Welcome
The Discipline of Applied Physics is one of the 4 teaching areas in the Faculty of Science. Applied Physics is also one of the original "Science Departments " established at Curtin in 1966 (then the Western Australian Institute of Technology). The long-term success of the Discipline is reflected in the 'birth' and growth of the other areas within and outside Applied Physics (e.g. Exploration Geophysics, Medical Imaging) and the internationally renowned Curtin Science and Mathematics Education Centre, by staff from the original Physics Department.
The Discipline has approximately 100 undergraduate students, and 30 higher-degree-by research students (MSc and PhD). As one of the University's principal service teaching providers the Discipline also teaches physics units to approximately 300 other students across the Divisions of Engineering, Science & Computing and Health Science. Students from all areas of the University are involved through a popular program of Physics Elective units that are on offer.
As one of Curtin's leading academic units, the Discipline's commitment to improving the quality of teaching and learning is of the highest priority and is supported through flexible degree and elective programs, peer and staff mentoring programs for new students and special orientation programs for new students
Our students graduate with a remarkably useful set of skills and abilities, making them a highly marketable employment commodity. The employment flexibility offered by a physics degree surprises even some of our graduates who have few problems finding jobs in a wide variety of careers and disciplines, including business and commerce, all around the world.
International researchers and students have been an important part of our operations at Curtin Physics for many years. The majority of our international students result from special links that have been developed with our Asian neighbours, but recently a number of international postgraduate students have come from further afield to work with our research and academic staff.
These international connections are reinforced through our highly successful Research and Consultancy record, however, the majority of our research focuses on Western Australian resources development (materials, mineral, marine and atmospheric), environmental protection and health, and physics education issues. The quality and success of our research makes a valuable contribution towards all levels of our teaching through both the staff expertise and the state of the art equipment available to students
