This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2025-2026 (archived)
Module PHYS3976: Physics Placement
Department: Physics
PHYS3976: Physics Placement
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 3 | 120 | Available in 2025/2026 | Durham |
Tied To
Pre-requisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combinations
Aims
- To provide students with the experience of a substantial work placement, which may or may not be abroad, as part of their degree programme
Content
- Content will be determined in agreement with the placement provider. The placement does not need to be directly related to physics, but it must be related to a STEM subject and it must be sufficiently intellectually challenging. Students are responsible for organising their own placements, and all placement proposals are subject to approval by the departmental placements coordinator.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- Dependent on the Placement Provider and role
Subject-specific Skills
- Dependent on the Placement Provider and role
Key Skills
- The experience of working and/or undergoing practical training in an external company or organisation.
- For overseas placements, the experience of working and living independently in a foreign country.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Pre-placement briefing with the departmental placements coordinator to prepare the student for the placement.
- Regular contact with the departmental placements coordinator during the placement to ensure engagement and progress.
- Post-placement debriefing to help the student to reflect on the final value of the placement and the skills acquired.
- Confirmation from the placement provider that the student has engaged with the placement satisfactorily.
- The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis. Assessment is at threshold level, based on information provided by the placement provider.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | 1200 | ||||
| Total | 1200 | ||||
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | 100% | Practical | n/a | 100% |
Formative Assessment
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.