A typical lecture load consists of an average of nine lectures per week during the Michaelmas and Lent terms.  It is usual to give more courses than this at the start of each term and then cut down to those of greatest interest.  This equates to about 18 examinable units over the year.  The compulsory project accounts for a further 6 units so that a typical total examination entry of 18 units requires that you prepare fully for examination only about two-thirds of the courses for which you have attended lectures.

The courses recommended by the Institute of Astronomy are as follows.

Maths Lecture List 2012/2013

Part III Physics 2012/2013 Lecture Listings

Provisional Maths Examination timetable

Michaelmas 2012	Lent 2013
Dr F K Priestley, Prof. D McKenzie and Dr J Rudge† Physics of the Earth as a Planet M. W. F. 9 Small Lecture Theatre [2 units] [P]	Prof. M Haehnelt Origin and Evolution of Galaxies M. W. F. 12 MR13 [3 units] [M]
Prof. J C B Papaloizou Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics M. W. F. 10 MR14  [3 units] [M]	Dr C A Tout Binary Stars Tu. Th.  9 MR13  [2 units] [M]
Dr H S Reall General Relativity M. W. F. 11 MR2 [3 units] [M]	Dr S J Paardekooper Dynamics of Astrophysical Discs Tu. Th. 10 MR13  [2 units] [M]
Dr C Lester † Particle Physics M. W. F. 11 [NB No W. lectures on 10 & 17 Oct, which will be replaced by  F 3.15-4.15 on 5 & 12 Oct] Small Lecture Theatre [2 units] [P]	Prof. M A Parker and Prof. G P Efstathiou† Particle Astrophysics Tu. Th. 10 Small Lecture Theatre [ 1 unit] [P
Dr D Baumann Cosmology M. W. F. 12 MR3 [3 units] [M]
Prof. A Davis Quantum Field Theory Tu. Th. 9, F 2 MR2 [3 units] [M]	Prof. G W Gibbons Black Holes Tu. Th. S. 11  MR2 [3 units] [M]
Dr B Davies & Dr C A Tout Structure and Evolution of Stars Tu. Th.  10 MR13  [2 units] [M]	Dr R D E Saunders† NB change Frontiers of Observational Astrophysics W. &  F. 12 Astrophysics Ryle Seminar Room 930 Rutherford Bldg [ 1 unit] [P]
In addition, attendance at a short orientation course, covering practical aspects of Unix and use of the Institute of Astronomy Science Cluster is required.
Dr R M Johnstone* Introduction to Unix & Computing. (O24 CTA) (5 lectures, 2pm: Th.,4, M. 8, Tu. 9, W. 10, Th. 11 Oct.)

All lectures will be held in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences meeting rooms (MR) Clarkson Road except * which will be held at the IoA, Madingley Road and † in the Small Lecture Theatre in the the Cavendish Laboratory (West Cambridge). [Mathematics [M], Physics [P]].

The majority of courses you choose for examination must be drawn from the above list.  You may also choose to be examined in courses, amounting to a maximum of three units, chosen from any of the full suite of Part III Mathematics courses or from the Part III Physics courses except "Relativistic Astrophysics and Cosmology" or "Formation of Structure in the Universe", which have too much overlap with our recommended courses.  You may not choose the interdisciplinary courses or "Nuclear Power Engineering" from Part III Engineering. All mathematics courses are examined in June. Those of 24 lectures have a 3-hour exam and count 3 units while those of 16 lectures have a 2-hour exam and count 2 units. Physics major options have a 2-hour exam at the beginning of the Lent term and count 2 units. Physics minor options have a 1.5-hour exam at the start of the Easter term and count 1 unit. The courses offered in Part III vary from year to year and students should consult the Part III Coordinator for guidance in choosing.

The compulsory project accounts for a further 6 units so that a typical  total examination entry of 18 units requires that you prepare fully for examination only about two-thirds of the courses for which you have attended lectures.

The lecture courses are supported by Examples Classes organised by the lecturer.

Part III Examples and some Lecture Notes are here:

http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/examples/indexP3.html

[All lectures will be held in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences meeting rooms (MR) Clarkson Road except * which will be held at the IoA, Madingley Road and † in the Small Lecture Theatre in the the Cavendish Laboratory (West Cambridge). [Mathematics [M], Physics [P]].

Talks

There are a number of seminars of astronomical interest within various Cambridge departments. Students are encouraged to attend seminars, although the large number of possibilities implies that students need to be selective in those they attend. The Institute of Astronomy has two regular series of talks, the Wednesday lunchtime talks at 1.15 pm (which are preceded by bread and cheese lunch from 12.30 and which usually constitute 2 half-hour talks on specialised research topics) and the Colloquia (Thursdays at 4.30 pm during Full Term) which are preceded by tea at 4:00 pm and followed by wine at 5.30 pm. The Colloquia are hour-long talks that generally contain a larger review element, as well as presenting latest scientific results.

In addition, the Cavendish Astrophysics Seminar takes place at 4.30 pm on Tuesdays and informal lunchtime talks are held at DAMTP (Monday 1.00 pm for the Cambridge Cosmology and Astrophysics Lunch and Tuesday 1.00 pm for Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics and Nonlinear Patterns).

Commitments to lecture courses and project work mean that it is essential to be selective about which talks to attend. However, in addition to the benefits of attending a talk containing relevant subject matter, critical assessment of a number of talks offers the opportunity to gain direct experience of what does and does not, work when presenting material to a non-specialist audience. Such experience is likely to be of direct benefit when preparing the project oral presentation to the Examiners in the Easter Term.

The schedule of talks for the forthcoming week can be found on the IoA website.