Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics (MPhys 4 years)
UCAS Code: F592
Master of Physics - MPhys
Entry requirements
A level
including A level Mathematics at B and A-level Physics at B (but not Use of Mathematics)
The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Applicants should have grade C or 4 in Maths GCSE or a suitable equivalent level qualification.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
or 15 points at Higher Level including HL Physics at 5 or SL Physics at 6 and either HL Maths/Maths Methods at 5 or SL Maths/Maths Methods at 6 (Note Maths Studies is not acceptable)
The University will consider applicants holding/studying BTEC Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) in a relevant Science or Engineering subject at 180 credits or more, on a case by case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances.
Scottish Highers qualifications are considered on an individual basis
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
This course will give you the skills to acquire, understand and interpret observations of the Universe as well as gain an awareness of the physical nature of bodies and processes in space, within the solar system, through our own galaxy and out across the Universe. Astronomy, space science and astrophysics allow us to see the Universe and our place in it. The subjects continually evolve and change every year based on discoveries by researchers around the world. We aim to equip you with the skills to understand these phenomena and to qualify you for a range of career pathways.
On this programme, you get involved with real space missions from ESA and NASA, and can work on Hubble Telescope data and images from giant telescopes or work with our own Beacon Observatory. The programme includes specialised modules such as spacecraft design and operations, data analysis in astronomy and planetary science and "the Sun, the Earth and Mars". The foundations of the course include getting to grips with the broad knowledge base on which physical science is built, including electricity, light and mechanics. While at Kent you’ll have access to our fantastic facilities including optical spectrum analysers, two-stage light gas gun for impact studies and on-campus Beacon Observatory.
The School has a specialist employer engagement officer and through our membership of the South East Physics Network (SEPNet) we can help you with valuable internship and training opportunities. In previous years our students have trained at the European Space Agency and worked in engineering and research companies on summer placements.
This four-year MPhys programme brings your core knowledge and skills up to an advanced level and gives you the opportunity to work as part of a research group conducting cutting-edge research. You work with an academic supervisor as part of their research team gaining invaluable practical experience as well as an understanding of the challenges and rewards of extending knowledge in your field.
This course is accredited by the Institute of Physics (IoP).
The Uni
University of Kent
School of Physical Sciences
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)
Astronomy
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.
Astronomy
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
Not a lot of people study astronomy as a first degree, and if you want to be one of the small number of people who start work as an astronomer - often overseas - every year, you will need a doctorate — so at least a third of graduates go into further study. Astronomy graduates, however, are versatile, going into all parts of the jobs market - their good technical, data and maths skills taking them into IT and business especially. However, if you want to find out more specifically about the prospects for your chosen subject, it might be a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates from your chosen subject went on to do.
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.
£21k
£24k
£29k
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.
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.
£21k
£24k
£29k
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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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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