Program Overview

Foundation Studies prepares you for a successful transition to degree-level study, providing a pathway to the first year of study of a bachelor’s degree at Murdoch University.

This course is suited to you if you:

• Need an entrance qualification for Murdoch University
• Want to accelerate your university preparation after Year 11, or equivalent
• Want to change your degree stream after Year 11, or equivalent

Course Structure
For Foundation Studies you will complete eight units over two study periods, studying a combination of core and elective units. The units you will undertake will be determined by your chosen degree. All students must complete the two English units and at least one unit from each Discipline Group.

Each unit of study builds concepts from an introductory level through to university entrance level. The units are designed to develop your learning techniques as well as bridging gaps in your unit knowledge.

• English
  • Essential Australian Studies
  • Introduction to Academic Communication
• Mathematics
  • Introductory Mathematics
  • Mathematics for Science
• Science and Technology
  • Information Technology for Academic Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
• The Arts
  • Introduction to Media
  • Media Production
• Business and Legal Studies
  • Accounting
  • Management
  • Economics

Leading to:  Bachelor of Science (Physical Sciences)
The Physical Sciences provide a foundation for innovation in industry and the tools to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Within the Bachelor of Science (Physical Sciences) there are two majors: Physics and Chemistry. These majors can be taken together or combined with others from across the university (e.g. Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Information Technology, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Engineering.  

This course has been designed to develop from day one practical high demand skills in analytical and computational methods, hands-on techniques in imaging, materials synthesis and characterisation and advanced analysis and of the students’ critical thinking, problem solving and creativity. All this will be achieved in the context of cutting-edge science with immediate real-world applications. 

Come explore and contribute to how Chemistry and Physics can lead to practical solutions to issues in health, sustainability, agriculture, critical minerals and creating the next generation technologies. 

Major: Physics
Physics is a branch of science which studies matter, energy, and their interactions. However, it's more than just a branch of science but is foundational to all other sciences. Light, heat, sound, gravity, motion, electricity and magnets, are all the classic topics of study for a physicist.

At least seven Nobel Prizes in physics have been fundamental to the invention of the mobile phone, including for semiconductors and transistors, light emitting diodes (LEDs) for screen - and new physics discoveries are happening everyday! Structures in butterfly wings making them green without pigments. The creamy texture of a scoop of ice-cream is physics. A lizard walking upside down on glass. Ice floating on water. Light sensing in the eye. These everyday phenomena often have enormous immediate practical value to our industries, our environment and our well-being.  

A physics education hones skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and innovation. These are all skills and attributes in great demand, whether in a career in science or elsewhere. This Physics major provides the essential physics principles found in physics majors throughout the world. You’ll experience this through a hands-on, practical approach focused on applications of these physical principles to our key industries and global challenges.   

You can undertake an additional year of study to complete an Honours degree, offering enhanced employment prospects and is the entry point into a Master’s or Doctoral research degree. 

3 Reasons to study Physics at Murdoch  

• Learn from academics with international expertise in the applications of physics - including critical minerals, agriculture, food technology or medicine.  
• Small class sizes mean lots of opportunities for deep interactions with staff and opportunities beyond the classroom to join the physic community at Murdoch and our industry alumni. 
• Focus on hands on practical skills that are transferrable to across physics, to other sciences and to other industries. 

What you’ll learn 

• The breadth and depth of physical laws, concepts and principles. 
• Experimental and quantitative principles, concepts and methods in physics-specific and interdisciplinary contexts. 
• How to formulate quantitative descriptions for physically mediated scientific, natural or technological phenomena or processes. 
• Mathematical and computational methods for the study of processes or problems in physics and use appropriate software to implement scientific computational analyses.