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 pride ourselves on our commitment to teaching, our friendly and approachable staff and our comprehensive student support. 

Why Choose Physics at Leicester?

Places: 90
Academic Staff: 42
Applications: 715
National Student Survey: 93% of students satisfied overall with their course.
Research Rating: 85%
Example Jobs: Educational Presenter; Graduate Engineer; Manager for Sound Engineering; NHH Data Analyst; Software Developer; Technical Editor; Trainee Accountant; Video Editing Assistant; PhD in Gravitational Wave Astronomy.
Example Employers: Buzzacott LLP; Field Solutions; IMServ Europe Ltd; Intertec; Marketforce; National Space Centre; O2; RS Components; UK Border Agency; Home Office; UCL.
Example jobs and employers information comes from the University’s ‘Where Did They Go?’ survey, and shows destinations of 2009/10 graduates 6 months after graduation. 

Our course covers the Universe from the quantum scale to the cosmological. The breadth of content and the quality of teaching in all of our degrees reflects the wide-ranging research excellence in the Department. So, no matter where your interests lie, you will be taught by international experts.

The course is very flexible, so you can choose to follow a broad physics course covering many topics or to specialise in astrophysics, nanotechnology, planetary science, or space science and technology. You can easily mix and match option courses from different specialities to suit your individual interests and career aspirations as they develop throughout your time at University.

The Department has an outstanding track record of graduate employment. We have strong links with world leading companies in industry, business and scientific research, and you will have the opportunity to enhance your CV by working on an optional ten week research project with one of our industrial partners. You can also add to your experience and achievements by mentoring students in local schools, spending time abroad at one of our partner universities, or working on one of our student led projects outside of the curriculum.

Around one third of our students go on to study for a PhD, and as an undergraduate you will experience a real taste of cutting-edge research as part of our third and fourth year student projects. 

We have an excellent staff-student ratio and an open door policy, so lecturers are always available and you can get as much help as you need. We also have dedicated space for physics students in our building, including a common room, computer suites and quiet work areas, all of which contribute to the vibrant, friendly atmosphere in the Department.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Our approach to teaching is innovative, employing traditional lectures and laboratory classes, together with weekly small group tutorials, problem solving workshops and seminar classes. 

All of our degree programmes are based around a solid core of physics and maths, and the different degree titles reflect the main specialisations available. Specialist option courses start from the first year and you are given the flexibility to choose options from any speciality throughout the course. 

Student projects form a large part of our course and these will give you a real opportunity to get involved with the research in the Department. Project work starts in the first year and culminates in research grade projects for final year students. You will gain valuable skills in project management, experimentation, computing, and data analysis – as well as working on some exciting problems at the cutting edge of physics.

You will have access to the Department’s outstanding facilities, including our supercomputer, cleanrooms, a nano-microscopy centre, and undergraduate observatories – both at Leicester and via remote access to a robotic telescope in Majorca. 

During the first year you will have around 15 hours of contact time per week. Lectures, workshops, seminar classes and tutorials generally take place in the mornings, and you will spend around two afternoons per week in laboratory classes or working on group projects. Assessment takes place through a combination of written examinations and continuous assessment. 

Choice of MPhys or BSc

The three-year BSc course is an excellent route to a very wide range of careers in industry and business. The four-year MPhys course is aimed at those who wish to train as research physicists. Transfer between MPhys and BSc is possible anytime up to the end of the second year.

Course Opportunities

Broaden your horizons

You can choose to spend the third year studying physics at one of our partner universities in Europe. We also offer semester-long exchange schemes with universities in the USA, Canada and Australia. Many businesses and organisations have an international scope so knowledge of a foreign language and a global outlook can give you an additional advantage in the graduate jobs market.

Develop links to industry

As part of your third year you can opt to work directly with one of our industrial partners on a ten week project. This will give you the opportunity to build links with businesses and develop workplace skills, directly enhancing your employability. You can participate in the undergraduate ambassadors to schools scheme as part of your course, or use vacation employment at an approved industrial post to count towards your degree. You can also opt to spend your third year on an industrial placement.

Experience cutting-edge research

We encourage our students to get involved with the research in the Department: as part of third and fourth year research projects, through a number of 4-8 week paid summer work placements, or on extracurricular student led projects.

Skills Gained

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 make them highly prized by a wide range of employers. The vast majority of our graduates secure good jobs or start postgraduate training within one year of graduation. They can be found as scientists in a wide variety of fields from the space industry, to medical physics, to renewable energy research, or in areas such as finance, the media, the civil service, IT, teaching or management. Around one third go on to study for a PhD or similar advanced qualification.

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/physics

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