Physics
Entry requirements
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About this course
Durham is one of the leading physics and astronomy departments in the UK. When you choose the BSc in Physics, you’ll be joining a dynamic and focused learning community that is home to multiple research institutes, world-class facilities, and experts with close links to industry. Current developments in both research and industry are used to bring theoretical learning to life, a factor which contributes to our consistently high ranking in university league tables.
Undergraduate physics degrees at Durham offer a high level of flexibility. We offer four Institute of Physics accredited courses – the BSc in Physics and MPhys qualifications in Physics, Physics and Astronomy, and Theoretical Physics – which follow the same core curriculum in Year 1.
Subject to the optional modules chosen, it is possible to switch to one of the other courses until the end of the second year. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.
The first year lays the foundation in physics theory, mathematical skills and laboratory skills that you will need to tackle more complex content later in the course. From Year 2 you'll have the opportunity to explore areas such as astrophysics, quantum theory and the relationship between physics and society in more detail.
In Year 3 you can apply your learning to a range of real-world issues with project work, student-led laboratory work and optional modules tailored to your interests and aspirations.
The rigorous curriculum has been designed to develop skills in reasoning, problem-solving and data analysis as well as advancing your understanding of mathematics and IT. The BSc in Physics is the first step towards achieving Chartered Physicist status, however many graduates move straight into employment in a wide range of industries from energy and IT to engineering and scientific research.
Modules
Year 1
Core modules:
Foundations of Physics introduces classical aspects of wave phenomena and electromagnetism, as well as basic concepts in Newtonian mechanics, quantum mechanics, special relativity and optical physics.
Discovery Skills in Physics provides a practical introduction to laboratory skills development with particular emphasis on measurement uncertainty, data analysis, and written and oral communication skills. It also includes an introduction to programming.
Examples of optional modules:
Single Mathematics
Linear Algebra
Calculus.
Year 2
Core modules:
Foundations of Physics A develops your knowledge of quantum mechanics and electromagnetism. You will learn to apply the principles of physics to predictable and unpredictable problems and produce a well-structured solution, with clear reasoning and appropriate presentation.
Foundations of Physics B develops your knowledge of thermodynamics, condensed matter physics and optics.
Mathematical Methods in Physics provides the necessary mathematical knowledge to successfully tackle the Foundations of Physics modules. It covers vectors, vector integral and vector differential calculus, multivariable calculus and orthogonal curvilinear coordinates, Fourier analysis, orthogonal functions, the use of matrices, and the mathematical tools for solving ordinary and partial differential equations occurring in a variety of physical problems.
Laboratory Skills and Electronics builds lab-based skills, such as experiment planning, data analysis, scientific communication and specific practical skills. It aims to teach electronics as a theoretical and a practical subject, to teach the techniques of computational physics and numerical methods and to provide experience of a research-led investigation in physics in preparation for post-university life.
Examples of optional modules:
Stars and Galaxies
Theoretical Physics
Physics in Society.
Year 3
Core modules:
Foundations of Physics A further develops your knowledge of quantum mechanics and nuclear and particle physics. You will learn to apply the principles of physics to the solution of complex problems and produce a well-structured solution, with clear reasoning and appropriate presentation.
Foundations of Physics B extends your knowledge to include statistical physics and condensed matter physics.
Computing Project in which you solve advanced computational physics problems using a variety of modern computing techniques and present your findings in a project report, poster and oral presentation.
BSc Project, an independent research-led study of a topic chosen from a broad list. You will present the results as a 5,000-word report and an oral presentation.
Examples of optional modules:
Team Project
Advanced Laboratory
Mathematics Workshop
Physics into Schools
Planets and Cosmology
Theoretical Physics
Physics in Society
Condensed Matter Physics
Modern Atomic and Optical Physics.
Assessment methods
Assessment is mainly by end-of-year examinations and by project reports and presentations.
The range of assessment methods is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the course content, test your capacity to solve problems, enhance your written and oral communication skills, and assess your ability to relate your learning to real-world scenarios.
The Uni
College allocation pending
Durham City
Physics
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Physics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Physics
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Although the subject has seen a bit of resurgence in recent years, the UK is still felt to be short of physics graduates, and in particular physicists training as teachers. If you want a career in physics research — in all sorts of areas, from atmospheric physics to lasers - you'll probably need to take a doctorate, and so have a think about where you would like to do that and how you might fund it (the government funds many physics doctorates, so you might not find it as hard as you think). With that in mind, it's not surprising that just over a fifth of physics graduates go on to take doctorates when they finish their degree, and well over a third of physicists take some kind of postgraduate study in total. Physics is highly regarded and surprisingly versatile, which is why physics graduates who decide not to stay in education are more likely to go into well-paid jobs in the finance industry than they are to go into science. The demand and versatility of physics degrees goes to explain why they're amongst the best-paid science graduates.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Physics
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£28k
£35k
£41k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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