Advanced Functional Materials MSc
Fundamentals of Sensing and Measurement PHYS5044
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Physics and Astronomy
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 1
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
Students will receive training in fundamental aspects of sensing and transduction across all modalities and the generalised concepts and parameters pertinent for transduction of physical phenomena into an electrical signal. The course will provide instruction in the characteristics of sensing and measurement across domains that will enable students to appraise and select appropriate task-specific sensing and imaging modalities and to be able to design and model high-level systems.
Timetable
TBC
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
1. Written examination
a. Unseen examination, comprising one compulsory short question and one compulsory long question.
2. Written coursework
a. One individual assignment
3. Written reports on one problem-based group project and individual project
Description of "Other" Summative Assessment Method:
4. Oral presentation on problem-based project
Main Assessment In: December
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
The aims of this course are:
a. To provide training in fundamental and general concepts in transduction and sensing
b. Familiarise the student with the salient characteristics of sensing across the main physical domains of electromagnetism (radio, optical), electrical, magnetic, ionising radiation, gravitational, biological, chemical
c. To develop understanding of transduction in electrical signals and signal conditioning
d. To provide understanding of the process of imaging with sensing
e. To provide training in solving problems associating with sensing and imaging
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
a. Propose and assess a range of solutions to a sensing and imaging problem against pertinent criteria
b. Analyse and evaluate data provided by a range of sensors and imaging systems
c. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental limitations of a range of sensing and imaging techniques.
d. Demonstrate an understanding of the physical origins of phenomena to be measured