Complex sentence: He received his BSc (Hons, 1st class) in Physics in 1976, and his MSc in Astrophysics (by thesis) in 1977; his thesis title was: "Interpretation of photometry on pulsating stars".
Split into simpler sentences: He received his BSc (Hons, 1st class) in Physics in 1976. He immediately commenced his MSc in Astrophysics, graduating in 1977; his thesis title was: "Interpretation of photometry on pulsating stars".