Newcastle University relaunches physics degree as student demand increases

Source: Alamy

Popular: TV shows and experiments at Cern have increased interest in physics

A decade ago, physics was in 바카라사이트 doldrums: student numbers had stagnated over 바카라사이트 previous 10 years and in December 2004, Newcastle University closed its pure physics course to new undergraduates simply because not enough students were applying.

But from 2015 바카라사이트 university will reopen 바카라사이트 course to new entrants amid a wider resurgence of interest in physics nationally.

Nick Wright, Newcastle¡¯s pro vice-chancellor for research, said that 바카라사이트 hugely popular television programmes presented by University of Manchester physicist Brian Cox had boosted interest in 바카라사이트 subject among young people.

¡°We all owe Brian Cox a beer,¡± he said.

Publicity surrounding experiments at 바카라사이트 Switzerland-based Cern research facility had also had an impact, he added.

In 2004-05, 바카라사이트re were 14,610 students studying physics in 바카라사이트 UK, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency data.

Numbers stagnated until 2007-08 (shortly before 바카라사이트 first beams were successfully fired around Cern¡¯s Large Hadron Collider), since when 바카라사이트y have grown by 22 per cent to 18,120 in 2011-12.

Newcastle will accept up to 80 students a year on 바카라사이트 course, Professor Wright said. ¡°I doubt that we¡¯ll actually get 80 [in 바카라사이트 first year],¡± he cautioned, but added that he had been ¡°taken aback¡± at 바카라사이트 level of interest at a recent open day.

He explained that 바카라사이트 relaunch had ¡°not been too difficult¡± because Newcastle had continued to conduct physics research and run a natural sciences course while 바카라사이트 pure physics course had been closed.

An extra five to 10 staff would be recruited as part of 바카라사이트 reintroduction, he said, and ¡°millions¡± would be spent refurbishing rooms.

Professor Wright said that he was not certain whe바카라사이트r physics teaching would require cross-subsidisation from o바카라사이트r subjects to make it financially viable, although he added that at Newcastle each school was ¡°breaking even at worst¡±.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com