Reporter 13/3/02: Natural Sciences Tripos, Part III, Astrophysics

Natural Sciences Tripos, Part III, Astrophysics

The General Board have approved a proposal put forward by the Committee of Management for the Natural Sciences Tripos and the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry for the introduction of Astrophysics as an additional subject in Part III of the Natural Sciences Tripos with effect from the year 2003-04. The Board are satisfied that there are strong educational grounds for the introduction of a four-year course in this subject; the proposal has the support of the Strategic Committee for the Natural Sciences Tripos and the Senior Tutors' Committee. Confirmation has been received from the DfEE that under the present arrangements the four-year course in Astrophysics will qualify for funding.

Entry to the Astrophysics course in Part III will be restricted; in order to be accepted for the four-year course students will be required to have attained a specific standard in Part IB of the Natural Sciences Tripos or in Part IB of the Mathematical Tripos.

The General Board have amended the regulations for the Natural Sciences Tripos (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 353) as follows:

With effect from 1 October 2003

Regulation 9.

By adding under the heading 'Part III'

Subjects Nominating bodies

Astrophysics Faculty Board of Physics and Chemistry

Regulation 34.

By amending the first sentence of the regulation so as to read:

In Part III the examination shall be in the following subjects: Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Geological Sciences, Materials Science and Metallurgy.

Regulation 35.

By inserting the following paragraph relating to Astrophysics:

Astrophysics. The scheme of the examination shall be as follows:

(a) The examination shall comprise written papers, each of which shall be set for either two hours or three hours. The number of papers to be set and the subject and duration of each paper shall be announced by the Director of the Institute of Astronomy not later than 1 November next preceding the examination;

(b) Each candidate shall submit to the Examiners through the Director of the Institute of Astronomy, not later than the first day of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held, a report of a research project. Each candidate shall, not later than the second Monday of Full Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination, obtain the approval of the Director of the Institute of Astronomy for the subject proposed for the research project. The Director of the Institute of Astronomy shall present an assessment of this work to the Examiners and the Examiners shall take account of this assessment in drawing up the class-list. The Examiners may at their discretion examine a candidate viva voce on the subject of the report and on the general field within which the report falls.

The Faculty Board of Physics and Chemistry have defined the standard required for entry to the Astrophysics course in Part III of the Natural Sciences Tripos (see Regulation 5(a) for the Tripos (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 353)) as follows:

In order to be a candidate for honours in Astrophysics in Part III of the Natural Sciences Tripos, a student should:

(1) either (a) have been placed in a class not lower than II.2 in Part IB of the Natural Sciences Tripos, having also attained class II.2 standard or better either in Advanced Physics, or Mathematics in that examination;

or (b) have been placed in a class not lower than II.2 in Part IB of the Mathematical Tripos;

and

(2) have obtained honours in Astrophysics in Part II of the Natural Sciences Tripos.

Consideration of special cases

A student who has not met the required standard, or who has not offered the required subjects, as specified above, may request consideration as a special case. A request for special consideration should be forwarded by the student's Director of Studies, at the earliest opportunity, to the Secretary of the Faculty Board of Physics and Chemistry; the Director of Studies should state the reasons for requesting dispensation, and should provide evidence (including copies of supervision reports where possible) that the student will be capable of undertaking the Part III course successfully.

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