, theoretical physics, nanotechnology and semiconductor physics. This work is undertaken in individual departments within the School: Astronomy and Astrophysics; Biophysics; Condensed Matter Physics; Environmental and Applied Physics; Theoretical Physics; and the Centre for Quantum Computer Technology.

For further information on the programs of study offered by the School, please refer to the relevant discipline entries in this online Handbook and to the School's website. We look forward to welcoming you to UNSW.