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Physics with a Foundation Year

Entry requirements


A level

C,C,C

General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.

Access to HE Diploma

P:45

at level 3.

Principal subjects and A-level combinations are considered - please contact us.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

28

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

MMM

Scottish Advanced Higher

D,D,D

Scottish Higher

B,B,C,C,C

Obtain an overall Pass including a C in the core of the T Level and a Pass in the Occupational Specialism. Any subject is acceptable.

UCAS Tariff

96-117

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

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time including foundation year | 2024

Subject

Physics

**Overview**

To study physics is to ask questions – to interrogate everything. What is the nature of matter? What are the origins of the universe? What is the basis for the mechanics of sound? And how will that ocean wave move next? Incredibly diverse, abstract and yet also creative, without physics, there would be no answers to many of these questions, from the smallest to the vastest.

Our Physics Foundation Year is for students with a passion for the subject, but who don’t have the necessary academic qualifications. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress further in this physics degree.

You’ll be joining a multidisciplinary faculty with a thriving research community that includes specialist groups with expertise in geophysics, astrophysics, fluid mechanics, chemical physics and quantum physics. You will take advantage of top-class facilities, including spectroscopy and ultrafast laser equipment, high-tech geophysics apparatus and experimental wave tanks.

**About This Course**

If you don’t yet meet the academic requirements to start a physics degree, our Foundation Year course is for you. It’s designed to fill gaps in your knowledge and provide you with the skills you'll need to continue as an undergraduate.

You’ll study core modules in physics and mathematics, and select from optional modules in chemistry or computing, depending on your interests. On successful completion of your Foundation Year, you'll be able to continue with the same study as students on our BSc Physics course.

We welcome mature students, students who have previously not studied science but who want to take a new direction in their career, and students who were disadvantaged during their secondary education. We’ll consider your application on a case-by case basis, and you may be interviewed before being offered a place on the course. You do not need to have AS or A2 level qualifications in order to apply.

Physics is not only a fascinating discipline, but a highly regarded qualification too. Study with us at UEA and you’ll develop a deep curiosity about the workings of our universe at a wide range of scales and gain powerful scientific skills to employ in diverse areas, so you’ll leave as a highly employable graduate. 

**Disclaimer**

Course details are subject to change. You should always confirm the details on the provider's website: **www.uea.ac.uk**

Tuition fees

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

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of East Anglia UEA

Department:

School of 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.

60%
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.

Physics

Teaching and learning

67%
Staff make the subject interesting
87%
Staff are good at explaining things
55%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
65%
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

74%
Library resources
85%
IT resources
85%
Course specific equipment and facilities
32%
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
82%
Male students
18%
Female students
92%
2:1 or above
17%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

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.

£22,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

16%
Natural and social science professionals
12%
Science, engineering and production technicians
12%
Other elementary services occupations

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.

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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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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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