Physics MSci (Hons)
UCAS code: F311 (full-time), 8F30 (sandwich)
About this course
If you want to be at the forefront of human knowledge, we’ll teach you about the latest advances in physics. You’ll be part of our cutting-edge research teams during your final year project when you will be attempting to discover something that no one has ever understood before.
Your course will start with the fundamentals of physics before you have the freedom to decide your own direction with a choice of specialist modules supported by our subject experts. We’ll focus on building your insight and skills, and this course can be your springboard into an academic or research and development career.
Why choose this course?
- You’ll learn in inspiring environments. We have a custom-built, on-campus observatory recognised by the International Astronomical Union, a radio telescope, a CT scanner, new microscopes, MRI scanners, and a scanning tunnelling microscope. This ensures that you get the practical experience you need to pursue a successful career.
- You’ll help to deliver research with impact. Our physics staff contribute to research activity in several areas, including Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Medical Resonance Imaging, Art Conservation and Space Weather. Every year approximately ten of our students undertake paid summer placements in these research groups, giving them hands-on experience in cutting-edge research groups. NTU has recently been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for research – the highest national achievement.
- You’ll have the opportunity to get experience. Our courses offer the opportunity to apply for a placement in the UK or abroad, giving you the real-life experience employers are looking for. Recent year-long placements have occurred at CERN, E.ON, The Netherlands Forensic Institute and Diamond Light Source. Our research groups offer paid summer placements, where you get hands-on research experience. Our students have also undertaken paid summer placements in local secondary schools and at British Antarctic Survey.
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Top 20 in the UK for teaching quality in Physics. (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024). -
96% of our Physics students were positive about academic support and 99% were positive about the organisation and management of their course (National Student Survey 2024).
What you’ll study
About the Physics Team
Our expert staff are constantly updating how they teach Physics. Most of our staff conduct cutting-edge research and bring these inspirational results into their teaching. This ensures that what you learn is exciting, relevant and up-to-date.
Ed Breeds is a talented and cheerful lecturer, communicating topics in undergraduate physics in an entertaining and accessible manner. He spends most of his weekends telling the public about physics at science festivals and events too!
Professor Haida Liang is an internationally recognised expert in advanced optical imaging and sensing for archaeology, art history and conservation, a field in which she applies her background training in astrophysics.
Dr Michael Newton is a Chartered Engineer with more than 30 years of experience developing experimental equipment and instrumentation.
Dr Dan Brown, who teaches astronomy modules, is regularly interviewed on radio and TV for his astronomy work with schools and other outreach events.
Dr Nicolas Sawyer has a very student-friendly approach to being a year one tutor, along with expertise in optics and imaging.
Dr Martin Bencsik, who teaches and researches MRI, studied for his PhD with the Nobel Prize-winning Physicist Sir Peter Mansfield, co-inventor of MRI.
Visit our academic team pages to learn more about our teaching approach, partners, and research interests.
Study abroad opportunities
Get ready to embark on an adventure with our study abroad programs at partner universities or by getting a work placement overseas. Both opportunities will boost your employability, build lifelong friendships, and allow you to experience the world in a whole new way.
Learn a new language
Alongside your study, you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a new language or improving your skills. Find out more about the ULP.
Mathematical Techniques
Learn how to use some of the mathematical tools necessary to understand Physics. Build on any previous knowledge of algebra, calculus and trigonometry, before studying the concepts of matrix and vector algebra and vector calculus.
Classical and Quantum Mechanics
You’ll develop an understanding of how force, motion, and energy are related, from classical to quantum mechanics. The module reinforces your ability to use mathematical techniques to model physical situations. Your understanding is developed through laboratory experiments and note taking.
Introduction to Programming for Physics
This module gives you an introduction to programming for physics and the knowledge and skills to implement software solutions with a focus on a sustainable future. You’ll be using programming software such as Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB and C.
Properties of Matter
Introducing the basic structure and model of both stable and unstable nucleus, this module explores radioactive decay and modern applications of ionising radiation. You’ll explore beyond elementary nuclear physics to atomic bonding and some fundamental bulk properties of matter.
Concepts of Astronomy
Discover the key concepts in astronomy and astrophysics by studying a range of topics around the principles and applications of geometrical and physical optics. You’ll study the composition of the Galaxy alongside concepts such as principles for propagation of light and refraction and reflection.
Instrumentation and Physics Skills
Learn the skills needed to become a professional physicist in the module. You’ll develop good laboratory practices such as lab notebook keeping, organisation and safety alongside learning how to interpret and report your findings.
Core modules:
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Introducing the principles and applications of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, this module includes exploring heat transfer processes, thermal properties of materials, and the behaviour of gases, liquids and solids.
Fundamental Forces
Explore the fundamental forces of nature: gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces. You’ll develop your understanding and appreciation of the principles and applications of fundamental forces and of the relationships between them. Study concepts such as Kepler's Laws, Newtonian gravitation and Einstein’s special theory of relativity.
The Quantum World
In this module you will study modern quantum mechanics. Through the application of the 1-D and 3-D Schrödinger equation you’ll learn how to model problems and scenarios.
Modern Optics and Image Processing
Discover the principles and applications of geometrical and physical optics and digital data / image processing. Studying topics such as lasers, lenses and electromagnetic waves, you’ll get an overview of the application of digital processing to scientific images.
Project Management and Enterprise
Learn how to achieve your project objectives within agreed financial, temporal and creative parameters. By working on a project you’ll establish creative and commercially viable outputs and solutions to contemporary problems alongside developing strong project management and team working skills - all valuable skills when you graduate.
Optional modules – choose one
Nuclear Materials Science
Study the fundamental principles of materials science relevant to the nuclear industry. You’ll become familiar with the materials and mechanical properties of commonly materials used in the nuclear industry such as steel and concrete as well as the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques.
Stars and Galaxies
You’ll study the physics related to astronomical objects such as stellar evolution and structure. Other topics covered in this module include kinetic temperature, thermal and non-thermal emission, dust and cosmic rays are explored.
Anatomy and Diagnostic Imaging
Supported by state of the art 3D anatomy software, you’ll study the anatomy of the human body. Explore image formation and how this can be applied to diagnostic medical imaging techniques such as ultrasound, planar X-ray and X-ray CT, and Positron Emission Tomography.
Core modules:
Solid State Physics
Discover the macroscopic properties of matter, focusing on solid state and semiconductor physics. You’ll begin with a review of statistical mechanics to progresses and look at topics such as diffraction patterns, magnetism and waves.
Applied Fluid Dynamics
Study both the theoretical topics and applying your learning to industry and research. You’ll be covering topics such as momentum transport, Newtonian and non-Newtonian flow and Bernoilli’s equation.
Literature and Research Skills
Learn how to formulate a review and critical appraisal of research in an area of current interest. Topics included in this modules are: include scientific writing and referencing, presentation of findings, and issues associated with plagiarism. The module will also consider ethical issues relevant to physics research.
Optional modules - choose one from:
Physics and Technology of Nuclear Reactors
Get an overview of the physics underpinning the design and operation of nuclear reactors. You’ll understand neutron-related processes and phenomena and gain an insight into design considerations and constraints, including fast breeders and fusion reactors. Current issues in nuclear power will also be considered including safety and decommissioning.
Satellite Instrumentation and Observation
Study the instrumentation onboard satellites, such as telescopes and spectrometers. You’ll explore the benefits and limitations of orbiting instrumentation alongside looking at a range of modern international space missions. Topics include solar system monitoring, Earth observations and satellite orbits, altitude and pointing.
Physics of the Human Body
Apply core physics concepts to better understand the processes of the human body. You’ll looks at topics such as blood-flow, viscosity and composition of blood, biophysics of limbs and bone structure.
Choose one from:
Practical Electronics
This module introduces analogue and digital electronics, including PCB design and fabrication and using common sector-standard equipment in a laboratory environment. You’ll study topics such as logic, control systems, microcontrollers and transistors.
Physics for Sustainable Development
Learn about alternative sources of energy and the physics of climate change in this module. You’ll study topics such as solar radiation, space weather, global warming and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Choose one from:
Laboratory Interfacing and System Control
This module looks at a range of standard computer interfaces you’ll come across in a science laboratory. You’ll develop ideas of instrument control and signal processing through practical laboratory exercises. Topics covered include: Control systems, stabilising techniques, image capture and processing and sampling of signals.
Cosmology and General Relativity
Discover the theories surrounding cosmology and general relativity and the mathematical tools needed to understand them. Topics study include: Geometry of the universe and Friedmann models, standard big bang cosmology, special relativity and Geodesics and the Schwarzschild metric.
Core modules:
The Professional Physicist
This module gives you the underpinning skills you need to become a professional physicist. Study the history and philosophy of science and scientific methods alongside learning how to formulate a research project and how to write a research proposal. You’ll also learn the other skills vital to your career such as writing grant applications, risk assessments and an appreciation of ethical issues.
Research Project
You’ll undertake an in-depth research project in an area of physics of your choosing, supported by a member of staff who has expertise in this area. It will further develop your research project planning and scientific writing skills – all essential for a career in physics.
Optional modules – choose two from:
Science Communication
Covering science communication in the digital age, you will focus on communication for research, to both a specialist and non-specialist audience. You will look at a topical and / or controversial issue within science showing appreciation of the ethical, social and legal issues.
Medical Imaging
Study the principles underlying a range of techniques and tools used in Medical Imaging. You’ll learn how to apply the techniques and develop an awareness of their limitations. Areas covered in this module include: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MRI) imaging, Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT), Diagnostic sonography (US, ultrasonography)Computed tomography (CT) and X-ray medical imaging.
Imaging Matter: Atoms to Galaxies
Discover the range of techniques and tools used in materials and astronomical imaging. You’ll learn how to apply the techniques and develop an awareness of their limitations. Areas covered in this module include: Digital imaging and image processing, image capture, spectral imaging (e.g. hyperspectral imaging and remote sensing) and imaging through turbulent media.
Current Topics in Physics
Understand and research topics at the frontier of physics. To keep you at the cutting-edge of physics, each year a topic will be chosen which links to an area of expertise of one our Physics team. Areas could include liquid crystal properties and devices, soft condensed matter, laser-processing of nano-materials, optical photonics, fluids in complex geometries, space weather, acoustic waves, astrophysics and cosmological models or computation advanced techniques in art conservation.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Hands-on physics
How you're taught
You will have around 18 hours per week of scheduled contact time with academic staff. Most of our staff conduct cutting-edge research and bring these inspirational results into their teaching. This ensures all our courses are exciting, relevant and up-to-date.
You’ll learn through a mix of:
- lectures - covering the key theories
- seminars - smaller-group sessions perfect for learning key skills and collaborative working
- practical sessions - using our extensive range of industry-standard facilities
- workshops - this includes surgery sessions where you’ll meet with your lecturer in small groups to discuss any problems or work through challenging topics.
The rest of your time will be spent carrying out independent study such as reading textbooks and lecture notes, and working on exercises.
A placement year may be taken between year 2 and year 3 of study.
How you're assessed
People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. That’s why we’ve adopted a range of assessment types, including:
- coursework, including group projects, case studies, dissertation and other assignments
- practical assessments, such as individual and group presentations, laboratory assessments and lab reports
- exams and tests, including formal exams, written tests and multiple-choice.
Careers and employability
Your career development
This course prepares you for many career opportunities inside and outside physics. It’ll help you to develop numerical, analytical and computational skills, which employers greatly respect. You’ll also gain essential, transferable skills, including report communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Our graduates have gone on to work for companies and in roles such as:
- Aerothermal engineer – Rolls Royce
- Scientist training programme – NHS
- Wind analyst – Prevailing Ltd
- Technical writer – KA Testing Facility
- Medical dosimetrist – NHS
- Software test engineer – Nikon
- Software architect – MHR
- Technical Head of Digital Innovations - Uniper Technologies
- Car configuration engineer – Jaguar Land Rover
- Teacher/lecturer – School, college and university level
- Applications engineer – Romax Technology
- Technical safety manager - QinetiQ
- Graduate physicist – Ultra Electronics Nuclear Control Systems
- Public engagement of science officer – Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Graduate quantity surveyor – Balfour Beatty
- Project manager – Caterpillar Inc.
Many graduates also choose to undertake further study on one of our Masters-level courses or MPhil and PhD research degrees in areas including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Quantum Computing and Detector Research.
Excellent placement opportunities
NTU is one of the most employment-focused universities. Increasingly, employers want to recruit graduates who have real-world work experience. That’s why all of our courses, across every subject area, offer you a work experience opportunity. Our experts help build and support your future with various career programmes and events.
On this course, after your second year, you will have the opportunity to take a year's work placement (sandwich placement). This will give you a chance to gain vital experience and put your knowledge into practice. You're also twice as likely to secure a graduate job within six months if you take a work placement.
Our recent students have taken placements across various companies, including the Science and Technology Facilities Council, CERN, and National Grid. They secured varied roles such as Ultrafast Laser Scientists, Applied Scientists and Safety Support Interns.
You'll be supported and assessed throughout your placement year and will write a reflective report and diary at the end of your placement. When you complete your placement, you will be eligible to receive an additional award of a Diploma in Professional Practice.
We also offer shorter (usually eight weeks) paid placements in our research groups and in local secondary schools.
Find out more about work placements.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their businesses.
Campus and facilities
You’ll be taught at our self-contained Clifton Campus, which provides an ideal learning environment to complement your studies.
You’ll benefit from our well-equipped lecture theatres and laboratories supported by modern scientific, electronic and computing equipment, offering innovative ways to learn and collaborate. You’ll have access to our state-of-the-art facilities to further your studies; these include:
- a custom-built teaching observatory recognised by the International Astronomical Union with a 20-inch and a 14-inch telescope and a 2.3m radio telescope
- MRI facilities, including a 2.35 Tesla Bruker Biospec scanner, a Halbach MRI and a unilateral MRI scanner
- a microscopy and imaging suite including electron microscopes, confocal and polarising microscopes, an atomic force microscope and a scanning tunnelling microscope
- a state-of-the-art micro-fabrication laboratory for creating micro-mechanical and microfluidic devices and three X-ray CT scanners.
Our facilities and expertise ensure you get the practical experience employers and researchers need. Recently, we’ve spent £250,000 on new equipment for our teaching laboratories, including telescopes, CCD cameras, ultrasound scanners, magnetic resonance spectrometers, high-speed cameras, thermal imaging equipment and a high-resolution 3D printer.
Get involved
Our student-run Astronomy and Physics Society organises social events and trips – all themed around hot Physics topics. Recently students have been searching for the Northern Lights in Iceland, visiting the large hadron collider in CERN, and calculating the complex forces involved in roller coaster rides at Alton Towers.
Entry requirements
- Standard offer: 128 UCAS tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level equivalent Physics and Mathematics grades C
- Contextual offer: 120 UCAS tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level equivalent Physics and Mathematics grades C
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer; we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other. This approach helps us find students who have the potential to succeed here but may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
- 128 UCAS tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level equivalent Physics and Mathematics grades C
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer; we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other. This approach helps us find students who have the potential to succeed here but may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made following our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, contact our Student Financial Support Service by telephone at +44 (0)115 848 2494.
What do the course fees cover?
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students purchase. Book costs vary, and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to participate in optional field trips, which incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students earn a salary whilst on placement, which can help cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance, please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Students will also be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs of approximately £20 - £30.
A deposit is required for laboratory lockers (approximately £5)
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government. Visit our fees page for more information.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when offered to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
What do the course fees cover?
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students purchase. Book costs vary, and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to participate in optional field trips, which incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students earn a salary whilst on placement, which can help cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance, please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Students will also be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs of approximately £20 - £30.
A deposit is required for laboratory lockers (approximately £5)
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the application instructions. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Writing your application and personal statement.
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only decide based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, please look at our page on how to write an excellent personal statement.
Keeping up-to-date
After applying, we’ll send you important emails throughout the application process, so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After applying, we'll send you important emails throughout the application process, so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
