Single-honours Physics students are able to take various short options over the course of their degree. Those Physics students interested in the foundational/conceptual implications of relativity and/or quantum mechanics might be interested in taking a Philosophy of Physics short option.
There are two Philosophy of Physics short options available for those studying single-honours Physics (either three-year or four-year): Philosophy of Space-Time and Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics. Both of these papers are assessed via a 1.5 hour examination, in which candidates are expected to answer two essay questions from a list of approximately six. Past papers are available on OXAM.
Students who elect to study either of these short option papers can expect four one-hour tutorials from an expert in the Philosophy of Physics (typically either a DPhil student or member of the Faculty of Philosophy). Ratios in these tutorials can vary, but typically they are two students per tutor. In each tutorial, the student are expected to write an essay on a relevant topic assigned by the tutor, and to submit this to the tutor in advance of the tutorial. Exact meeting times and deadlines should be fixed in correspondence with the tutor. (For a flavour of the kinds of topics and readings on each short option, please consult e.g. James Read's reading list.)
Tutorials for both short options take place in Hilary Term of the academic year. Students wishing to study for either paper should let James Read know by the beginning of Week 10 of Michaelmas Term, so that appropriate teaching can be put into place and so that there is time to assign vacation reading.
Students taking either short option will benefit greatly from attending the lectures for the course. Lecture times can be found on the Faculty of Philosophy website. Please note that typically the Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics is lectured in Michaelmas Term---i.e., one term before tutorial teaching takes place.