BSc in Physics
From atoms to galaxies — explore, experiment, measure, and analyse the world around you.
Viewed at the broadest level, physics studies natural phenomena, and searches for the general laws which govern them. The two extremes of scale, particle physics and cosmology as well as the more esoteric and speculative theories tend to dominate the public perception and the imagination of students, since they excite a sense of awe and wonder.
Between the two extremes lies physics at the human and terrestrial scale, which gives us an understanding of our everyday experiences, as well as forms the basis for the technology which increasingly dominates and transforms our lives.
A physicist’s way of thinking is not only useful in finding physical truths in other scientific fields but also offers an alternative (and now mainstream in many cases) to helping solve problems in economics, climate studies and social sciences.
Who should join us?
Our four-year rigorous programme is unique and opens up multiple academic or career possibilities for students. The study in physics is broad in scope while intense in the experiential aspect and social context. Besides the standard body of physics knowledge, we inculcate a unique way of thinking through our hands-on learning experience both in the classroom and laboratory. If you have an inclination towards this kind of approach, this is the programme for you.
Why study with us?
We offer Interdisciplinary Openness
Our programmes encourage you to explore and follow your interests. We design our courses to ensure that you can specialise in a subject of your choice while learning various subjects across disciplines.
A Common Curriculum for all students
You will meet all your classmates at the beginning of your course to build all the tools you need for your four years of study. This includes foundational courses, an understanding of India, interdisciplinary studies, and courses in creative expressions.
We provide Academic Assistance
Our consistent academic assistance through language support, peer tutoring, faculty mentorship, etc., ensures that you meet the programme’s academic requirements.
We ensure Financial Support
We extend need-based financial assistance to students that cover tuition and accommodation expenses.
Programme Structure
Course Structure
The Common Curriculum will introduce students to the study of the themes and areas that emphasise and build critical and analytical abilities, and sensibilities for dialogue, reflection and cooperative learning. The Common Curriculum has three sub-components organised as below:
Foundations: Build capacity for critical thinking, reasoning and communication.
Understanding India: India’s history, society and possible future.
Creative Expressions
As an essential component of the core curriculum, Creative Expressions courses utilise artistic mediums, sports, and embodied learning to cultivate creativity, foster social cohesion, and build resilience. Encouraging students to take risks in unfamiliar disciplines, these courses nurture curiosity, self-discovery, and overall well-being. Through Creative Expressions, students are empowered to participate with meaningful social connection, fostering a community of active and responsible citizens.
We offer broad introductory courses for you to have a good foundation and clear understanding of mechanics, electricity, heat, light and wave phenomena. These courses have an integrated tutorial and laboratory component.
These courses sometimes require an understanding of other scientific disciplines, and to ensure that you are able to study with ease, we offer you supportive courses in methods, chemistry, mathematics and biology.
Introductory Modern Physics
Disciplinary Major
A refreshing exploration of ideas in modern physics, through simple experiments and demonstrations.
Mathematics for Physics I
Disciplinary Major
Where Mathematics intersects with the Physical World
Mechanics and Waves I
Disciplinary Major
A not so mechanical approach to Newtonian mechanics
Mechanics and Waves II
Disciplinary Major
Rotational motion, complex oscillators and a special topic - Relativity
Acoustics and Optics
Disciplinary Major
Introduction to acoustics and optics
Mathematics for Physics II
Disciplinary Major
Delve deeper into computational tasks
Electricity and Magnetism
Disciplinary Major
A journey through the electromagnetic spectrum!
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Disciplinary Major
Exploring the secrets of Energy and Entropy.
Quantum Mechanics
Disciplinary Major
A concrete introduction to the abstract principles of quantum mechanics.
Experimental Methods
Disciplinary Major
Appreciate and learn the physical principles, techniques, and creativity that go in conducting experiments in physics.
Physics at Small and Large Scales
Disciplinary Major
A look at the major developments of Physics - from subatomic to cosmology
Electronics
Disciplinary Major
The foundations to understand what’s in your phone or TV and also instrumentation for science.
Students must be prepared for the world of work at the end of the programme should they choose to enter it. We aim to provide the required skills and competencies for this through a Minor featuring courses in an Occupational or Interdisciplinary theme. These sets of courses are aimed to provide both conceptual understanding and skills and tools that will allow students to contribute through work and further study.
Students can opt for a Minor in any one of the indicative areas listed below:
- Education
- Media and Journalism
- Data and Democracy
- Sports and Fitness
- Climate Studies
- Arts
The selection of these indicative areas is based on the availability of courses and our evaluation of the student’s interests and academic needs. For each cohort, a final list of available courses will be announced at the end of their second semester.
Students can craft their own educational experience by selecting courses in the following ways:
- Students will have the option to take additional courses in their Disciplinary Major.
- Interdisciplinary minor that will enable them for their further higher studies or career pathways.
These courses could also be selected to enhance and broaden their
- Language skills and Quantitative reasoning capacities/programming skills.
- Understanding of themes outside their Major subject.
Classroom Practices
Students learn how to take responsibility for their own learning. Many classes are run in studio format, where instruction comprises lectures, lab demonstrations, and doing experiments in groups. Building experiments with one’s own hands and experiencing phenomena up close are as essential as problem solving and doing simulations in our courses. Independent projects give students a flavour for doing research.
Selected Honours Projects
Honours consists of a project and some coursework. The project is usually on a highly individualized and independent research problem proposed by the mentor or even the student.
Quantification of Structural coloration in Peacock’s tail feathers, Akshara Yagnik, mentored by Proteep Mallik
Triboelectricity in Plants: A Study of the Potential for Energy Harvesting from Plants, Anoosha Chandrashekar, mentored by Anish Mokashi
Building A Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensor Using Ball Lenses, Gagan Hegde, mentored by Richard Fernandes
Theorizing the Existence of Magnetic Monopoles, Mahathi Narayanaswamy, mentored by Sridhar K
Analysis of mosquito motion in a confined environment, Manasvi Sahu, mentored by Murthy OVSN
Building A Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensor Using Ball LensesCP Violation In K‑Meson And B‑Meson Systems: A review of strangeness oscillations and CP violation, Ramkrishna Joshi, mentored by Sridhar K
Design and Construction of a Telescopic Eyepiece, Shashanth Sriramanathan, mentored by Proteep Mallik
Deformable Liquid Crystal Droplets in Surfactant Media, Siddharth Sane, mentored by Rema Krishnaswamy
Rebuilding the Beckman 25 Spectrophotometer, Tushar Achar GS, mentored by Richard Fernandes
To find out more about our honours projects, watch the video here.
Publications
Published Papers
- Biswal, Sudhansu S and Mishra, Sushree S and Sridhar, K. (2023) Resolution of the LHCb ηc anomaly. Journal of High Energy Physics. pp. 1 – 7. ISSN 1029 – 8479 https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/faculty-research/resolution-of-the-lhcb-%CE%B7c-anomaly
- Gowrishankar, K., Uppaluri, S. (2023) An Introduction to Phase Separation in Cell Biology. Reson 28, 229 – 245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-023‑1545‑0
- Gowrishankar, K. (2023) A climate science course for all undergraduates. Physics News. https://www.tifr.res.in/~ipa1970/news/V52-12/V52-12-A9.pdf
- How pop-science got us closer to solving a big solar mystery
- Bhatnagar, S., Vyasanakere, J. P., & Murthy, J. (2021) A geometric method to locate Neptune. American Journal of Physics, 89(5), 454. https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0003349
Resources
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Information Session
Undergraduate Programmes 2024
Explore the 4‑year Honours and 4‑year Dual Degree programmes offered at Azim Premji University, the admissions process and career opportunities, and interact with our faculty members
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Science Undergraduate Research Conference 2023
8 – 9 December 2023 at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru
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Hands-On Physics
Hands-On Physics is a repository of engagements by the faculty and students of Azim Premji University. This is for people interested in reading and sharing ideas, news and work in physics
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From Hoskote to Hawaii: The intriguing world of large telescopes
Having been around telescopes for most of his life, Proteep Mallik muses on the promises and perils of the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT), and what it means for a country like India.
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Paying Attention to What Children Do: Explorations of Sound
By carefully observing children during these explorations, what can we learn about how they think and interpret the world? Join a discussion with Anish Mokashi and Vinay Suram.
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Moon Landing 101 with Proteep Mallik
Delve deep into the awe-inspiring Chandrayaan‑3 Mission with Proteep Mallik, faculty, Azim Premji University. In this video, Proteep will talk about the complexities of the mission and why it is significant not only from an Indian perspective, but also from a global one. Discover the intrigue and fascination surrounding our celestial neighbor, the Moon, and why scientists from ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) aimed to conquer it.
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No lockdown for Physics during the COVID-19 pandemic
While many institutions resorted to simulations to cope with online science education during the pandemic, the teachers at Azim Premji University tried to keep things real. One of them, Richard Fernandes, shares stories from behind the scenes with Nandita Jayaraj.
Related Stories
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Exploring a periscope made with prisms
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Double Pendulum: Chaos in the Physics Lab!
With a few pieces of wood and the resolve to go beyond theory, Ramkrishna Joshi, Anoosha C, and Durga Machavallavan built a double pendulum. And their project just won them national recognition.
Peacocks Don’t Fade: The Science of Structural Colours
Explore how Akshara’s boundary-defying physics project led to the inclusion of a new lab component in a biology course.