Physics
University of Sheffield
UCAS Code: F300 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Sheffield
UCAS Code: F300 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
including Maths and Physics + pass in the practical element of any science A Levels taken
Access to HE Diploma
Award of Access to HE Diploma in Science, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction (all in Maths/Physics units), and 9 at Merit
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
with 6, 5 (in any order) in Higher Level Maths and Physics
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including Maths and Physics
Scottish Advanced Higher
in Maths and Physics + AABBB at Scottish Highers
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
+ AA in Maths and Physics at A Level
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Study the laws of the universe and the science behind major technological advances. Learn about international experiments to search for dark matter, ways to make solar energy systems more effective and how the quantum nature of light can help us build even more powerful computers.
**Study the laws that shape the universe, from the structure of galaxies to the resonance of a violin, and unlock infinite possibilities for your own future.**
Physics BSc at Sheffield is where you really discover the epic scale of this field. You will learn about international experiments to search for dark matter, and how the quantum nature of light can help us build even more powerful computers. And at Sheffield, you’ll also learn how practical, lab-based learning brings the theories learned in lectures into the real world.
Your journey into physics begins with heat, motion, quantum mechanics and the other fundamental theories behind everything. In year two, you’ll explore essential physics in even more depth, and tailor your degree as you choose optional modules like advanced programming, that will set you up for a future career.
In your third year, you can branch out into multiple areas with modules on topics like particle physics, nuclear physics and semiconductor technologies. And of course you’ll have the chance to complete your own research project, or industrial group project, giving you hands-on experience investigating a real-world physics problem.
**Why study this course?**
- **No. 1 physics department in the UK** - 100% of our research and impact was rated world-leading or internationally excellent by REF 2021.
- **More astro content than most degrees** - you can study 50% astrophysics content throughout your degree, more than most universities offer.
- **The latest equipment** - you’ll study in our newly refurbished teaching laboratories, and access loads of specialist technologies – including two telescopes on the roof of our building which you’ll be able to use from your first year.
- **Research opportunities** - physics students can access incredible research projects, including a summer research placement, work placements and field trips, thanks to our links with organisations like CERN and the observatories on La Palma in the Canary Islands.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Sheffield
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Physics)
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score 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.
£21k
£32k
£34k
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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Higher entry requirements
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Teaching Excellence Framework (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?
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