The exciting study opportunities that we offer are built on our cutting-edge research.

Full entry requirements

Physics at Leicester

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester is a world-class centre for teaching and research. We have been rated as excellent in the national Teaching Quality Assessment, the National Student Survey and in every Research Assessment Exercise. In addition we are one of only two physics departments in the UK to have been made a centre of excellence for teaching and learning. We pride ourselves on our commitment to teaching, our friendly and approachable staff and our comprehensive student support. The Department has an outstanding track record of graduate employment in industry, business and academic research.

Why Choose Physics at Leicester?

National Student Survey Ranking: 92% of students satisfied with their course
Research rating: 85%
Places: 90
Applications: 544

The breadth of content and the quality of teaching in all of our degrees reflects our research excellence. No matter where your interests lie you will be taught by international experts in fields as diverse as nanotechnology to spacecraft design.

You can choose to follow a broad physics course covering many topics or to specialise in astrophysics, nanotechnology, planetary science or space science.

All of our degrees contain a core programme of physics and mathematics designed to ensure that you have the widest possible employment opportunities once you graduate.

You will have access to the Department’s cutting edge facilities, including dedicated undergraduate computer suites and time on the University supercomputer in addition to clean rooms, a nanomicroscopy centre, and undergraduate observatories, including remote access to a robotic telescope on Mallorca.

The courses have been designed for maximum flexibility so that you can choose specialist options to suit your own individual interests and career aspirations.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Our approach to teaching is innovative, employing traditional lectures and laboratory classes together with small group tutorials, seminars, workshops and projects. Project work starts from the first year and culminates in research grade projects for final year students. Specialist option courses also start from the first year and you are given the flexibility to vary your choice of options as your interests develop. We teach mathematics through a variable paced scheme successfully developed at Leicester.

Assessment takes place through a combination of written examinations and continuous assessment. The assessment scheme is designed to emphasise your strengths, giving maximum credit to elements of the course at which you excel.

Course Opportunities

Choice of MPhys or BSc

The four-year MPhys course is aimed at those who wish to train as a research physicist and opens up career possibilities in industrial and academic research. The three-year BSc course is an excellent route to a very wide range of careers in industry and business. Transfer from MPhys to BSc is possible anytime before the start of the third year. Transfer from the BSc to the MPhys is possible up to the end of the second year for those students who meet the required standard of attainment.

The Chance to Specialise

All of our degree programmes are based around a solid core of physics and mathematics. The different degree titles reflect the main specialisations which are available within the overall programme. The choice of which specialist courses and options to take is very flexible and it is possible to combine components from more than one degree stream. In this way you are able to tailor your degree to suit your own interests as they develop throughout the course.

Study Abroad (MPhys degrees)

You can opt to spend the third year studying physics at a partner university within the European Union. If you would rather take a semester abroad in an English speaking country the University has exchange schemes with universities in the USA and Australia. Students taking advantage of these schemes graduate with MPhys (Year Abroad).

Work Experience

Vacation employment in an approved industrial post can count towards your degree. Also, if you take a year in industry, you are eligible for the appropriate BSc (Industry) degree. Research groups in the Department often offer summer work placements usually lasting 4-8 weeks. These provide undergraduates with the opportunity to gain experience working on current research projects.

Skills Gained

Throughout the degree programme the emphasis is on doing physics and acquiring the skills of a physicist. You will gain experience and confidence in problem solving, experimentation, analysis, computer programming and independent thinking. Group projects in the first, second and third years develop communication, presentation and team working skills, while research projects in the third and fourth years help to nurture the skills required of a successful scientific researcher.

Graduate/Career Opportunities

The skills and knowledge gained by our graduates makes them highly prized by a wide range of employers. The vast majority of physics graduates from the University of Leicester secure good jobs or start postgraduate training within one year of graduation. Around 40% go on to study for a PhD or similar advanced qualification, and around 20% are employed as scientists in a wide variety of fields from the space industry to medical physics to renewable energy research. The remaining 40% enter areas such as finance, management, the media, IT or teaching.

The Department offers PhD opportunities in Condensed Matter Physics, Nanotechnology, Radio and Space Plasma Physics, Theoretical Astrophysics, Space Research and Observational Astronomy.

Full entry requirements

Opportunities to Visit and Further Information

Choosing where and what to study at university is an important decision for you. We believe it is important to give you the opportunity to talk to our admissions team, so you can find out whether our programmes are the right choice for you.

For further information or course enquiries please contact:

Senior Admissions Tutor - Dr Mervyn Roy

0116 252 3575
Fax: 0116 252 2770
physics_admissions@le.ac.uk
www.le.ac.uk/departments/physics

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