Physics
Entry requirements
A level
A*A*A, including A* in both Physics and Mathematics. If you do not have the required grades or subjects you may want to consider our integrated foundation year . Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore there will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A-level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offers you will receive. Typical Contextual Offer: A*AA, including Physics and Mathematics. The A* must be in Physics or Mathematics. Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore there will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A-level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offers you will receive.
AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.
Given that it is not possible to meet our published offer conditions within an Access to HE Diploma, we would not recommend this qualification as the best way of preparing for our courses. However, we would look very carefully at any applications from exceptional Access students, studying a relevant Access to HE Diploma, who were on track to gain the AAA equivalent (45 graded credits at Level 3 with Distinction grade). We would treat any such exceptional students on a case-by-case basis, looking very carefully at past academic history and the academic reference; promising candidates would be invited to interview to add supplementary information. A decision would be made about entry holistically on the basis of all information (including details of the course undertaken) and would usually be conditional on the above standard. As each application is considered individually, applicants should contact the Department Admissions Team to discuss their particular circumstances before applying.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
D2, D2, D3 in Principal subjects, including D2 in both Physics and Mathematics. We also consider applicants offering a mix of Pre-U Principal Subjects and A-level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinct subjects overall are taken. The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Cambridge Pre-U Global Perspectives and Research (GPR) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. However, the qualification will not form part of your offer conditions. If you do not have the required grades or subjects you may want to consider our integrated foundation year.
The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education, typically a minimum of five GCSEs/iGCSEs, including acceptable levels of literacy and numeracy, equivalent to at least grade 4/C in GCSE/iGCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
38 points overall with 7,7,6 at Higher Level, including 7 in both Physics and Mathematics. We will accept Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation.
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
We consider the Technical Diploma in a relevant subject for entry with grades DD when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
We consider the Technical Extended Certificate in any subject for entry with grade D when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
We consider the Technical Extended Diploma in a relevant subject for entry with grades DDD when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
We consider the Technical Foundation Diploma in any subject for entry with grade D when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
We consider the National Diploma in a relevant subject for entry with grades DD when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
We consider the National Extended Certificate in any subject for entry with grade D when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
We consider the National Extended Diploma in a relevant subject for entry with grades DDD when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
We consider the National Foundation Diploma in any subject for entry with grade D when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
Scottish Advanced Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations: Three Advanced Highers with grades AAA, including Physics and Mathematics. Or Two Advanced Highers with grades AA in Physics and Mathematics and two Highers with grades AA in additional subjects. English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C / Intermediate 2 grade C / Standard Grade Credit level grade 3). If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Department Admissions Team.
Scottish Advanced Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations: Three Advanced Highers with grades AAA, including Physics and Mathematics. Or Two Advanced Highers with grades AA in Physics and Mathematics and two Highers with grades AA in additional subjects. English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C / Intermediate 2 grade C / Standard Grade Credit level grade 3). If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Department Admissions Team.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and would consider this qualification at grade A when taken with Physics and Mathematics A-levels with grades A*A*.
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About this course
Join one of the most respected Department of Physics in the country and enjoy the flexibility, choice and challenge of our MPhys Physics degree.
In Years 1 and 2, the course provides a foundation in classical physics, including dynamics, waves, electromagnetism and thermodynamics. At the same time newer concepts are introduced, including the unification of space and time, the meaning of wave-particle duality and the relation between entropy and disorder. You will be taught this introduction through course units in special relativity, quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics.
These modern concepts and the techniques of classical physics lay the foundation for study in Years 3 and 4, during which you can choose from a wide range of options to develop your expertise in diverse topics that include: atomic and molecular structure, solid state electronic devices, electro-magnetic radiation, lasers, stars and cosmology, particle and nuclear physics, and the more advanced aspects of theoretical physics.
Working with leading academics and accessing our incredible facilities, you will be well placed to progress along your physics journey.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Manchester
Department 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)
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
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£26k
£35k
£39k
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 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?
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