Physics Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Studying physics at Nottingham means diving into the excitement of learning about the way the physical universe works; from the smallest scales of elementary particles and quantum gravity to dark energy and the large-scale structure of the universe itself with all that lies in between. You’ll learn from award-winning academics who are recognised by the Institute of Physics. Many of our academics also feature on the Sixty Symbols YouTube channel.

Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and skills to innovate and lead in various fields, including AI and quantum technologies. We’ve consulted with employers and recruiters to design programmes fit for the future. You'll learn to apply fundamental laws to a broad range of situations, making you highly sought after by employers.

Over the course of the degree, you’ll build skills like resilience and the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing job market alongside core physics skills. Hear from our previous students: Life after graduation: shaping a successful physics career.

We are one of the largest physics departments in the UK and offer a wide range of modules. Learn new areas of physics and specialise in ones that interest you most. Physics is built on a core set of fundamental ideas that all physicists need to understand. You'll take core modules that cover:

* classical mechanics and special relativity

* thermal physics and statistical mechanics

* quantum mechanics

* vibrations and waves

* electromagnetism and optics

* the properties of matter

You'll also study mathematical methods to describe physical systems and predict their behaviour. These foundational blocks are established early in the degree, allowing you to build on them in specialised areas and develop professional skills.\
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Why choose this course?\
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Course highlights

* You could work with our award-winning academics on your research project .

* Learn from award-winning academics who are recognised by the Institute of Physics. You could work with them on your research project.


* Benefit from our cutting-edge research activities that inform your learning. Experts in dark energy, medical imaging and quantum sensing teach on modules.\
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Proven results

* We’re ranked top 20 for physics and astronomy in the Complete University Guide and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.


* 90.6% of physics and astronomy graduates were in sustained employment, further study or both three years after graduation (LEO data from 2022/23 tax year, published in 2025).