The Major in Physics (Intensive) aims to provide students with a solid foundation on the subject in breadth and depth. It covers a wide range of core areas which provides the intensive preparation to pursue learning in specializations, e.g. quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, classical mechanics and electrodynamics. A large selection of elective courses is provided for students to pursue a wide range of topics from the very small scale (i.e. subatomic particles) to the large scale (i.e. cosmology). Students will attain professional knowledge and competencies in physics and research experience plus the training of analytical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and problem solving methods during their studies. Graduates are expected to be well-prepared for further studies in physics and related disciplines and to pursue careers in scientific or technical fields.

Major in Physics
Minor in Physics

1. These are core courses in the regular Physics-Major (96 credits) curriculum.

2. Students are strongly advised to consult departmental course selection advisors for course and career planning before selecting the courses.

3. Students must have level 3 or above in HKDSE Physics or equivalent to take this major.  Students who do not fulfill this requirement are advised to take PHYS1240 Physics by inquiry.

4. Those who want to specialize in the astrophysics theme should pass any three of the following courses: PHYS3650 Observational astronomy, PHYS3653 Astrophysics, PHYS3660 Astronomy laboratory, PHYS4652 Planetary science, PHYS4653 Selected topics in astrophysics and cosmology, PHYS4654 General relativity, PHYS4655 Interstellar medium, and PHYS4656 Advanced astrophysics, out of which at least one must be a 4000+ level course, as well as passing either PHYS3999 Directed studies in physics or PHYS4999 Physics project with topics of study in astrophysics.

5. Those who want to specialize in the computational physics theme should pass any three of the following courses: PHYS3150 Theoretical physics, PHYS3151 Machine learning in physics, PHYS4150 Computational physics, and PHYS4151 Data analysis and modeling in physics out of which at least one must be a 4000+ level course, as well as passing either PHYS3999 Directed studies in physics or PHYS4999 Physics project with topics of study in computational physics.

6. Those who want to specialize in the experimental physics theme should pass PHYS3760 Physics laboratory, plus any two of the following courses: PHYS3660 Astronomy laboratory, PHYS3750 Foundations of laser and spectroscopy, PHYS3850 Physical optics, PHYS3851 Atomic and nuclear physics, PHYS4151 Data analysis and modeling in physics, PHYS4551 Solid state physics, and PHYS4850 Particle physics out of which at least one must be a 4000+ level course, as well as passing either PHYS3999 Directed studies in physics or PHYS4999 Physics project with topics of study in experimental physics.

7. Those who want to specialize in the theoretical physics theme should pass any four of the following courses: PHYS3150 Theoretical physics, PHYS3350 Classical mechanics, PHYS3351 Quantum mechanics, PHYS3450 Electromagnetism, PHYS3550 Statistical mechanics & thermodynamics, PHYS4351 Advanced quantum mechanics, PHYS4450 Advanced electromagnetism, PHYS4551 Solid state physics, PHYS4654 General relativity, PHYS4850 Particle physics, PHYS7351 Graduate quantum mechanics, PHYS7450 Graduate electromagnetic field theory, PHYS7550 Graduate statistical mechanics out of which at least two must be 4000+ level courses, as well as passing either PHYS3999 Directed studies in physics or PHYS4999 Physics project with topics of study in theoretical physics.

8. Upon prior approval, one may use PHYS4966 Physics internship to replace PHYS3999 Directed studies or PHYS4999 Physics project to fulfill the specialization in a theme.

9. No double counting is allowed if one wants to specialize in more than one theme.  In this case, one is allowed to replace the PHYS3999 Directed studies in physics or PHYS4999 Physics project requirement in one of the theme specializations by a regular course in the same theme of specialization.

10. Candidates who have been admitted to Year 1 in 2020-21 (and thereafter) and have achieved any one of the following qualifications are exempted from taking SCNC1111. It is optional for them to take this course. Those who do not take this course should take a 6-credit disciplinary elective course of the science major in lieu.
- Level 4 or above in Mathematics Extended Part Module 1 or 2 in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
- Level 5 or above in Mathematics Higher Level in International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Grade B or above in Mathematics and Further Mathematics in General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCEAL)
- Mathematics qualification in Gao Kao will be considered on a case-by-case basis

11. Candidates who have been admitted to Year 1 in 2021-22 (and thereafter) and have achieved any one of the following qualifications are exempted from taking SCNC1112. It is optional for them to take this course. Those who do not take this course should take a 6-credit disciplinary elective course of the science major in lieu.
- Level 4 or above in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
- Level 5 or above in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Higher Level in International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Grade B or above in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCEAL)
- Biology, Chemistry, and Physics qualification in Gao Kao will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Important! Ultimate responsibility rests with students to ensure that the required pre-requisites and co-requisite of selected courses are fulfilled. Students must take and pass all required courses in the selected primary science major in order to satisfy the degree graduation requirements.