Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Physics (with foundation year)

Entry requirements


Pass Access to HE Diploma overall with a minimum 80 UCAS tariff points

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

24

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DM

UCAS Tariff

80

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Physics

**Whether you want to explore the world at sub-atomic level or on a cosmological scale, you'll study physics under the guidance of experts. This degree provides you with the concepts and mathematical tools you'll need for a deep understanding of modern physics.**

Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in well-known laboratories and research facilities including Jodrell Bank and the National Nuclear Laboratory.

The University’s expertise was recognised as far back as 1969 when we were one of the scientific centres chosen to carry out tests on samples gathered from the Moon by Neil Armstrong’s historic Apollo 11 mission. Today we have some of the world's leading experts contributing to world class research and you'll get the chance to learn from them during your studies. Laboratory.

The foundation year is ideal to boost your skills and knowledge if you don't quite meet our academic entry requirements.

**Official Team GB partners**

Did you know that the University of Hull is the official University Partner of Team GB? Our united belief is that anyone, with the right opportunities ahead and a dedicated team behind, can achieve extraordinary things. This is what our partnership with Team GB is built on. Extraordinary is in you – and we’ll help you find it.

What does this mean for you? It means that whether you’re studying sports science, or marketing, or logistics, or healthcare, or engineering, you’ll be able to gain invaluable experience through this unique partnership.

We are working with Team GB to create opportunities for volunteering and work experience, to get involved with meet-and-greet sessions with Olympians, host on-campus talks from guest speakers and so much more. Some of our students recently helped Team GB athletes get their kit ready to compete in preparation for the Minsk 2019 European Games. It’s an extraordinary partnership, and you won’t find it anywhere else.

Find out more at hull.ac.uk/teamgb

Modules

Foundation Year

Core modules

Preparing for Learning in Higher Education
Group Challenge (Sciences)
Introduction to Data Analysis

Compulsory modules

Introduction to Physics 1
Introduction to Physics 2

Optional modules
Foundation Maths 1
Foundation Mathematics A
Foundation Maths Skills

Year 1

Core modules

Introduction to Experimental Skills and Mathematics for Physics
Experimental Physics and Mathematics 1

Compulsory modules

The Classical World
Gravitation and Astronomy
Electricity and Magnetism with Computation
From the Quantum World to the Macro World – an Introduction to Quantum Physics and the Properties of Matter

Year 2

Core modules

Experimental Physics and Mathematics 2
Experimental Physics and Mathematics 3

Compulsory modules

Thermodynamics, Statistical Physics and Special Relativity
Intermediate Quantum Mechanics with Advanced Computation
The Physics of Waves and Solid State
Physics by Inquiry: Concepts and Relations

Year 3

Compulsory modules

Advanced Quantum, Nuclear and Particle Physics
Numerical Modelling and Simulation with Research Project Planning
BSc Project
Matter at Extremes

Optional
Physics-Based Technologies
Galactic and Extra-Galactic Astronomy

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of written, practical and coursework assessments throughout your degree.

Written assessment typically includes exams and multiple choice tests.

Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.

Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
International
£19,500
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

The University of Hull

Department:

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

94%
Physics

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Physics

Teaching and learning

98%
Staff make the subject interesting
96%
Staff are good at explaining things
82%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
78%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

83%
Library resources
80%
IT resources
85%
Course specific equipment and facilities
82%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

97%
UK students
3%
International students
73%
Male students
27%
Female students
74%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Physics

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£22,000
low
Average annual salary
84%
low
Employed or in further education
48%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

16%
Engineering professionals
9%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
9%
Other elementary services occupations

Although the subject has seen a bit of resurgence in recent years, the UK is still felt to be short of physics graduates, and in particular physicists training as teachers. If you want a career in physics research — in all sorts of areas, from atmospheric physics to lasers - you'll probably need to take a doctorate, and so have a think about where you would like to do that and how you might fund it (the government funds many physics doctorates, so you might not find it as hard as you think). With that in mind, it's not surprising that just over a fifth of physics graduates go on to take doctorates when they finish their degree, and well over a third of physicists take some kind of postgraduate study in total. Physics is highly regarded and surprisingly versatile, which is why physics graduates who decide not to stay in education are more likely to go into well-paid jobs in the finance industry than they are to go into science. The demand and versatility of physics degrees goes to explain why they're amongst the best-paid science graduates.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Physics

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£23k

£23k

£27k

£27k

£34k

£34k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here