Programs UK PhD Students: Exam Requirements for Physics Areas

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PhD students in the UK typically do not have to undergo exams on core physics topics, such as those found in EM Jackson-style courses, unlike American graduate students. The requirements can vary by institution or research group, but generally, UK PhD programs do not mandate required courses or exams. Instead, students often focus on presentations of their own research and discussions of significant classic papers during their first year.
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Do PhD students in the UK have to undergo exams on important areas of physics (e.g. EM Jackson-style) not necessarily related to their area of research the way that American grad students do?
 
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It depends on the institute / group, but in general no.
I didn't have to take any required courses or any exams, I did have to give presentations on both my own work and on selected 'classic' papers as part of the first year.
 

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