Course information
Typical offer ABB
UCAS code F300
Institute code L34
Taught by School of Physics and Astronomy
Ranked 6th in subjects aligned to Physics for ‘overall positivity’ in the NSS 2025 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2024 methodology applied to the NSS 2025 data).
Ranked 9th in the UK for Physics (UniCompare, 2026)
Course description
Course description
Physics is at the heart of modern technology, from satellites and medical imaging to renewable energy, quantum devices, climate modelling, AI and big data. On this degree at the University of Leicester, you’ll explore the fundamental laws of nature including mechanics, waves, electromagnetism, quantum physics, relativity and the physics of matter. You’ll explore how physics drives scientific and technological progress while developing the skills that are increasingly sought-after by employers. These skills include advanced problem-solving, mathematical modelling, coding, data analysis, experimental design, teamwork and clear communication.
This is our broadest Physics degree, ideal if you want flexibility and a solid foundation. You can explore the full subject while discovering areas that excite you most, from astrophysics and space science to climate science, medical physics, particles, and data science.
Our BSc and MPhys degrees are accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP). Holders of accredited BSc degrees are eligible for IOP membership and can follow a route to professional registration as a RSci, CPhys and/or CSci.
Is this the right degree for me?
Choose our Physics BSc if you're curious about how the universe works and are looking for a degree that keeps your options open. This course is ideal if you enjoy maths, problem-solving, practical work and big questions, but you also want skills that can take you into many different careers.
In this flexible degree you will be able to choose topics that interest you most, to create a unique portfolio of specialist knowledge aligned to your interests and career goals, while building a broad physics foundation. You'll develop experience in coding, data analysis, laboratory techniques, group projects, scientific communication (presentations, posters and written reports) and open-ended problem solving. These skills are relevant to careers in science and research, but also in technology, engineering, data, finance, energy, education, consultancy and many other sectors.
You do not need to be completely certain which route is right for you when you apply. Our physics degrees share a common structure in the early years, so you will be able to transfer between different degrees during the first two years (subject to progression requirements), including between the BSc and MPhys, or adding an experiential year abroad, in industry or with research.
What's the difference between a BSc and an MPhys?
- Our BSc degrees are three-year courses that give you a strong foundation in physics and the transferable skills valued by many graduate employers, including problem-solving, data analysis, coding, laboratory work, communication and teamwork. They are an excellent route into a wide range of careers in science, technology, engineering, business, education and beyond.
- Our MPhys degrees are four-year integrated Masters courses. They include more advanced physics, a larger research project and deeper preparation for careers involving research, innovation or high-level technical work. They are especially suitable if you are considering a PhD or a career in scientific research and development.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: ABB including Physics and Maths. If you do not hold an A-level in Physics, please contact us directly at study@le.ac.uk. We welcome applications from candidates with strong backgrounds in Maths and other science subjects, and will consider such cases individually.
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass diploma with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Distinction in Maths and Physics Level 3 modules. Plus grade B in Maths A-level.
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International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points, including:
- 5 in HL Physics and 5 in HL Maths
- OR 6 in HL Physics and 6 in SL Maths 'Analysis and Approaches' (SL Maths 'Applications and Interpretation' not accepted)
- OR 6 in SL Physics and 6 in HL Maths
- HL Maths accepted within both 'Analysis and Approaches' and 'Applications and Interpretation'
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Science or Engineering Extended Diploma with DDM, and B at A-level Maths
Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for Physics with Foundation Year BSc.
Second year entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Flexible entry requirements
We welcome applications from motivated students whose predicted grades are slightly below our standard entry requirements. We understand that predicted grades are not always an accurate reflection of your final results, and we’re happy to consider your application. Although we can’t guarantee an offer due to the high volume of applications, if you’re eligible, we may still offer you a place based on our standard requirements.
Contextual offers
The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2026
- £9,790 in your first year.
- For the 2027/28 academic year, the Home UK tuition fee is expected to be £10,050. Further increases are anticipated to be implemented automatically through government legislation, therefore it is likely that your tuition fees will rise for each subsequent year of your studies.
Find out more about tuition fees, including year abroad, placement years, scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2026
- £25,100 per year
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about tuition fees, including year abroad, placement years, scholarships and funding.
Accreditation
Accreditation
All our Physics degrees are accredited by the Institute of Physics.
An accredited degree not only gives you a solid grounding in core physics, it also sets you on a route towards Institute of Physics membership and the Chartered Physicist (CPhys) professional qualification. With an accredited BSc degree to your name, you will have partially fulfilled the educational requirements for CPhys status.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
In your third year you will have the option to do a ten-week group research project with one of our industrial partners such as Airbus Defence and Space, Jorin Ltd., Domino Printing or Weatherford International. You will gain invaluable project, budget and team management experience working in a professional environment on a real project.
You can gain first-hand experience of physics education through a final year mentoring scheme with physics teachers in local schools, working for half a day a week over one semester.
We offer a small number of Summer Research Placements: six weeks of paid employment working with the research groups within the School of Physics and Astronomy. These placements provide excellent experience if you want to go on to a career in academic or industrial research.
Our dedicated Careers Tutor can provide information, advice and guidance on the graduate job application process.
Graduate destinations
Recent graduate destinations include:
- Henry - Data Visualisation Lead, Office for National Statistics (graduated MPhys Physics with Astrophysics)
- Katie - Research Assistant at the Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (graduated MPhys Physics)
- Elizabeth - Product Analytics at Facebook, London (graduated BSc Physics)
- Jack - Cyber Security Engineer at KHIPU Networks (graduated BSc Physics with Astrophysics)
- Jasmine - PhD Student at UCL (graduated MPhys Physics)
- Lucy - Senior Clinical Trials Coordinator at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (graduated BSc Physics)
- Saira - Plant Implementation Lead at Ford Motor Company (graduated BSc Physics)
Peter completed a degree in Physics with the University of Leicester and went onto a NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Careers and Employability Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 3: Health and well-being
- Goal 4: Quality education
- Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Integrated AI
Integrated AI
At Leicester, you will study with full access to Microsoft 365 Copilot through our collaboration with global tech leader, Microsoft. As one of the first Microsoft Frontier Universities in the UK, we are helping to shape how AI is used in higher education and the workplace.
You will build practical, transferable skills that employers value. From analysing information and solving problems to communicating ideas and working collaboratively, you will learn to apply your knowledge in a digital world.
When you graduate, you will leave with more than a degree. You will have the skills and confidence to work with the technologies shaping your future.
100 hours work-related learning
100 hours work-related learning
Your future career starts right here, whilst you study. On all of our undergraduate courses you are guaranteed 100 hours of real, employer‑informed work‑related learning, built directly into your course.
You will gain a range of skills and grow in confidence through a mixture of activities, aligned closely to your subject. This could range from placements, clinics, laboratory work, field work and “real-world” projects such as live briefs, consultancy challenges, simulations, and virtual internships (discipline aligned and interdisciplinary).
By the time you graduate you'll be able to articulate and demonstrate to future employers you have the skills they are looking for as well as the understanding of your subject.
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Core modules
- Mechanics
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Mathematical Physics 1.1
- Light and Matter
- Waves and Quanta
- Mathematical Physics 1.2
- Physics Skills and Professional Development 1
- Experimental Physics 1
- Foundations in Modern Scientific Frontiers
This is the same as the first year of the MPhys.
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students starting in the next intake and may differ from the modules available to current students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Year 2
Year 2
Core modules
- Mathematical Physics 2
- Relativity, Quantum Physics and Particles
- Electromagnetic Fields
- Thermal and Statistical Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physics Skills and Professional Development 2
- Experimental Physics 2
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
- Intermediate Astrophysics and Data Science
- Intermediate Astrophysics and Climate Science
- Intermediate Astrophysics and Space Science
- Intermediate Data Science and Space Science
- Intermediate Space Science and Climate Science
- Intermediate Data Science and Climate Science
This is the same as the second year of the MPhys.
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students starting in the next intake and may differ from the modules available to current students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Experience Year (Optional)
Experience Year (Optional)
If you want to, you can spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions, working in an industrial placement or conducting real-world research.
These options are competitive, and your success will be based on your academic performance, motivation and the strength of your application. You will receive guidance and support throughout the process to help you secure the opportunity that best aligns with your career aspirations.
Year Abroad
We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
- Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
- Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.
Year in Industry
Choosing the ‘With Industry’ option means you’ll spend a year immersed in a real-world work environment. During this placement year, you'll join a company where you can put your academic knowledge into practice, build your professional network, and enhance your employability.
This is a competitive programme and it will be your responsibility to secure a placement, but throughout your journey you will be supported by our Careers and Employability Service. This includes access to digital tools, skills workshops and one-to-one support drop-ins, among many other offers designed to help you achieve your goal.
During your placement, you'll be supported by a dedicated industrial placement tutor who will provide guidance and conduct regular check-ins at your host company, ensuring you get the most out of your experience.
A Year in Industry still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. You may also be eligible for financial support through Student Finance England. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
Year in Research
Choosing the Year in Research option means you’ll spend a year immersed in a real-world research environment. During this placement year, you'll join a research team where you can apply your academic knowledge to practical research projects, develop your specialised skills, and build your professional network.
This is a competitive programme and it will be your responsibility to secure a research placement, but throughout your journey you will be supported by our Careers and Employability Service. This includes access to digital tools, skills workshops and one-to-one support drop-ins, among many other offers designed to help you achieve your goal.
During your placement, you'll be supported by a dedicated research placement tutor who will provide guidance and conduct regular check-ins at your host institution, ensuring you get the most out of your experience.
A Year in Research still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. You may also be eligible for financial support through Student Finance England. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students starting in the next intake and may differ from the modules available to current students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Final Year
Final Year
Core modules
- Physics Skills and Professional Development 3
- Quantum Mechanics
- Radiation and Matter
- Physics Challenge
- Research Project
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
- Industry Project
- Astrodynamics
- Physics in Education
- Python
- Numerical Programming in C++
- Sustainability Enterprise Partnership Project
- Mathematical Physics 3
Then choose one option module from:
- Medical Physics
- Quasars and Cosmology
- The Space Environment
- Climate Change: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation
Then choose one option module from:
- Elementary Particles: The Standard Model and Beyond
- Stellar Astrophysics
- Planetary Physics
- Models and Methods for Scientific Data
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students starting in the next intake and may differ from the modules available to current students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Why Leicester?
The city of Leicester is home to two unique space institutions: Space Park Leicester, a hub for business and research, and the National Space Centre, an incredible tourist attraction and education facility.
Our outstanding teaching and student support is reflected in our NSS 2025 results. We were ranked in the top 10 in subjects aligned to Physics for ‘Student Voice’, ‘Academic Support’, 'Learning opportunities’ and ‘Assessment and feedback’ in the NSS 2025 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2024 methodology applied to the NSS 2025 data).
The academic staff in the School have written or edited dozens of books and publish regularly in major national and international journals. Where other people only get to read what our experts think, you will be working directly with them, learning from them in lectures and questioning them in seminars.
In your final year you will gain experience of scientific research by working with our staff on real physics research problems. Recent examples of projects include: black holes and the Higgs mechanism, analysis of Martian rocks, the evolution of planet-forming discs, and novel medical ultrasound techniques.
Teaching and learning
At Leicester, you'll learn physics by doing physics. Alongside lectures and tutorials, you’ll take part in laboratory work, computing workshops, problem classes, group tasks and project-based learning. You'll build the confidence to apply ideas to solve novel problems.
Right from your first year, you will develop the skills that make physics graduates so versatile. As the course progresses, you’ll move towards more open-ended investigations and project work, where you’ll learn to analyse evidence, make decisions and communicate complex ideas clearly. Your technical and specialist skills will include mathematical modelling, coding (in Python from your first year, with C++ and R being optional topics in later years), data analysis, experimentation (including data collection, data interpretation, experimental planning, testing and optimization), statistical analysis, applied and physical sciences. During your time at Leicester, you will develop key transferable skills that will be crucial in your future career including scientific investigation, analytical and practical problem solving, scientific communication, teamwork, resilience, critical thinking, self-reflection, time management and planning.
Independent learning
A physics degree involves much more than time in lectures and laboratories. You’ll be expected to develop your understanding through guided study: working through problems, reviewing lecture material, preparing for practical sessions, analysing data, writing reports and developing your computer coding and mathematical skills. This is an important part of becoming a physicist and helps you to build the skills graduate employers value, including initiative, organisation, resilience, technical confidence and the ability to keep learning as new technologies and challenges emerge.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You’ll be taught by a range of staff, including academics, researchers and teaching specialists whose expertise spans areas such as fundamental physics, astrophysics, space science, Earth observation, climate science, data-intensive physics, instrumentation and advanced computing. You'll learn by working with experts and practitioners who use physics to investigate real scientific and technological challenges. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Physics | Qualification BSc | Duration 3 years full-time | UCAS Code F300 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Physics with Year Abroad | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F300 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Physics with Year in Industry | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F300 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Physics with Year in Research | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F300 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
I chose Leicester due to its expertise in space research. The University’s reputation in this field was something I was already aware of.