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What are the differences between degree programmes in Year 1?
Students on the standard MSci (F303) and BSc (F300) physics programmes have a choice between Maths Analysis and Advanced Electronics. From 2025-26, students on the MSci (F390) and BSc (F325) with Theoretical Physics programmes also have a choice between Maths Analysis and Advanced Electronics
Students on the Year Abroad (F309) programme who are fluent in the language of their intended host country have the choice of Advanced Electronics or Maths Analysis. Most other Year in Europe students will be doing a language course and therefore do not have a choice of option course.

What happens if I fail the Advanced Electronics course?
You will have one opportunity to resubmit any assessments that were failed. If you fail the module you will fail the year and be withdrawn from college.

Where can I get more information about ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Horizons?
³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Horizons were introduced in 2012 as non-compulsory courses in a varirty of subjects. Horizons classes for Year 1 students take place 4-6pm on a Tuesday. Full details can be found on the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Horizons website. Horizons courses will appear on your transcript if you pass. Failures are not recorded.

What are the choices are available in Year 2?
Students on the F300 and F303 degree programmes have a choice from Maths Methods, Environmental Physics, and Sun, Stars and Planets. Students on these degree programmes must select two options.
Students on the F325 and F390 degree programmes must choose Maths Methods and one other.
Students on the F309 degree programme must select the language for their planned host university unless they are fluent. Any fluent students are free to choose from the standard FHEQ 5 Physics electives.

When do Year 2 students select their options?
The option talk takes place in May during Term 3 of Year 1. Students will then have a couple of weeks after this talk to select their electives.

Can a student on the F300 or F303 degree take a language course in Year 2 and then do a Business School elective in the third year?
Yes, this is possible. 

When do I pick my electives for Year 3?
The electives selection process for the following academic year starts in May. There is a deadline to select your electives - normally in June. The Electives Fair will take place in May.

One of the electives I'd like to study in Year 3 is full. What do I do?
Some of the more popular courses are capped for health and safety reasons. A list of capped modules is on the electives page. We do run a waiting list for the capped courses as people do change their minds. Please email our electives email account to get added to a waiting list.

What if I wish to drop a Business School Options?
If a Business School elective (‘BPES’) has been chosen and you wish to discontinue it and study a Physics elective instead, both the Physics Department and Business School need to be informed of this by the third Friday of Term 1.

Questions about the ‘BPES’ modules, including notification of changes, should be directed to: bpes@imperial.ac.uk.

I had a place confirmed on a BPES course in May, but now when I look on DSS I'm not registered at all. What has happened?
If you change degree programme after you have selected your BPES module via DSS, you can sometimes be removed from the BPES module when DSS is updated with your new programme code (e.g F303>F300). If you are taking a BPES module and change degree programme, you should contact the Business School (bpes@imperial.ac.uk) to confirm your elective choice.

I want to take a language course for non-credit, do I have to inform the department of this?
No. Only courses that will count to your degree are entered on the Physics electives app. You apply to take non-credit language modules at the .

What if I wish to drop an ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Horizons elective?
If an ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Horizons option has been chosen and you wish to discontinue it and study a Physics elective instead, both the Physics Department and Centre for Co-Curricular Studies need to be informed of this by the third Friday of Term 1.

Questions about the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Horizons courses should be directed to: horizons@imperial.ac.uk or to withdraw please go to .

I've selected to do a Self-Study Project in Year 3, when are these allocated?
This work is completed in September. We have an online system for Self-Study Project allocation. Students are emailed by the Head of Year 3 Projects in September. There is a talk to students abou this module in October.

I'd like to take a FHEQ 5 Language course in my 4th Year. Is this possible?
This is not possible. Our external examiners insist that courses taken in the 4th Year are of a certain standard of difficulty due to the overall weighting of Year 4.

I'm in the third year of a BSc degree and I plan to take a MSc next year. Is it possible to take a Business School/Humanities/Language course for credit as part of my MSc?
No. This is not possible.