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Department of Physics

Undergraduate Study

Physics is a fun, rewarding topic that is full of deep ideas and fascinating concepts. One of the great joys in physics is seeing how a simple principle, established after studying one problem, can go on to explain seemingly unrelated phenomena. Studying physics also develops analytical, practical and IT skills and leads to great employment opportunities in many sectors. Undergraduates are the core of our department and we are proud that levels of student satisfaction and achievement are high for our students. We encourage you to look at the independent evaluations, which are available from discoveruni.

James Lloyd-Hughes, Admissions Tutor

Welcome

Discover our undergraduate programmes

Physics [course brochure]

Physics deals with fundamental questions about the Universe, and key technological and environmental issues of our time. Our three-year BSc degree provides a comprehensive training in the subject, while our four-year MPhys degree digs deeper, with more specialised modules.

The core of the degree covers the fundamental principles of Physics, like quantum theory, thermodynamics and relativity. Our options then concentrate on the phenomena the basic laws can explain, such as how stars form or how elementary particles interact. The links below show the modules available in each year of study, and the content studied by our current students.

You can take some modules from outside of physics. We encourage students not only to consider modules related to physics, for example in computing, but also modules in Business Studies and modern languages.

 

Maths and Physics [course brochure]

Mathematics and physics are a great combination to study at university and provide the basis for a stimulating and enjoyable education. There are many examples of unexpected discoveries resulting from interaction between the two disciplines. Ideas developed in particle physics have led to advances in geometry - a branch of pure mathematics.

The Warwick joint course is among the best-established in the country, with around 80 students starting each year. The course include a significant proportion of modules from both our Maths and Physics departments and designed primarily for joint degree students.

Warwick is strong in research in a number of branches of mathematics and physics, and is well-placed to offer accounts of those developments likely to be of most interest. These include non-linear systems (there are modules on the weather, modelling of biological systems, and complexity theory) and theoretical physics.

Physics with Astrophysics [course brochure]

With the arrival of space-based instrumentation and gravitational wave detection, some of the most exciting discoveries in your lifetime are likely to come in astrophysics. However, we can’t conduct experiments on stars or galaxies as they’re too far away. Instead we piece together explanations of what we observe from Earth. This involves understanding the underlying physics – mechanics, quantum theory, relativity, thermodynamics – and working out what it implies for exoplanets, galaxies, stars and the Universe as a whole.

The course covers the principles of physics and their application to explain astrophysical phenomena. In the first two years, you will study the solar system and the lifecycles of stars and galaxies. In the third and fourth years, you explore cosmology and the distant Universe, exoplanets, the physics of compact objects (black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs), general relativity and our Sun.

The degree includes bespoke labs and research projects focused on astrophysics. Students benefit from access to the Marsh Observatory and our radio telescopes on campus as well as having an astrophysicist as their Academic and Personal Tutor.

Physics with Business and Management

Our Physics with Business and Management pathway is designed for our BSc students who enjoy physics but wish also to develop skills and expertise in management and business. This aspect is taught by the Warwick Business School (WBS)Link opens in a new window, a leading Business School in the country, which has pioneered the teaching of management science to undergraduates at British universities.

If you choose at least three gateway modules from WBS during your first two years, you will be able to switch to this pathway. The gateway options introduce each of the five main areas of the discipline: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management and Marketing.

In the third year of this pathway, at least half of your modules are taught by WBS, with the remainder selected from Physics. Third year courses taught by WBS include Leadership, International Business Strategy, Project Management and Operational Research for Strategic Planning.

Why study Physics at Warwick?

Your Tutor will be an expert in the field and will support you and develop your skills throughout your degree.

Our Teaching and Research Facilities are outstanding and will be at the heart of your experience with us.

Our students thrive within our collaborative and welcoming academic environment, and achieve great things!

Our Offer and Entry Requirements

For Physics courses our standard offer for entry is A*AA at A level, to include Physics, Maths and a third subject. For Maths and Physics we ask for an A* in Maths, A in Physics and A in Further Maths; alternatively A* Maths, A* Physics, A third subject. For full details, including offers for other qualifications, see here.

Our Offers

Our Graduates

Our graduates go on to a variety of careers or further study. Hear from our recent graduates about how studying Physics at the University of Warwick helped shape their career paths.

Meet our Graduates

Find out more

Open Days

Deciding where to apply for 2026? Come find out more at our June 14th or June 21st Open Days.Link opens in a new window We also run Offer Holder Open Days from December onwards for students holding an offer of a place.

Online Live Chats

Can't make it in-person? Chat online with our Physics students and staff to answer your questions about our undergraduate courses.

These will resume in the autumn.

Course Handbook

At Warwick our modular degrees allow you to tailor your degree to your interests. See exactly what our current students are studying at the Course HandbookLink opens in a new window, or check out the full list of modulesLink opens in a new window on offer.

How to apply

Learn about our application process for Undergraduate study at Warwick. Or check out our Life at Warwick pages to learn more about what studying here is like.

Fees and Funding

Discover the various methods to fund your study, alongside scholarship and bursary funds you may be eligible for.

General Enquiries

Admissions Secretary
E: physicsadmissions@warwick.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)24 765 74768

Prof. James Lloyd-Hughes,
Admissions Tutor
E: j.lloyd-hughes@warwick.ac.uk