really interesting content and engaging, well-presented lectures, but absolutely ridiculous unit structure. this is literally just 2 units which for some reason are one under unit code. double the workload of a normal unit, as each half of the unit has its own lectures, exercises, tests etc. Lectures end in week 9 if you are able to keep on top of it so at least you get some time to revise before the last couple of assessments (and some time off this unit when things are heating up in other units) but overall not great for mental health. i think it would've been relatively easy to do well in this unit given more time to dedicate to each topic.

Anonymous, Semester 1, 2023

Both the quantum mechanics lectures and the atomic physics lectures are taught at the same time, meaning there is a minimum of 4 hrs of lectures to watch per week, with some weeks being as high as 6 hrs. Since both topics are taught concurrently and have separate assignments spread throughout the semester, its essentially the same as doing two units. Also, all the lectures are online. The atomic physics lecturer is very confusing, going way too fast in lectures and having very messy lecture slides with poorly labelled diagrams and no structure, making them almost impossible to read. Additionally, you have to complete weekly questions on atomic physics, however you are not given the answers after the assignments are marked, or even told which questions you got right/wrong, making the exercise entirely pointless for learning. Additionally, at least this year, the atomic physics lecturer changed the date for the atomic physics test to be 2 days after the quantum mechanics test in the last week of semester. Those of us that did our labs later on in the semester also had a lab report due in the last week, so we had 2 tests and a lab report due in the last week of semester (~45% of the unit), when every other unit also has loads of assignments/tests. There was no exam for this unit, however I would have preferred an exam since at least then we would have had time to study. In fact, its worse than that, since even though there isn't an exam, there is an atomic physics test at the end of the exam period, so you still have to study for this unit after the end of the semester anyway. At least the labs aren't quite as bad as the labs in previous physics units (they're still bad, obviously). Each group is supervised by a demonstrater who guides them through the lab. You only do one lab in this unit, and unfortunately there is a chance that you will get a lab covering content that you haven't been taught in physics yet.

Anonymous, Semester 1, 2022