PHYC20015 Special Relativity and Electromagnetism
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 70%: exam-heavy
- About 4 class hours a week
Is PHYC20015 hard?
PHYC20015: About average. Makes it harder: Final exam 70%. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
Einstein's special relativity and electromagnetism with Maxwell's equations, and how they connect.
After it you can
- Explain special relativity and its key ideas
- Solve simple electromagnetism problems
- Use Maxwell's equations in differential form
What you need first
(PHYC10001 or PHYC10003 or PHYC10009) and (PHYC10002 or PHYC10004 or PHYC10006) and (MAST10006 or MAST10009 or MAST10021 or MAST10019) and (MAST10007 or MAST10008 or MAST10022 or MAST10018)
Take in the same semester or earlier
MAST20009 or MAST20032
- PHYC10001 Physics 1: Advanced
- PHYC10003 Physics 1
- PHYC10009 Foundations of Physics
- PHYC10002 Physics 2: Advanced
- PHYC10004 Physics 2: Physical Science & Technology
- PHYC10006 Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment
- MAST10006 Calculus 2
- MAST10009 Accelerated Mathematics 2
- MAST10021 Calculus 2: Advanced
- MAST10007 Linear Algebra
- MAST10008 Accelerated Mathematics 1
- MAST10022 Linear Algebra: Advanced
What it leads to
- PHYC30011 Sub-atomic Physics
- PHYC30016 Electrodynamics
- PHYC30018 Quantum Physics
- PHYC30019 Astrophysics
- PHYC30021 Laboratory and Computational Physics 3
- PHYC30023 Light, Lasers, Optics
Careers
Helps toward: Meteorologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 30%, Final exam 70%
Student reviews and ratings
No student reviews yet — be the first to rate it.
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Quick answers
- When is PHYC20015 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking PHYC20015?
- Needs (PHYC10001 or PHYC10003 or PHYC10009) and (PHYC10002 or PHYC10004 or PHYC10006) and (MAST10006 or MAST10009 or MAST10021 or MAST10019) and (MAST10007 or MAST10008 or MAST10022 or MAST10018). Must be taken before or alongside it: MAST20009 or MAST20032.
- Does PHYC20015 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 70% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 30%, Final exam 70%.
- How many class hours a week does PHYC20015 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take PHYC20015 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.
- What can I take after PHYC20015?
- 6 subjects need it first, for example PHYC30011, PHYC30016, PHYC30018, PHYC30019.
- Can I rate PHYC20015?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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