The 'estimated time on task' for each assessment item is an estimate of the additional time needed to complete each assessment outside of all scheduled learning activities. These estimates assume that you actively engage with all scheduled learning activities and spend an additional 24 hours of self-led study during the session. 

Hurdle tasks

This unit has hurdle requirements, specifying a minimum standard that must be attained in aspects of the unit. To pass this unit you must obtain marks of at least 40% in the final examination, 40% in the laboratory project, and (of course) an overall 50% in the unit.

Supplementary examinations

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session.  By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments.  Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

If you are given a second opportunity to sit the final examination as a result of failing to meet the minimum mark required, you will be offered that chance during the same supplementary examination period and will be notified of the exact day and time after the publication of final results for the unit.

Late Assessments Policy

The non-examination assessment components should be submitted via iLearn by the due date and time.

The penalty for late submission is deduction of 5% of the possible mark for that item for each 24 hour period (or part) overdue. Assessments will not be accepted for marking if submitted more than 1 week past the due date. Extensions to the due dates for assignments, practical assessments, and project will only be considered if requested with valid reason prior to the due date.

Students anticipating or experiencing difficulties in meeting a deadline should discuss this with one of the lecturers in the first instance, ideally ahead of the deadline, if at all possible. Students should also be familiar with the University's provisions for Special Considerations.

Your lecturers are Dr Tayyaba Zafar and Professor Orsola De Marco.  The lectures will include some tutorial-style material with problem solving examples.

Lab sessions will be conducted in the Physics and Astronomy computer lab, and will make use of Python Notebooks, running via the Anaconda python package.  Note that labs start in Week 1.

Resources will be announced on iLearn. There is no required text, but the course will be closely based on material drawn from one of our favourite books: "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics" by Carroll and Ostlie.

Week 1: Introduction to stars and astrophysical radiation

Week 2: Properties of radiation fields

Week 3: Saha and Boltzmann Equations

Week 4: Atomic processes

Week 5: Radiative transfer

Week 6: Bremsstrahlung from HII regions and clusters of galaxies

Week 7: Opacity in stellar interiors

Week 8: Stellar structure equations

Week 9: Thermodynamics and convection

Week 10: Stellar energy generation and nucleosynthesis

Week 11: Stellar evolution

Week 12: The evolution of massive stars

Week 13: Stellar remnants