2. General information about studies

The Faculty of Physics offers intramural studies in:

MSc degree (magister) studies, duration: 5 or 5.5 years.

BSc degree (licencjat) studies, duration: 3 years.

College of Physics Teachers BSc degree studies, duration: 3 years.

Supplementary MSc degree (magister) studies, duration: 2 years.

MSc degree (magister) studies, duration: 5 years.

In MSc degree studies in physics and astronomy the first three years of studies are arranged in two stages: preliminary studies (I year) and general studies (II and III years). The first year of studies is common for BSc and MSc studies in physics. During the preliminary studies a student is required to complete all scheduled courses, but is allowed to select the level of the core courses in physics and mathematics. During the general studies a student can select courses from the list approved by the Faculty. Each student has to submit a list of selected courses at the beginning of each semester. Starting from the second year each student is assigned to his/her supervisor - the Faculty member.

During the summer semester of the third year of MSc studies students select a specialisation from the following list:

• experimental physics:
• elementary particles and fundamental interactions physics,
• nuclear physics,
• nuclear spectroscopy,
• optics,
• solid state physics,
• nuclear methods of solid state physics,
• X-ray structural studies,
• biophysics,
• medical physics,
• environmental physics,
• Fourier optics and information processing,
• computer physics.
• theoretical physics
• geophysics

• astronomy.

In most of specialisations MSc studies last 5 years. In interdisciplinary specialisations, such as biophysics, medical physics and geophysics: physics of lithosphere and physics of atmosphere studies last 5.5 years, in astronomy 5 years. The third stage of studies is devoted to specialisation studies and master thesis preparation. During these 4 or 5 semesters students participate in specialisation and monographic lectures as well as proseminars and seminars. Collection of a proper number of credits, submission of a master thesis and passing a master examination are necessary to obtain a MSc degree in Physics or Astronomy. Students of physics and astronomy may obtain additional teacher’s certificate after passing courses from the pedagogic group.

The three-years-long BSc studies in physics are offered in the following specialisations:

• Computer methods in physics,
• Environmental physics,
• Material physics and optics ,
• Methods of nuclear physics (due to the reorganisation of this specialisation new admissions are not accepted temporarily),
• Medical physics (due to the reorganisation of this specialisation new admissions are not, accepted temporarily).

The first year of studies is common for BSc and MSc studies in physics. Before the beginning of the second year students select a BSc specialisation. During the II and III years the students have to complete courses according to the specialisation requirements. During the third year a student chooses a subject of his/her BSc thesis. Collection of a proper number of credits, submission of a bachelor thesis and passing a bachelor examination are necessary to obtain a BSc degree in Physics. Students with BSc degree may enter the supplementary two-years-long MSc studies. They can be admitted to one of the MSc specialisations in physics.

Studies in the College of Physics Teachers are organised in two stages. BSc studies of three years duration entitle to teach physics, mathematics and chemistry in primary schools. Students have to complete all the scheduled courses during the entire period of studies. During the third year students prepare their BSc theses. Passing of all the courses, submission of a bachelor thesis and passing a bachelor examination are necessary to obtain a BSc degree in Physics. Supplementary MSc studies of two-years-duration entitle to teach physics in secondary schools of all types. Students who are admitted to the second stage of studies (MSc studies) can choose one of the MSc specialisations in physics and have to prepare master thesis during the second year in a selected division of the Faculty of Physics.

Secondary school graduates (year 1999) with an average grade in physics and mathematics not less than 4 on their matura certificate are admitted without an entrance examination.

Participants of the second stage of Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Chemistry or Technical Olympiads are admitted without an entrance examination.

Candidates with International Certificate of Full Secondary Education (1999) with an average grade in high level (HL) physics and mathematics not less than 5 (grade range of 1-7) are admitted without an entrance examination.

Other candidates are accepted on the basis of an entrance written and oral examination.

Written examination in physics and mathematics (three problems in physics and one in mathematics) will take place on July 5^th, 1999. Candidates who obtain from their written examinations the required number of points will be admitted without oral examinations. All the other candidates should pass oral examinations.

Applications for studies in physics and astronomy will be registered till June 25^th, 1999. Candidates to the first year of studies in the Faculty of Physics (either on the basis of an entrance examination or a secondary school certificate) should submit to the Dean’s Office the following documents: personal questionnaire, an original (or a copy) of secondary school certificate (matura), health certificate, 4 photographs and two addressed envelopes with post stamps. The office hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (except Thursdays). Lack of the original matura certificate by the July 16, 1999, will be understand as a withdrawal of the candidate’s application. The students who once were accepted but did not start their studies in the proper year will undergo the entrance procedure according to whatever rules will apply at that time.

1. A candidate with BSc degree (form Warsaw University or other university) in physics or related field may apply for the supplementary MSc studies in the Faculty of Physics. The Dean of the Faculty or a Qualification Committee named by him/her decides about the admission.
2. In the case of students who completed BSc studies in our Faculty of Physics the rules of admission to supplementary studies are as follows:
• They should pass an entrance examination in physics and mathematics (examination will be held between September 20^th and 30^th). Candidates who obtained grades not less than 4 in the following courses: Mathematics AII, Physics AII, Mathematics AIII, Physics AIII or passed these courses at B or C levels are accepted without an entrance examination.
• They should complete 1320 hours of core courses in general studies. Note that completion of 1440 hours of these courses is required at the end of 5 or 5.5 year MSc studies.
• They should complete a minimum acceptable number of hours in course categories: Mathematics, Physics, Informatics, and Laboratories, which are required for 5 or 5.5 year MSc studies in physics. Conditional admission is possible for students who lack 120 hours in the above subject categories, however the missing hours are to be completed during IV and V years of studies.
• They should fulfil requirements of the selected specialisation.

Students who have passed (or were accepted without) the entrance examination but do not satisfy the above conditions may be admitted by the Dean's decision. In this case the Dean gives the list of courses which must be completed in a given period of time. This may be equivalent to admission to the third year of the 5 or 5.5 year MSc studies.

3. Applicants with BSc degree from other faculties (or universities) will be admitted on the basis of entrance examination. The Dean will individually regulate additional requirements. In the case of curriculum incompatibilities candidates may be admitted to the third year of the 5 or 5.5-year MSc studies.
4. Candidates for the supplementary studies should apply before April 30^th to reserve a place at specialisation studies. The same deadline applies to students of the five-year MSc studies. A conditional admission is also possible. In such a case candidate is registered as a third year student of five-year MSc studies. The application deadline is then September 20^th.

The internal credit point system compatible with ECTS is introduced for the academic year 1998/99. The goal of the system is to allow academic recognition of study periods taken at various Polish and European Union universities. The credit point system encourages students to individual studies and gives students a chance to control their curricula.

The following rules are used to assign credits:

1. Credits are granted during the whole studies.
2. One year of studies is equivalent to 60 credits.
3. Credits are assigned to core, non-core, obligatory and elective courses. Exceptions: compulsory English language course and sport activities have no credits assigned.
4. Credits are assigned to BSc and MSc thesis projects.
5. Points are credited according to the rule: all or nothing. This means that points are granted only for completion of a course.
6. Advanced level courses do not have to be credited with more points.
7. Credits are not related to a grade obtained in a given course.
8. BSc or MSc degrees require a specified number of credits.
9. The average number of hours per one credit point is 12.

The following curricula require specific numbers of points:

• 5 year MSc studies - 300 credits,
• 5.5 year MSc studies - 330 credits,
• 3 year BSc studies - 180 credits,
• 2 year supplementary MSc studies - 120 credits.

In Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11, where the curricula are listed both numbers of hours and credits are indicated.

Completion of the academic year 1998/99 will be still based on a number of hours, but in the following years collection of 60 credits per year will be required.

The numbering and coding of all courses in the Faculty of Physics is introduced in the academic year 1998/99. A course number starts with a digit corresponding to the of year of studies for which it is advised. The following two digits number courses of a given year (for example 212 means 12^th course of the second year). The letters A, B or C which follow three digits describe difficulty level of a course (A - basic, B- intermediate and C - advanced level), e.g. 202A, for the courses in semesters 1-3 while for the courses in semesters 4-6 the letters are used to indicate different versions of the same course. The letter L indicates courses for BSc (licencjat) curriculum, e.g. 306L, if a course with the same number belongs to MSc curriculum. Numbers of courses in astronomy start with A, e.g. A101. Courses in the College of Physics Teachers start with N, e.g. N101.

Uniform course codes are introduced for the whole Warsaw University. The first three digits separated by point, e.g. 13.2 for physics, describe a field according to the field code list of SOCRATES/ERASMUS scheme. The fifth sign (currently 0) is left for more detailed classification within fields. The sixth sign, a digit denotes the number of a semester when the course is to be passed. Signs seventh to eleventh (e.g. 102BC) contain a course number within a faculty. Thus, for example, the complete code for Quantum Mechanics I (level B) is 13.205301B.

There are three ways to complete a course:

1. Grade from the range from 2 to 5. A minimum grade of 3 is required to complete a course.
2. Pass with a grade (pass-grade) from the same scale as above.
3. Pass. No grade is given.