Entry requirements
A level
AAB including Maths and Physics (General Studies accepted) 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.
We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects or a combination of the Pre-U and A levels, provided a minimum of three subjects overall are taken. We recognise the benefit of the Global Perspectives and Research (GPR) course in developing independent study and research skills. While we would consider this as evidence of motivation to study a specific subject in more depth, we do not generally include it as part of our offer conditions. However, it may be used to further consider an application upon receipt of final examination results.
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/
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
35 (6,6,5 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)
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science Grades Distinction Distinction including Distinctions in mandatory units 1-5 plus A Level Grade B in Maths Preferred subjects: Applied Science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate Grade Distinction plus A Level Grades AB from Maths and Physics Preferred subjects: Applied Science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science: DDD with Distinctions in mandatory Units 1-5 plus A Level Maths grade B. Preferred subjects: Applied Science
Scottish Advanced Higher
AA in Maths and Physics, plus Highers at majority A/B grade.
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
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
In our MPhys (Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics degree you will be given the opportunity to develop the skills of a theoretical physicist and the physics thinking that has the potential to alter the way you look at the world around you.
The power of physics, more than any other science, comes from its theoretical foundations. These have led to the unification of electricity, magnetism and optics and the development of quantum theory, and through these the technological revolution that has shaped much of the world we live in. It has led to the creation of technologies such as telecommunications, material science, chemistry and the transistor (and microchip).
The power of theoretical physics is illustrated by Dirac’s prediction of antimatter in 1928 four years before its discovery in 1932 by Anderson. A further illustration is general relativity, which Einstein derived in 1915 from a few basic principles and whose predictions are still being confirmed, from gravitational lensing in 1919 to LIGO’s detection of gravitational waves from black hole mergers in 2015: even here there are technological implications, as general relativity has to be taken into account for the correct operation of GPS.
With our increasing dependence on technology for controlling, interacting with and understanding our world, theoretical physics is becoming ever more important. This is not just the case in areas such as quantum technologies where the need for theoretical physics is clear. Principles central to theoretical physics are applicable in many disciplines. For example, Noether’s ground-breaking theorem that symmetries lead to conservation laws does not just underpin ideas such as conservation of energy and momentum but also finds utility in finance.
Our MPhys Physics with Theoretical Physics degree will provide a solid understanding of core physics with an emphasis on theory, and on the formulation and solving of physics problems using mathematics and computing.
In addition to the core physics course you will take additional modules that will provide the opportunity to think like a theoretical physicist and understand what it means to progress the theoretical underpinnings of physics. The final year of the MPhys includes advanced physics and applied mathematics modules alongside a substantial research project in theoretical physics.
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), whereas, some modules are assessed by 100% coursework or 100% by examination.
Coursework is based on a variety of tasks including individual essays, projects, laboratory work, contribution in tutorials, group work and presentations.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Loughborough University
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 and astronomy
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£31k
£30k
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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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:
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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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