Physics and astronomy undergraduate courses

We offer a range of physics and astronomy degrees. They include opportunities to study abroad, complete a year-long work placement or specialise in astrophysics, particle physics or theoretical physics.

Undergraduate students

On

BSc or MPhys?

MPhys courses come with a final year of research training, where you'll work in the lab with a team of professional scientists on an unanswered question in physics. They're the best route for students who are thinking about a career in scientific research.

Accreditation

These courses are all accredited by the Institute of Physics, so you’ll cover the key topics that every physicist needs to understand: mechanics, waves, optics, relativity, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum physics and more.

Flexibility

But there’s always flexibility to choose from a wide range of optional modules too, so you can tailor your degree to your interests, your career goals and the global challenges you want to help solve.

Physics courses

Physics BSc

/ September start

A Levels AAB

UCAS code F300

Study the laws of the universe and the science behind major technological advances. Learn about international experiments to search for dark matter, ways to make solar energy systems more effective and how the quantum nature of light can help us build even more powerful computers.

Physics MPhys

/ September start

A Levels AAA

UCAS code F301

Develop the skills for a career in physics research, whether you want to help decode the laws of the universe or contribute to new technological advances in industry. You’ll run your own research project and be trained by a member of staff who is an expert in the area you want to explore.

Physics with an Industrial Placement Year BSc

/ September start

A Levels AAB

UCAS code F310

Put your physics knowledge into practice in the real world. As part of their degrees, our students have worked on new particle accelerators at government laboratories, applied their analysis skills to data science jobs in the civil service, and joined the Large Hadron Collider team at CERN.

Physics with an Industrial Placement Year MPhys

/ September start

A Levels AAA

UCAS code F311

Build up skills and experience that you can apply to a career in physics research. Our students have had placements ranging from government laboratories to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. After your placement, you’ll join a research team here in Sheffield and run your own project.

Physics and Astrophysics courses

Physics and Astrophysics BSc

/ September start

A Levels AAB

UCAS code FF35

Our physics and astrophysics degree has more astrophysics content than most, taking you from stars and galaxies, to the origin of the universe. You’ll be trained to use the telescopes on our roof, and there is an annual field trip to an international telescope facility in the Canary Islands.

Physics and Astrophysics MPhys

/ September start

A Levels AAA

UCAS code F3F5

Develop the skills for a career in research, whether you want to help map the universe as an astrophysicist or apply your scientific knowledge to solve problems in industry. Our physics and astrophysics degree has more astrophysics content than most others in the UK.

Physics and Astrophysics with an Industrial Placement Year BSc

/ September start

A Levels AAB

UCAS code FF36

Put your astrophysics knowledge into practice on a work placement and build up more experience for your CV. Placement opportunities include telescope facilities in the Canary Islands and Thailand.

Physics and Astrophysics with an Industrial Placement Year MPhys

/ September start

A Levels AAA

UCAS code F3F6

Put your astrophysics knowledge into practice on a work placement. Placement opportunities include telescope facilities in the Canary Islands and Thailand. After your placement, you’ll join the astrophysics research team here in Sheffield and run your own project.

Physics with Particle Physics courses

Physics with Particle Physics BSc

/ September start

A Levels AAB

UCAS code F372

On this course, you can learn from scientists who helped detect the Higgs boson and gravitational waves, and who are leading searches for dark matter. You'll learn how particles are detected, study key theories such as relativity and examine the laws of the universe at the subatomic level.

Physics with Particle Physics MPhys

/ September start

A Levels AAA

UCAS code F373

This course is ideal if you want to help answer the biggest questions in the universe as a physics researcher. You'll learn how particles are detected, study key theories such as relativity, and join a research team that works on major projects at CERN and leads searches for dark matter.

Theoretical Physics courses

Theoretical Physics BSc

/ September start

A Levels AAB

UCAS code F344

Examine the fundamental mathematics that has brought physicists ever closer to a ‘theory of everything’. You’ll explore the classical physics principles that defined scientific thinking up to the 20th century, and look in depth at topics like relativity and quantum mechanics.

Theoretical Physics MPhys

/ September start

A Levels AAA

UCAS code F321

Develop the skills for a career in research, whether you want to help answer complex questions raised by relativity and quantum mechanics, or help solve problems in industry. You’ll run your own research project and be trained by a member of staff who is an expert in the area you want to explore.

Theoretical Physics with an Industrial Placement Year BSc

A Levels AAB

UCAS code F345

Study the maths and physics that govern the universe, and build up your CV with a work placement. Our students have used their numerical and problem-solving skills on placements in data science with the civil service and with the Large Hadron Collider team at CERN.

Theoretical Physics with an Industrial Placement Year MPhys

/ September start

A Levels AAA

UCAS code F322

Develop the skills for a career in research, then put this into practice on your industrial placement. Previous students have completed placements in data science in the civil service and joined the Large Hadron Collider team at CERN. After your placement, you’ll join the theoretical physics research team here in Sheffield and run your own project.

Physics with Philosophy courses

Physics with Philosophy BSc

/ September start

A Levels AAB

UCAS code FV35

Explore the deep philosophical questions raised by modern physics. You’ll cover most of the same topics as students on our standard physics courses, and choose from a wide range of philosophy topics.

Physics with Philosophy MPhys

/ September start

A Levels AAA

UCAS code F3V5

Prepare for a career in research, whether you want to focus on questions that physics raises about the nature of existence, or refine your logical thinking abilities to help solve problems in industry. In your final year, you’ll join a team of physics researchers and run your own project.

Study Abroad

If you're starting your degree in 2023, you can apply to spend a year studying abroad once you've started.

Semester or year abroad

Physics with a Foundation Year

Physics with a Foundation Year BSc MPhys

/ September start

A Levels BBB

UCAS code F309

Explore the fundamental laws of the universe and learn about the development of pioneering technologies in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.