Physics Degrees


Physics Degrees at Aberystwyth University

Physics Degree Courses

Single Honours Physics degrees

Ordinary Physics Degree

Major/Minor Physics Degrees: 66% Physics; 33% another subject

  • Physics with Business and Management degree F3N1
  • Physics with Education degree F3X3 
  • Physics with French degree F3R1
  • Physics with German degree F3R2
  • Physics with Spanish degree F3R4

Joint Honours Physics Degrees: 50% Physics; 50% another subject

  • Computer Science and Physics FG34 
  • Mathematics and Physics FG31
  • Physical Geography and Physics FF38

In a Physics Degree course, we seek to understand the nature of the world in which we live and its relation to the cosmos, as Physics continues to offer startling new insights into the way the universe works. The subjects covered in Physics Degrees - Quantum mechanics, relativity, particle physics, chaos theory, astronomy and space science - have all revolutionised human knowledge, and are the subject of new and exciting research.

The study of Physics is also the 'engine' that drives much of modern technology. Advances in areas as diverse as medicine, communications, computing and space technology are often rooted in the research to which a degree in Physics at Aberyswyth University will introduce you..

Studying Physics Degrees at Aberystwyth

As a student on one of our Aberystwyth Physics degree courses, you will enjoy a friendly, informal atmosphere in the Institute of Mathematics and Physics: an Institute committed to small-group and laboratory-based teaching. A strong emphasis is placed on undergraduate project work which is linked to active research interests.

We believe that active research feeds excellence in teaching. The creativity and enthusiasm of our staff has achieved an international reputation in important areas of study that attracts major funding from both government and industry.  The Aberystwyth physicists who will teach you in your Physics course here are involved in cutting edge research in solar-system physics, planetary exploration, complex materials, and semiconductor devices.

Our Physics degrees are housed in the purpose-built Physical Sciences building that contains well equipped teaching laboratories, lecture rooms, computing facilities, and a dedicated library. The building also houses state of the art research laboratories, a planetary surface simulation laboratory, supercomputing resources, and 3D visualisation equipment. Students often access these facilities during the final year project of their Physics degree.

Several University and Institute scholarships (worth up to £1700 per year) and prizes are awarded annually at Aberystwyth. These are based on performance in scholarship at A-level and University examinations.

Physics Degree Course Options

We offer both three-year BSc and four-year MPhys Single Honours Physics degrees. The BSc Single Honours Physics degree course is for those wanting a solid, balanced education in physics. The MPhys Single Honours Physics degree course is aimed at those who wish to become professional physicists in academic research or industry. It is also fully comparable with other European physics degrees and qualifications. Transfer between BSc and MPhys Physics degree courses is possible until the end of your second year.

The Physics degree courses at Aberystwyth include elements specifically designed to cultivate the problem-solving, inter-personal, communications and presentational skills valued by employers and necessary for a successful career in almost any area, including research

Career Opportunities arising from Physics Degrees

Physics degree graduates are well-equipped for a wide range of career options, including further study (e.g. PhD, MSc, PGDE). Employers increasingly seek graduates who are numerate, ICT literate, can solve problems and work effectively in teams. A physics degree provides all these skills in addition to a thorough knowledge of the latest science and technology. Recent graduates from Aberystwyth are now pursuing careers in Physics as diverse as meteorology, accountancy, computing, geophysics, medical physics, teaching Physics in schools and universities, and research in materials physics and in the astronomical, space and planetary sciences.

Project Work in Aberystwyth's Physics Degrees

 

In a Physics degree at Aberystwyth, you will acquire the critical skills of experimentation and data assessment. Project work allows you to undertake experiments using the latest equipment and modelling using advanced computers and can involve working directly with research groups in the Institute. Several projects have led to publications in research journals. Recent Physics degree projects have included observational solar-astrophysics, laser holography, organic solar cells and computercontrolled observation of star clusters.

Spend a Semester studying Space Physics in the Arctic

In your final year as an MPhys student studying the Physics with Planetary and Space Physics Degree, you have the option of spending your entire second semester (January to May) studying modules in space, ionospheric and atmospheric physics far within the Arctic circle at Norway’s international university in the town of Longyearbyen on the island of Svalbard. This is an unparalleled opportunity to study physics amidst a dramatic landscape of snow-covered mountains, spectacular aurorae, polar bears, the midnight sun and glaciers.