BSc (Honours) Physical Science
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Degree
- Code
- B27
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 360 credit points
Description
The Physical Science programme aims to develop an understanding of physical science concepts and processes that underpin a wide range of phenomena in the natural and manufactured worlds.
This programme requires you to study a selection of physics and astronomy courses, but it allows you to complement these with courses from other science and technology disciplines. You also need to include mathematics courses in your programme of study, since the physics and astronomy courses at Level 3 require advanced mathematical skills.
Planning your studies
If you’re new to study or to the OU, we recommend that you start with a course at Level 1. For this degree you could start with Exploring science (S104).
You could also start by studying Level 1 mathematics courses (Discovering mathematics (MU123) and/or Using mathematics (MST121) and/or Exploring mathematics (MS221)) or a Level 1 technology course Engineering the future (T173). If you complete any of these courses successfully you’ll have a firm foundation for future studies as well as credit points to count towards your degree.
You can register your intention to study for this degree when you reserve your place on individual courses, or you can ask us at any time to link courses that you have already studied towards the degree. This gives you the flexibility to delay your decision or to change your mind as your studies progress. There is no time limit for obtaining the required credit points for this qualification unless you are including discontinued courses which may cease to be countable at some point after their final presentation. You must include at least 120 points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU diploma or first degree that you may have been awarded. If you have graduated with an OU BSc degree without honours this requirement is reduced to 60 points.
Career relevance and employability
Science graduates are well placed to enter a range of both scientific and non-scientific jobs as the study of science develops good analytical and numerical skills that are sought by a wide range of financial, business and public sector employers.
Many of the combinations of courses that are eligible for award of the BSc Physical Science degree will also make students eligible for the award of Chartered Physicist (CPhys) status by the Institute of Physics when combined with appropriate work experience. Further information about the Institute of Physics and other professional bodies is available in our Recognition leaflet 3.8 Scientific Institutions.
Ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for the careers publication OU study and your career if you want to find out more about the process of career development and about sources of careers information and guidance.
For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.
There’s more information about the career relevance of degrees on the national HE Prospects website.
Suggested routes to the degree
You might want to study your qualification with a particular focus. The two diagrams below show routes that focus on astronomy and physics.
Please bear in mind that other routes are available – see the full course list for all options.
Courses
For this 360-point honours degree you require:
At least 70 points from the following optional courses, with a maximum of 40 points accumulated from the 10-point courses listed:
| Level 1 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
|
10 | Feb 2010 |
|
10 | Feb 2010 |
|
10 | Feb 2010 |
|
10 | Feb 2010 |
|
10 | Jun 2010 |
|
10 | Mar 2010 |
|
10 | May 2010 |
|
Feb 2010 | |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
| Level 2 optional course | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses M101, MU120, S102, S103, S198, S199, T102, T172, TXR174
*Students who satisfactorily attended the residential school that was previously a component of S102 or S103 may count this instead
And at least 60 points from the following optional courses:
| Level 2 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
Feb 2011 | |
|
60 | Jan 2011 |
|
30 | Nov 2010 |
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses MST204, MST207, S271, S272, S281, ST291
And at least 60 points from the following optional courses:
| Level 3 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses SM355, SMT356, S354, S357, S381
And you must satisfactorily attend at least three residential school weeks. Two must be from the following:
| Level 2 | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
15 | Jul 2010 |
|
10 | Jul 2010 |
| Level 3 | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
10 | May 2010 |
|
10 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses SMXR355 or SMXR356, or the residential schools associated with the following courses: S271, S272, S207 (in 2000), SM355 (before 2002)
The third week may be from any of the above or from:
| Level 1 | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
10 | Jun 2010 |
| Level 2 | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
10 | Apr 2010 |
|
10 | May 2010 |
|
10 | May 2010 |
|
10 | Apr 2010 |
|
10 | May 2010 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, at Level 1 the discontinued course TXR174, or at Level 2 the residential schools associated with the discontinued courses MST204, MST207
*students who satisfactorily attended the residential school that was previously a component of S102 or S103 may count this instead
And 30 points from the following compulsory course (this should normally be taken as your final Level 3 course):
| Level 3 compulsory course | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
And further points from any of the optional courses listed in any of the categories above, at any level, and/or from the following to bring your total number of physical science points to 300. (The points required here will vary according to how many and which SXR courses you have included in your degree.)
| Level 2 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Jan 2011 FINAL |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Nov 2010 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Jan 2011 |
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
| Level 3 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | |
|
30 | Jan 2011 |
|
30 | Jan 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 FINAL |
|
10 | |
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
|
30 |
Or subject to the rules about excluded combinations, at Level 2 the discontinued courses S260, S269, S278, S236, S246, S247, S267, S268, S280, ST240, T202, T235, T236, T265, at Level 3 the discontinued courses MS323, MST322, S342, T327, T331, T333, T354
To complete the 360 points needed for an honours degree, the remaining points up to a maximum of 60 points can be from any OU undergraduate courses. You must ensure that you have at least 120 points at Level 3.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Credit transfer details for this qualification:
Classification of your degree
On successful completion of the required number and type of courses you will be awarded a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Physical Science degree. Your honours degree will be classified either as first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours. The class of degree is determined by the best grades you achieve in 240 points from courses above Level 1. These 240 points must include all the compulsory Level 2 and Level 3 requirements of the award as specified, and must include at least 120 points at Level 3. You will have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- General Award Regulations
- BSc (Honours) Physical Science
- Schedule A to the Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
An undergraduate qualification in Science.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
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