| UCAS code | F3F5 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2024 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Physics and Astronomy |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A level: AAA-ABB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: ABB-ABC |
Overview
- Our Physics with Astrophysics programmes focus on the core of mainstream physics, but also provide a balanced understanding of modern observational and theoretical astrophysics, from planets and stars to galaxies and cosmology
- BSc research projects are often based on data from world-class ground and space-based facilities and state-of-the-art computational codes for theoretical astrophysics
- Observational astrophysics is taught using our recently upgraded teaching observatory
- Learn within a supportive community characterised by genuine student-staff relationships and small tutorial groups, typically made up of five students
- Opportunity to join a close-knit student society with great social events throughout the year
- Benefit from access to advanced research facilities including clean-rooms, a helium liquefier, a water tank, amplified ultra-fast laser systems, and a suite of instruments for imaging biological materials
Discover undergraduate Physics at the University of Exeter.
Top 10 in the UK for Physics and Astronomy
9th in the Guardian University Guide 2024 and 10th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
Extensive facilities in our dedicated building including clean-rooms, helium liquefier, advanced photonics facilities, amplified ultra-fast laser systems, imaging suite, observatory and computer labs.
We are passionate about training new physicists and believe that is done best via a supportive and inclusive student-staff environment
94% of graduates in or due to start employment/further study 15 months after graduation
Based on full-time, first degree, UK-domiciled graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes survey 2020/21
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAA-ABB |
At least one grade A and a grade B in GCE AL Maths and Physics. GCE AL Maths, Pure Maths or Further Maths are all acceptable Maths subjects, and applicants may offer Physics, Maths and Further Maths towards their offer. |
| IB | 36/666 – 32/655 | HL 6 and HL 5 in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) and Physics |
| BTEC | DDM-DMM | Applicants studying a BTEC Extended Diploma are also required to achieve Grades A and B in A Level Mathematics and Physics |
| GCSE | 4 or C | Grade 4/C in GCSE English language |
| Access to HE | 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade - 24 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade | 15 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 12 L3 credits at Merit Grade in acceptable Mathematics and Physics subject areas. An additional Maths Test may be required. |
| T-Level | T-Levels not accepted | N/A |
| Contextual Offer | A-Level: ABB-ABC |
Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers. |
| Other accepted qualifications | ||
| English language requirements |
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country. |
|
NB General Studies is not included in any offer.
Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply
Physics is our chance to touch the hidden beauty of the world and its mechanism, studying physics can be compared to reading detailed description of a painting written in the universal language – math.
I really enjoy my time in Exeter. University provides great facilities and study ambience, along with a huge support in building your future career. The course material itself is nicely structured and being taught by wonderful people. I really like group tutorials, where I get to practice my skills and learn from dedicated research scientists.
Apart from main studies, physics breakfasts are amazing opportunity to gather with professors, possible supervisors, students of all years of study and have a nice chat over the cup of coffee, everybody loves physics breakfasts! The campus is very green and peaceful, it’s easy to find a great spot to take a break in between hard work. I enjoy the area a lot! I want to advise future students to make the most of being in Devon; join societies, travel, meet interesting people, have fun and, of course, master your studies.
Aleksandr
studying BSc Physics and Astrophysics
Course content
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
In year one you will develop your understanding of physics and become familiar with a variety of basic mathematical tools. The concepts and phenomena you will meet are many and varied, but are united by the underlying principles of physics. In a typical week you will spend 15 hours in a formal teaching environment, and be expected to spend a further 20 hours in independent study. You will have four hours of lectures in physics, two in mathematics, one tutorial, six hours in the teaching laboratories and two hours in problem-solving classes.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY1021 | Vector Mechanics | 15 |
| PHY1022 | Introduction to Astrophysics | 15 |
| PHY1025 | Mathematics Skills | 15 |
| PHY1027 | Practical Physics I | 15 |
| PHY1023 | Waves and Optics | 15 |
| PHY1024 | Properties of Matter | 15 |
| PHY1026 | Mathematics for Physicists | 15 |
| PHY1031 | Scientific Programming in Python | 15 |
Year two provides a firm foundation of physics, and the principles that constitute the framework of the subject. The use of mathematics gives these principles a precise form and provides physicists with the ability to make detailed quantitative predictions. This year focuses on four main cornerstones of physics: condensed matter, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and thermodynamics. These provide the core of most of physics and of our understanding of the evolution of our universe. The other modules in your second and subsequent years draw in part on your knowledge of this core.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY2021 | Electromagnetism I | 15 |
| PHY2022 | Quantum Mechanics I | 15 |
| PHY2025 | Mathematics with Physical Applications | 15 |
| PHY2026 | Practical Physics II | 15 |
| PHY2023 | Thermal Physics | 15 |
| PHY2024 | Condensed Matter I | 15 |
| PHY2030 | Observing the Universe | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 15 credits of List 2a options: | ||
| PHY2027 | Scientific Programming in C | 15 |
| PHY2222 | Physics of Climate Change | 15 |
| Additional 0-credit optional module | ||
| PHY2038 | Employability and Placement Preparation | 0 |
The final year of the programme allows you to apply the core principles in a broad range of important areas, such as Nuclear and High-Energy Particle Physics and Statistical Physics, plus advanced electromagnetism, quantum physics and condensed matter physics. There are numerous options in theoretical physics for you to choose such as Quantum Many Body Theory, and Relativity and Cosmology. You can also choose to study technologically-important areas such as Quantum Optics and Photonics, and Physical Methods in Biology and Medicine, and active research areas such as Galaxies and High Energy Astrophysics, and Nanostructures and Graphene Science. (Options are dependent on the programme of study).
This year also involves substantial project work. You’ll undertake extended experiments utilising a suite of equipment that includes an atomic force microscope, an infra-red spectrometer, and our own observatory and radio telescope. You also have the opportunity to undertake team-based work tackling a real-world problem proposed by local business or industry.
* An ‘elective’ is an unspecified module that allows you to broaden your education by taking a module from another discipline e.g., philosophy, or a foreign language
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY3055 | Electromagnetism and Quantum Mechanics | 15 |
| PHY3070 | Stars from Birth to Death | 15 |
| PHY3053 | General Problems | 15 |
| PHY3052 | Nuclear and High Energy Physics | 15 |
| PHY3066 | Galaxies and High Energy Astrophysics | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 15 credits of List 3 options: | ||
| PHY3061 | The Biophysics of Cells and Tissues | 15 |
| PHY3062 | Methods of Theoretical Physics | 15 |
| PHY3064 | Nanostructures and Graphene Science | 15 |
| PHY3067 | Energy and the Environment | 15 |
| PHY3068 | Principles of Theoretical Physics | 15 |
| PHY3071 | Soft Matter | 15 |
| PHY3220 | Fluid Dynamics in Physics and Astronomy | 15 |
| Elective (Term 2) | 15 | |
| Choose 30 credits of List 3p options: | ||
| PHY3138 | Projects and Dissertations | 30 |
| PHY3147 | One-Semester Physics Project and Report | 15 |
| PHY3150 | Applying Physics (Group Project) | 15 |
Accreditations
All our MPhys and Single Honours BSc degrees are accredited by the Institute of Physics. Accredited MPhys degrees fully satisfy the educational requirements of the Chartered Physicist (CPhys) professional qualification.
I chose physics because I love the subject and everyone I met when I visited Exeter were really enthusiastic, it felt like the right place for me.
After I graduate I’m going to do Teachfirst, I’ll be teaching GCSE Science (and maybe Physics A-Level) at a school in Kent and I’m really excited! The campus is really pretty and I love being within walking distance of everything, you can walk into the town centre and you’re also really close to the beach. My advice for future students would be to make the most of being in Devon; join societies, get to the beach and walk on Dartmoor. This part of the country is beautiful and this is the perfect time to enjoy it.
Amy
Studying BSc Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Exeter
Fees
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
UK students: £9,250 per year
International students: £30,900 per year
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*. Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.
* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Learning and teaching
Individual support
We will fully support you as a student in a friendly environment: you will receive individual attention and feedback throughout your programme. Weekly tutorials form the core of our academic support, complementing all the modules and project work that you are taking. You will meet with your tutor (a professor or lecturer) in a small group with four or five others for one hour during every teaching week of your programme. These sessions are your opportunity to discuss any element of your academic studies. Assignments will also be set, discussed and marked – sometimes these will be on unfamiliar topics: we wish to encourage active discourse in physics as this is a good way of understanding the more subtle concepts and gaining confidence in your intuition. You will also have the opportunity to practice your oral presentation skills, and gain support with your professional development. In the final year of the MPhys programmes, your research-project supervisor is your tutor. Throughout your time in Exeter, your tutor will also be your first point of call for pastoral support and will advise about the availability of University services including wellbeing, disability and financial help.
Lectures, Seminars and Tutorial
Teaching is undertaken in a variety of ways, with lecturing the primary method. There are also weekly problem-solving classes in the first two years for both mathematics and physics modules. Physics at the University of Exeter is also actively engaged in introducing new methods of learning and teaching, including increasing use of interactive computer-based approaches to learning through our virtual learning environment where the details of all modules are stored in an easily navigable website.
Students can access detailed information about modules and learning outcomes, as well as sets of lecture slides/notes, example and problem-sheets, videos, and interact through activities such as the discussion forums. Video recordings of lectures are normally made available whenever possible to aid your revision.
A research and practice led teaching
We believe that every student benefits from being part of a culture that is inspired by research and being taught by experts. Not only do we teach you about our pioneering research, we teach you how to undertake the research yourself. Experimental skills are acquired in the laboratories and astronomical observatory, and here you are introduced to a wide range of apparatus and techniques. Training in theoretical techniques is provided by our methods and computational modules. By the time you reach the start of your extended project work, you will have received the necessary preparation to undertake it with confidence in either experimental or theoretical topics, and these projects are tackled with great enthusiasm and energy.
Assessment
Assessment in the first two years is a combination of continuous assessment and exams. About 65 per cent of the assessment in each of these years is by written examinations and short mid-term tests; the rest involves work for projects, laboratories, problems classes, and more. You must obtain a pass mark for your first year in order to proceed but your performance at this stage does not count towards your final degree classification.
Optional modules outside of this course
Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.
Proficiency in a second subject
If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.
- A Foreign Language
- Data Science
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Law (Penryn Campus only)
- Leadership
- Management
- Social Data Science
Your future
Employability skills are an integral part of the physics curriculum. The flexibility and adaptability of a well-trained physicist is appreciated by employers: they acknowledge the benefits of excellent problem solving skills, an educated scientific intuition, and the confidence to be able to grasp new concepts quickly.
Our degree programmes include:
- A two-day employability and graduate development workshop in year one
- A two-day communication skills course in year one
- Annual personal development planning exercises
- Training in the formulation and solution of problems
- Substantial amounts of practical and project work, the results of which must be presented and defended in various formats (written reports, posters, oral presentations)
- Working with others in projects and problem-solving classes
- IT skills training
- Mathematical skills training
- An opportunity to take a commercial and industrial experience module
In addition, the purpose of the extended project work in both the BSc and MPhys programmes is for you to develop research skills. You will learn to present and scientifically defend your work and ideas in a variety of ways. The experience and skills developed not only form a valuable basis for a research career, but are also known to be highly valued by employers.
The most academically-able graduates are normally strongly encouraged to apply for a fully-funded PhD studentship in physics or astrophysics. Visit the Physics postgraduate research degrees page for details.
Career Paths
The largest proportion of our graduates enter science-based industries in positions involving research and development, production and management. Other careers include scientific work in government establishments (e.g., QinetiQ or Harwell Laboratories), hospital physics in the NHS, and technical management in broadcasting and the communications sector. Some work in high-tech start-up companies.
The broad-based skills acquired during your degree will give you an excellent grounding for a wide variety of careers, not only those related to Physics but also in wider fields. Examples of roles recent graduates are now working as include:
- Academic Researcher
- Actuary Astonomer
- Chartered and Certified Accountant
- Cyber Security Professional
- Engineer
- Financial Accounts Manager
- IT Business Analyst and Systems Architect
- Programmer
- Software Developer
- Teacher
