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MPhys

Physics

Attendance

Campus

Start

Book an Autumn Open Day

Duration

4 Years

Start

September 2024

UCAS Code

F303

Delivery

Campus Taught

Foundation Entry

From subatomic building blocks of matter to galaxies spanning light-years, everything in our universe is governed by the same fundamental principles. Discover it all with us.

From theories of relativity to quantum mechanics. From nanophysics to lasers. Our MPhys Physics programme covers it all. This is your chance to develop an in-depth knowledge of the laws of physics and how they apply to real-life situations. Our BSc (Hons) Physics students study for three years. After that you can opt to complete a fourth year to gain an MPhys. We strongly recommend the MPhys qualification if you are planning a career in scientific research.

You’ll study a range of modules, covering topics like electromagnetism, mechanics and relativity – building your knowledge, improving your mathematical skills and gaining laboratory experience. It’s also a course that comes with the chance of spending a sandwich year working in industry or studying abroad, adding career-boosting experience to your CV.

Along the way, you’ll become a seasoned problem solver, adept at tackling challenges with creative thinking. It’s this ability, together with the practical skills that come with planning experiments and processing, analysing and interpreting data, that make Physics graduates so sought after – offering a wide range of career possibilities.

Why study with us

1st
in the UK for academic support
National Student Survey (Physics and Astronomy) (compared with unis in the Guardian University Guide)
2023
6th
in the UK for overall positivity
National Student Survey (Physics and Astronomy) (compared with unis in the Guardian University Guide)
2023
2nd
in the North West for student satisfaction
Complete University Guide (Physics and Astronomy)
2024

You’ll explore concepts spanning basic theory to discoveries at the forefront of the field, giving you the knowledge, skills and confidence to be a part of future advances and innovations.
We have recently invested in our teaching laboratories, providing a cutting-edge learning environment and equipment to develop your skills ready for industry.
Our courses are delivered through engaging lectures, problem-solving tutorials and hands-on laboratory sessions. And our small class sizes means you'll receive lots of support right from the start.

Interested?

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Discover our Physics courses

What you’ll do

Because the course starts off with the same modules as our Physics with Astrophysics and Astrophysics courses, you can swap courses at the end of your first year.
The MPhys individual project provides an introduction to research and lasts a whole semester in the final year. This takes the place of the normal BSc project.
With a range of option modules, you can steer your studies toward your interests – in areas like Hamiltonian Mechanics, Particle Physics, or Solar and Plasma Physics.

Module overview

Course delivery

This course is taught face-to-face at one of our UK campuses.

100%Face-to-face

Please note the delivery information for this course is accurate for the academic year 2023/24. The information displayed in this section may not yet accurately reflect how the course will be delivered in 2024/25 but this information will be updated by October 2023.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Visit us this autumn

Discover our facilities, explore campus and talk to academic staff and students about the courses you want to study at one of our autumn Open Days.

Book an Open Day

View the course facilities

Accreditations

This course is accredited by the IOP, the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. On completion of this course graduates can progress towards Chartered Physicist (Phys) status.

Future careers

Our BSc (Hons) Physics course provides the analytical skills and mathematical knowledge which are in high demand across a range of industries, paving the way for careers in research, technology, finance and more.

Physics graduates are among the most employable in the world – and are in particularly high demand across various technical and business sectors. Today, you’ll find our graduates working for scientific institutes, overseas laboratories, financial institutions, education and scientific journalism.

If you’re aiming for a career in scientific research, our four-year MPhys qualification offers an excellent route – providing a greater depth of study and a greater focus on research. As the first two years are the same as the BSc programme, you can enrol onto the MPhys course at first, then decide which path to take after your second year.

Of course, there are also a range of other postgraduate study options you could pursue, in a range of topics in physics and engineering, while many graduates choose to train in teaching (PGCE).

The course comes with the chance to take a 48-week sandwich placement between your second and third years. You can choose to go abroad for a year, studying with one of our partner institutions or working on a project within a collaborating research group, such as in Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa, or with NASA in the USA. Alternatively, you can arrange a placement in industry, gaining the kind of practical skills and experience that offer a competitive advantage in a busy jobs market.

Fees and funding

2023/24

Full-time£9,250 per year

Sandwich year£1,385 for the sandwich year

Part-time£1,540 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£14,900 per year

2024/25

Full-time£9,250 per year

Sandwich year£1,500 for the sandwich year

Part-time£1,540 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£16,500 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Contextualised Admissions Bursary
We recognise that the last two years have been very challenging for young people and learning has been impacted. To help support students eligible for a contextualised offer we are offering a bursary of £250 in their first year of study.
Find out more about Contextualised Admissions Bursary

Our BSc Physics course typically takes three years to complete. If you opt to take on our undergraduate master’s degree (MPhys) then your studies will typically take four years to complete. We also offer you the chance to undertake a 48-week sandwich placement in industry in-between your second and third years.

With us, you’ll learn through a variety of lectures, tutorials and seminars, coupled with practical sessions like problem classes, laboratory work, observatory experiments and group work. To assess your progress, we’ll put you through your paces with written examinations, problem sheets, logbooks, scientific reports and presentations.

The MPhys individual project provides an introduction to research and lasts a whole semester in the final year. This takes the place of the normal BSc project.

We’ve invested in creating the best possible learning environment for you – from our newly refurbished labs to investment in equipment for nanophysics, alongside our in our investment in Alston Observatory.

As such, we have everything you need to explore nanophysics, nuclear physics, mechanics, optics, quantum physics, laser physics, spectroscopy and astrophysics – among others.

Just as we have great facilities, we also have great people. Our staff are all members of the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute – active researchers working at the cutting edge of their fields. And, because we keep class sizes small, we make sure you get the maximum individual attention possible.

Interested?

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This course is based in the School of Engineering and Computing

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

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Physics

Why study with us

What you’ll do

Module overview

Course delivery

Visit us this autumn

View the course facilities

Accreditations

Future careers

Fees and funding

Course Specific Optional Costs

Course Specific Optional Costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Contextualised Admissions Bursary

Learning and assessment