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 mainly be studying in the Erasmus Darwin Building with access to facilities including an on-campus observatory, sound booths, CT scanners and dark rooms:
- 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.
Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your course mates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!
You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
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
UK students
- 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
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
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.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
- Academic entry requirements: 128 UCAS tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level equivalent Physics and Mathematics grades C. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
- English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Sign up for emails
Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
