UK PhD Students: Exam Requirements for Physics Areas

[muppet]

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?

 

[mgb_phys]

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.