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MPhys

Physics with Astrophysics

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

4 Years

Start

September 2023

UCAS Code

F3FM

Delivery

Campus Taught

Foundation entry

Couple your passion for stars and galaxies with an understanding of the fundamentals of all matter, by combining a focus on Astrophysics with the wider perspective of Physics.

This course brings together aspects of two of our degrees to offer a programme that’s full of possibilities. It covers a comprehensive range of topics, from quantum physics to the structure of the universe. As such, you’ll gain an in-depth knowledge of the laws of physics, and of the stars and galaxies, together with mathematical skills and practical laboratory experience.

It’s a popular route if you want to keep your options open, as it not only provides a solid base you can build on with further study, but also comes with the chance to switch your focus to one of our other physics-based courses. You could even take the sandwich year option, by adding a year’s study abroad or working on a placement as part of your degree.

On completing our BSc qualification after three years of study you can opt to study for an additional year to achieve our MPhys degree. By the time you graduate, you should be a proven problem solver ready to take on challenges with creative thinking. With this ability – coupled with the practical skills you’ll develop by planning experiments, and processing, analysing and interpreting data – you’ll be ready to pursue a range of exciting careers.

Why study with us

In the 2022 National Student Survey, 92% of Physics and Astrophysics respondents were overall satisfied with their course, with a 90% rating for the teaching on the course.
You’ll learn at one of the UK’s best-equipped teaching observatories, with 20+ telescopes, including one of the most powerful available.
This course is shaped by world-leading work in astrophysics and physics, with pioneering research in nanoscience, computational and experimental physics.

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What you’ll do

Because this course has the same introductory modules as our Physics and Astrophysics courses, you could opt to make a change at the end of your first year.
If you’re doing well and you’d like to focus on research, you’ll have the chance to step up into our four-year MPhys at the end of your second year.
You can choose to take a sandwich year between your second and third year, whether studying abroad or gaining valuable skills and experience on a work placement.

Module overview

Course delivery

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

100%Face-to-face

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.

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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 MPhys (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics course offers the kind of skills and knowledge that places you among the most employable graduates in the world, ready to pursue a wide range of careers.

The analytical and mathematical skills you’ll develop on this course come at a premium across many industry sectors. Coupled with the advanced scientific knowledge the degree offers, these skills can open various career paths, from government and science to finance and business. Many of our graduates have gone on to work in research institutes and laboratories, while others have become teachers, analysts and even journalists.

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.

As part of the course, you can opt to spend a year away from campus, whether studying abroad with one of our academic partners or working on a placement in industry. A placement provides a valuable opportunity to build on your first two years of study, as well as gaining the kind of practical experience and real-world know-how that can radically improve your career prospects.

Fees and funding

2022/23

Full-time£9250 per year

Part-time£1540 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£14250 per year

2023/24

Full-time£9,250 per year

Part-time£1,540 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£14,900 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

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

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

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We use a variety of different teaching methods to guide you through this course, from lectures, tutorials and seminars, to more practical sessions like problem classes, laboratory work, observatory experiments and group work. And, as you study, we’ll also use a variety of methods to assess your progress – with written examinations, assessed problem sheets, logbooks, scientific reports and presentations, among others.

We’ve recently invested in our physics laboratories, so you’ll be able to get to grips with a range of industry-standard facilities – nanophysics labs, nuclear labs, precision optics, lasers, spectroscopy and more. But the real jewel in the crown for the astrophysics aspect of the course is our Alston Observatory. One of the finest teaching observatories in the UK, it’s equipped with more than 20 high-spec telescopes, including the state-of-the-art, 70cm-diameter robotic telescope, a recent £200,000 investment.

It’s an impressive learning environment. But people are just as important. Thankfully, we have a talented team to help you learn. The vast majority of our staff hold PhDs and when they’re not teaching, they’re producing leading-edge research in areas like galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, stellar astrophysics, solar physics, nanophysics, magnetism in strongly correlated system, ionic liquids and much more. Many of the team have a national or international research reputation, as assessed by the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF).