The Physics Tutorial Centre offers a specialized learning environment tailored for Physics students in our Department. Current students in any Physics program — including Biological & Medical Physics, Materials & Nanosciences, Mathematical Physics, Physics, and Physics & Astronomy — can drop in at any time during operating hours to receive free assistance with their courses. We also extend our support to external students from other Departments and Faculties who are taking our PHYS courses. Whether seeking clarification, tackling challenging concepts, or preparing for exams, our tutors and instructors are here to help.
About Us
The Physics Tutorial Centre was founded by Brenda Lee in Fall 2023 to establish a relaxed and accessible academic support hub for students. It is run by a small team of faculty, staff and co-op student(s) who manage a group of dedicated tutors with a wide range of backgrounds. These tutors primarily consist of fellow undergraduate student volunteers, complemented by professors and teaching assistants who contribute their time to assist students. This collaborative effort ensures a supportive environment where students can receive valuable academic guidance and connect with peers within their programs to foster a stronger sense of community within our Department.
Courses
The Physics Tutorial Centre offers comprehensive support for a variety of first-, second-, and third-year Physics (PHYS) courses. Since different courses are offered each term, we recruit tutors throughout the year and seek support from instructors of ongoing courses. Sometimes, you'll find your instructor or TA offering a dedicated help session or office hours at our Tutorial Centre and other times you can drop in an find an upper-year student who has taken the course before and can help with your questions.
Apart from PHYS courses, we also provide support for non-specialist disciplines that our Department offers, such as PHYS 111/112 (Physics 1 and 2 for the Life Sciences) and SCI 238 (Introductory Astronomy).
Finally, we offer support for key mathematics courses integral to Physics programs, such as MATH 127/128 (Calculus I/II), and other MATH or AMATH courses based on need and tutor availability. This inclusive approach ensures that students in Physics and related fields receive tailored academic assistance across their curriculum. Students can check out our Operating Hours and Schedule to see when to drop in to our Tutorial Centre for the courses they need support in.
Current Students
Contacts
If you have any questions about the Physics Tutorial Centre, please reach out to the following individuals at phystut@uwaterloo.ca.