University of Leicester
UCAS Code: F365 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
including Mathematics and Physics.
2 AS Levels accepted in place of 1 A-Level, must be alongside Mathematics and Physics A-Level.
Pass Diploma in relevant subject with at least 45 credits at Level 3, including a minimum of 30 credits in Physics and Maths at Distinction.
This qualification is only acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include: 5 in HL Maths and 5 in HL Physics OR 6 in HL Maths and 6 in SL Physics. OR 6 in HL Physics and 6 in SL Maths Analysis & Approaches (SL Maths Applications & Interpretation not accepted) HL Maths accepted within both Analysis & Approaches and Applications & Interpretation
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including H2 in Mathematics and Physics.
Must be in a relevant subject. Will consider when combined with A-Level Mathematics. Contact [email protected] for further advice.
Accepted when combined with Mathematics and Physics A-Levels.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Science or Engineering, plus grade B in Mathematics at A-Level.
Scottish Advanced Higher
including Mathematics and Physics.
Scottish Higher
Grade A required in Mathematics and Physics.
ABB from two A-levels including Mathematics and Physics and the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma Skills Challenge.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
When we look up at the stars, it’s impossible not to wonder. This degree takes your curiosity seriously. Alongside the fundamentals of physics, you’ll study areas like space astronomy, Earth observation, rocket propulsion and human spaceflight.
As a Physics with Space Science student you will acquire an appreciation of the scope and impact of modern physics and the use of mathematics, computing and experimentation to solve important real world problems, and develop specialised knowledge of space science.
All our Physics students study the same core of fundamental physics and maths, based on Institute of Physics (IOP) 'core of physics' material. This includes classical mechanics, waves and fields, electromagnetism, special relativity, thermodynamics, quantum and atomic physics.
By choosing the Physics with Space Science degree you will study these alongside specialist space science options and take part in research projects covering the major areas of space science research. We have one of the largest campus-based space research centres in Europe, and the space science and technology options that you will study are based on the research we do. This includes a strong involvement in the BepiColombo mission to Mercury and detector design and development for satellites like the joint US-UK-Italian ‘Swift’, a remarkable observatory designed to study the most powerful explosions in the Universe.
What's the difference?
Our three-year BSc degrees provide an excellent route to a very wide range of careers in industry and business
Our four-year MPhys degrees are aimed at students considering a career or further training in scientific research
Transfer between BSc and MPhys degrees is possible during your first and second years (subject to meeting the required end-of-year mark). It is also possible to transfer between different Physics degrees as long as you have taken the required number of options. Staff in the School will be available to offer help and advice.
Modules
For more information on this course and a full list of modules, visit the course information page on our website
Assessment methods
For more information on the methods of assessment on this course, visit the course information page on our website
The Uni
University of Leicester
School of Physics and Astronomy
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.
£23k
£31k
£32k
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.
£23k
£31k
£32k
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:
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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.
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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?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here