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Engineering Physics

 

Degrees Offered: Ph.D., M.A.Sc.

Members

Professors Emeriti

I. Affleck, A. MacKay, J. Matthews, W. McCutcheon, G. Sawatzky, J. Young.

Professors

M. Berciu, D. Bonn, D. Bryman, M. Choptuik, A. Damascelli, J. Folk, M. Franz, C. Gay, B. Gladman, M. Halpern, M. Hasinoff, C. Hearty, J. Heyl, P. Hickson, G. Hinshaw, D. Jones, R. Kiefl, A. Lister, A. Marziali, J. McKenna, C. Michal, S. Oser, S. Plotkin, A. Rahmim, J. Rottler, M. Rozali, D. Scott, G. Semenoff, V. Sossi, I. Stairs, P. Stamp, W. Unruh, M. Van Raamsdonk, L. Van Waerbeke, C. Waltham, L. Whitehead, A. Zhitnitsky, F. Zhou.

Associate Professors

A. Boley, S. Burke, J. Karczmarek, K. Madison, T. Mattison, V. Milner, S. Reinsberg, K. Schleich, K. Sigurdson.

Assistant Professors

Z. Ye, K. Zou.

Program Overview

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is a broad-based department with a wide range of research interests covering many key topics in contemporary physics, astronomy, and applied physics. Research activities are supported by computing and experimental facilities within the Department, as well as excellent electronics and machine shops. Research is enhanced by local facilities such as the TRIUMF National Laboratory, the Advanced Materials and Process Engineering Laboratory (AMPEL), the BC Cancer Agency, and associated teaching hospitals, in addition to many specialized research laboratories housed within the Department. Over the years, applied research within UBC's Department of Physics and Astronomy has spawned a number of spin-off companies. Although there is a great deal of collaboration and overlap of interests among the various groups, the research topics presently available to incoming students with specific interest in applied physics fall roughly into the following areas:

  • Applied Physics
  • Medical Physics
  • Biophysics
  • Nuclear and Particle Physics
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Structured Surface Physics

Full details on research programs and facilities are available from the Department and AMPEL.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

The Department offers Ph.D. programs in Engineering Physics. Students can be admitted to the Ph.D. program after obtaining an M.Sc. or M.A.Sc. meeting the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies admission requirements.

Alternatively, well-qualified students admitted to the M.A.Sc. program may transfer to the Ph.D. program after a year's residence at UBC, if they have at least 18 credits in M.A.Sc. coursework with an overall average of at least 85%, clear evidence of research ability, and approval of the dissertation supervisor. Direct transfer students require a further 12 credits of graduate-level coursework in any science or applied science department.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 12 credits of graduate-level courses in any science or applied science department are required for the Ph.D. Details of the course load are determined in consultation with the thesis advisor and supervisory committee; these programs must conform to the Department's course requirements. Students who do not already have credit for the required master's degree courses for their program or the equivalent graduate-level courses from another university (approved by Graduate Chair) must take these courses in the Ph.D. program.

All Ph.D. students are required to successfully complete a comprehensive examination. The major requirement for the Ph.D. is completion of a research dissertation meeting the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requirements.

Master of Applied Science

Admission Requirements

The prerequisite for the program is either: a B.Sc. in physics (single or combined), astronomy, or mathematics; or a B.A.Sc. in engineering physics or electrical engineering. An overall average of 80% or better in third- and fourth-year courses is expected for entry into the program.

Program Requirements

The M.A.Sc. program requires a minimum of 30 credits, with the thesis counting for 12 credits. The remaining 18 credits must include at least 12 credits from graduate courses in any Science or Applied Science department, and may include up to 6 300- or 400-level credits in undergraduate courses. All M.A.Sc. students are required to satisfy the Department's course requirements.

Contact Information

Department of Physics and Astronomy
6224 Agricultural Road
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1
Tel: 604.822.4245
Fax: 604.822.5324
Email: gradcoord@phas.ubc.ca
Web: www.phas.ubc.ca
Shiho Mehrhoff, Graduate Program Coordinator


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