Key information
- Duration:
- 4 years full time
- Typical A-level offer:
- AAB
View full entry requirements - UCAS code:
- F304
- Start date:
- September 2025
- 7th in the UK for our research environment in Physics in REF 2021 (Times Higher Education)
- Top 20 in the UK for Physics (Guardian University Guide 2025)
From subatomic particles to entire galaxies, physics allows us to explore the big questions, while having a significant impact on our daily lives.
At Sussex, you’ll explore fascinating subjects, learning from world-leading researchers. Their work includes developing next-generation quantum computers, investigating quantum gravity and black holes, searching for fundamental particles at CERN and studying our universe from the Big Bang to modern times. You could be working with researchers who are part of a team using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Your teaching and modules are directly influenced by our research.
You’ll use the latest equipment and state-of-the-art laboratories, and gain a broad understanding of the core principles of physics. Options enable you to specialise in areas you find most fascinating. You’ll apply this knowledge across a range of areas including:
- astrophysics
- quantum physics
- particle physics
- materials science
- mathematical physics.
You’ll also work with one of our expert research teams. You could be making exciting discoveries during your final-year project and through research placement opportunities. You’ll have the opportunity to apply for a year working in industry. You can choose from a range of companies and we have links with employers through SEPnet (South East Physics Network).
Our Department is a friendly hive of activity. You’ll join a close-knit community. Our open-door policy means that whatever you need, we’ll be there to support you.
From sustainability to economics and modern languages, you take electives from other subjects to open your mind to other disciplines and tailor your degree to your interests. By graduation, you’ll have developed skills much in demand with employers. You’ll gain an analytical approach to problem solving, data analysis skills and solid research skills. Your training will open doors to exciting careers in:
- research
- finance
- industry.
Accreditation
- Accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP) for the purpose of fully meeting the educational requirement for Chartered Physicist. Find out more
To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. This can be a fantastic opportunity to gain real-life insight into industry as well as skills valued by employers. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can help you:
- find an employer
- draft an application
- prepare for interviews.
Don’t worry if you’re not successful, you’ll simply transfer to a non-placement version of your course.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
MPhys or BSc?
We also offer this course without the industrial placement year, as a four-year MPhys, as a four-year MPhys with research placements, or as a five-year MPhys with an industrial placement year. Find out about the benefits of an integrated Masters year.
Course content
This is a single-honours course, allowing you to focus in depth on your core subject.
Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits
Your degree
In your first year, you’ll explore classical and modern physics. You’ll learn to work with large sets of data, find out about the programming language Python and get to experiment in our teaching laboratories.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include:
60%: Lecture
40%: Practical
Assessment
Assessment methods typically include:
40%: Coursework
60%: Examination
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 420 hours of contact time and about 780 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Foundations of Data Analysis
- Mathematical Methods for Physics 1
- Mechanics
- Physics Study Success
Spring teaching
- Heat and Modern Physics
- Mathematical Methods for Physics 2
- Physics Year 1 Laboratory
- Waves and Fields
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
Autumn teaching
- Analysis 1
- Introduction to Astrophysics
- Introduction to Quantum Physics
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more module details.
Your degree
In Year 2, you’ll use your developing problem-solving skills to solve more complex issues. You’ll will work on laboratory experiments or data analysis projects.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include:
50%: Lecture
20%: Seminar
30%: Practical
Assessment
Assessment methods typically include:
40%: Coursework
60%: Examination
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 320 hours of contact time and about 880 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Electrodynamics
- Mathematical Methods for Physics 3
- Physics Year 2 Laboratory
Spring teaching
- Applying Physics Skills
- Quantum Mechanics 1
- Thermal and Statistical Physics
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
Autumn teaching
- Scientific Computing
Spring teaching
- Galaxies and the Cosmos
- Theoretical Physics
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more module details.
An industrial placement gives you the chance to spend a year working with an organisation, in an area relevant to your course, while being paid. It’s a proven way to fast-track your career.
You develop your technical, team-working and transferable skills, and apply what you have learnt in your studies to a business environment.
Find out more about placements and internships
SEPnet Employer Programme
We are a core part of the SEPnet (South East Physics Network) consortium, which gives us links to universities and industries across the region. SEPnet’s Employer Programme creates opportunities for our students to apply for eight-week funded summer placements.
Find out more at Department of Physics and Astronomy: South East Physics Network (SEPnet)
Our careers team offers dedicated support to help you obtain a placement, including:
- finding an employer
- drafting an application
- preparing for interviews
- ongoing help throughout a placement.
Don’t worry if you’re not successful in securing a placement, you’ll simply transfer to a non-placement version of your course.
Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t undertake your placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
Your degree
Supervised by one of our researchers, you’ll choose a topic you’re passionate about and apply the knowledge you’ve gained throughout your degree to your project.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include:
52%: Lecture
48%: Practical
Assessment
Assessment methods typically include:
12%: Coursework
60%: Examination
11%: Practical
5%: Group work
12%: Written assessment
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 320 hours of contact time and about 880 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Atomic Physics
- Condensed State Physics
- Nuclear and Particle Physics
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
Autumn teaching
- Communicating STEM
Autumn and spring teaching
- BSc Final-Year Project
Spring teaching
- Advanced Condensed State Physics
- Lasers and Photonics
- Monte Carlo Simulations
- Particle Physics
- Quantum Mechanics 2
- Researching STEM
- Stellar and Planetary Physics
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more module details.
Find out more about studying Physics at Sussex, including astrophysics, theoretical physics and particle physics
Silver
The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive
Our staff
I work on the ATLAS experiment at the CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, seeking answers to fundamental questions such as ‘What is the nature of dark matter?”Professor Antonella De Santo
Professor of Physics
Prof Antonella De Santo
Professor Of Physics RSW Research MeritAward Holder
Careers
We are a core part of the SEPnet (South East Physics Network) consortium, which gives us links to universities and industries across the region.
On your course, you’ll develop versatile and transferable skills. This prepares you for finding jobs in industry or academia. Many of our graduates go on to postgraduate research and PhD study. Others find graduate jobs in a diverse range of fields, including:
-
aerospace
-
consulting
-
geophysics
-
teaching
-
the scientific Civil Service.
Graduate destinations
Recent Physics and Astronomy graduates have started their careers as:
- SAP applications consultant at Capgemini
- geophysicist at CGG
- graduate diagnostic physicist at Diamond Light Source.
Some of our graduates have also gone on to study for a postgraduate qualification (for example a PhD, MSc or PGCE).
(Department of Physics and Astronomy careers database)
Working while you study
Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work
Design your future at Sussex
Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.
As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:
- our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations including Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Gatwick Airport and the Knepp Rewilding Project
- one-to-one coaching with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
- entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.
Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you
Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024
Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024
A-level - contextual offer
BCC, including grade B in Mathematics.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate and two A-levels - contextual offer
Grades BC in A-levels including grade B in Mathematics and Merit in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma) - contextual offer
DDM-DMM