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Mathematics and Physics (with placement year)

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B

ABB including Maths and Physics Applicants without A level Physics may be considered on a case by case basis

Access applications decided on a case by case basis but if offered will always require Distinctions in all Maths & Physics credits at Level 3.

This qualification is accepted in combination with other qualifications. For details please contact Loughborough University.

We recognise the benefit of the Extended Project in developing independent research and critical thinking skills. We would consider this as evidence of motivation to study a specific subject in more depth, and while we do not generally include it as part of our offer conditions, it may be used to further consider an application upon receipt of final examination results. www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English Language grade 4/C

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

34

34 (6,5,5 HL) including Maths and Physics at HL

We accept a wide range of international qualifications for entry as outlined on our website – please view the individual course typical offers on our website and choose Ireland in the Country/region drop down field for more information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DD

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science or in Engineering Grades Distinction Distinction including Distinctions in units 1-5 (Applied Science) or in units 1, 7, 8, 19 - 21, 25, 29 or 31 or 35 (Engineering) plus A Level Grade B in Maths. Preferred subjects include: Applied Science or Engineering (Engineering BTEC includes Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

D

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate Grade Distinction plus A Level Grades AB from Maths and Physics. Preferred subjects include: Applied Science or Engineering (Engineering BTEC includes Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science or Engineering: DDD with Distinctions in units 1-5 (Applied Science) or in units 1, 7, 8, 19 - 21, 25, 29 or 31 or 35 (Engineering) plus A Level Maths grade B. Preferred subjects include: Applied Science or Engineering (Engineering BTEC includes Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering).

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,B

AB in Maths and Physics, plus Highers at majority B grades

For 2024 entry, T Levels are currently being considered on a case by case basis. More information can be found on our website at https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

Applicants taking the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma will be asked to achieve the A level requirements for their course as part of their qualification. The Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted alongside two A levels as long as individual course entry and subject requirements are met. www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

UCAS Tariff

104-128

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Sandwich | 2024

Subjects

Mathematics

Theoretical physics

Our BSc Mathematics and Physics degree is ideal for those looking to combine the logic and proof of mathematics with the fascinating insights into the physical world offered by the study of physics.

There is a profound connection between physics and mathematics. It is not simply that mathematics is a useful tool, but as put by Galileo Galilei: "The book of nature is written in the language of mathematics."

Our BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Physics degree gives you the opportunity to learn and think as both physicist and mathematician, providing an appreciation of the world around us through a deeper understanding of both disciplines.

This stimulating Mathematics and Physics degree enables you to gain a deep understanding of physical phenomena combined with the rigour necessary to appreciate the mathematical foundations that underpin our physical theories. Over the three years of study you will take modules in such areas as symmetry, conservation laws, electromagnetism, relativity, condensed matter physics, quantum physics and the physics of materials.

In addition to the core physics programme you will take additional modules in pure and applied mathematics. The course culminates in a dedicated mathematical physics project.

The option of undertaking a placement year will allow you to gain skills and knowledge sought-after in the workplace, making our graduates highly employable.

You will be taught by internationally renowned staff, who are experts in their field. On this joint honours degree you will interact with staff from both departments that are not only known for wanting to share their passion for the subject with you, but to also provide the academic and pastoral care you require throughout your studies.

Modules

For a full list of areas studied, see the 'What You'll Study' section of the course page on our website.

Assessment methods

You will be assessed using a variety of methods, including:

A mixture of coursework and examination (for example 25% coursework and 75% examination). Some modules are assessed by 100% coursework or 100% by examination.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
EU
£27,250
per year
International
£27,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Loughborough University

Department:

Physics

Read full university profile

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.

90%
Mathematics
72%
Theoretical physics

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.

Mathematics

Teaching and learning

67%
Staff make the subject interesting
84%
Staff are good at explaining things
82%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
73%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

90%
Library resources
89%
IT resources
93%
Course specific equipment and facilities
89%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

93%
UK students
7%
International students
70%
Male students
30%
Female students
89%
2:1 or above
7%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
A
B

Physics

Teaching and learning

80%
Staff make the subject interesting
85%
Staff are good at explaining things
88%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
72%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

83%
Library resources
89%
IT resources
88%
Course specific equipment and facilities
51%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

94%
UK students
6%
International students
86%
Male students
14%
Female students
92%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
A
A

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.

Mathematics

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.

£25,000
med
Average annual salary
92%
low
Employed or in further education
87%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

42%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
17%
Business, research and administrative professionals
11%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals

Want to feel needed? This is one of the most flexible degrees of all and with so much of modern work being based on data, there are options everywhere for maths graduates. With all that training in handling figures, it's hardly surprising that a lot of maths graduates go into well-paid jobs in the IT or finance industries, and last year, a maths graduate in London could expect a very respectable average starting salary of £27k. And we're always short of teachers in maths, so that is an excellent option for anyone wanting to help the next generation. And if you want a research job, you'll want a doctorate — and a really good maths doctorate will get you all sorts of interest from academia and finance — and might secure some of the highest salaries going for new leavers from university.

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.

£25,000
med
Average annual salary
94%
med
Employed or in further education
70%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

24%
Engineering professionals
16%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
8%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

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.

Mathematics

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£25k

£25k

£31k

£31k

£44k

£44k

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.

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.

£23k

£23k

£31k

£31k

£36k

£36k

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 is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here