ucl theoretical physics phd

Theoretical Physics MSci

This is the programme information for 2025 entry.

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Theoretical Physics MSci (2024), click here

This four-year programme offers an additional year of study on top of the Theoretical Physics BSc, during which students have the opportunity to specialise further by taking advanced optional modules, and undertaking a research project.

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26), programme starts, application deadline, ucas course code.

• Entry requirements

Contextual offer information

Contextual offer, uk applicants qualifications.

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D2,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, including D2,D3 in Mathematics and Physics (in any order).

A1,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A1,A at Advanced Higher and AAA at Higher), including A1,A in Mathematics and Physics at Advanced Higher (in any order).

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades A*AA, including A*A in Mathematics and Physics (in any order)

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

Access and widening participation

Undergraduate preparatory certificates.

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc .

• English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education .

Course overview

Compulsory modules in the first year provide a firm foundation in quantum and classical physics, underpinned by mathematics and a practical skills module which includes computing skills training. You will also take a module in practical mathematics.

The second year includes compulsory modules in quantum physics and its application to atoms and molecules, in statistical thermodynamics and in electromagnetic theory, along with further mathematics. Computing and practical mathematics skills are further developed.

The quantum and condensed matter elements of the core are completed in the third year. Students reading for the Theoretical Physics degree replace second and third-year experimental work with theory modules.

The third year also includes optional modules to develop further and enhance knowledge of a range of physics topics. The fourth year comprises a compulsory research project, and a number of optional modules, generally chosen from subjects in the relevant degree specialty.

What this course will give you

A theoretical physics degree from UCL is a strong asset across the whole range of careers where scientific skills are required, from accountancy to astrophysics, and computing to cryogenics.

The programme is accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and includes the very latest developments and discoveries in the field , based on our highly rated research.

Ranked in the top 4 in the UK by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 for Physics and Astronomy you will be taught by lecturers who are experts in a wide range of physics-related fields.

The wide range of optional modules enables you to develop your interests both within and outside physics, giving you problem solving and communication skills, along with a deep knowledge base to offer potential employers.

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 480 credits, you will be awarded a MSci (Hons) in Theoretical Physics.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Compulsory modules in the first year provide a firm foundation in quantum and classical physics, underpinned by mathematics and a practical skills module which includes computing skills training. You will also take a module in practical mathematics. The second year includes compulsory modules in quantum physics and its application to atoms and molecules, in statistical thermodynamics and in electromagnetic theory, along with further mathematics. Computing and practical mathematics skills are further developed. The quantum and condensed matter elements of the core are completed in the third year. Students reading for the Theoretical Physics degree replace second and third-year experimental work with theory modules.

This programme is offered both as a three-year BSc and a four-year MSci, with common structures and subjects for the first two years. However, the additional fourth year of the MSci programme allows for a greater depth of study and we recommend you apply for an MSci initially, as this keeps more options open.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules, your learning.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, laboratory (and as appropriate, observatory) practical sessions, and supervised problem-solving tutorials. These tutorials are designed to deal with lecture-based questions, enlarge on topics addressed in lectures, and allow clarification and in-depth discussion of new concepts.

Teaching contact hours for programmes offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy are approximately 20 hours per week in year 1, consisting of lectures (14-15 hours per week), laboratory classes (3-4 hours per week) and problem solving tutorials (2-3 hours per week). The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the programme, as in particular laboratory classes in subsequent years are longer. Observatory classes for students on the Astronomy programme may take place in the evening. In addition to timetabled sessions students are expected to undertake approximately 15-20 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment will normally involve end-of-year examinations, and an element of assessed coursework. Practical work you will be continuously assessed.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team .

Online - Open day

Physics & Astronomy Information Session

Watch this video to find out more about UCL's Physics & Astronomy programme, entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.

The foundation of your career

Around one third of our graduates choose to pursue further study for an MSc or PhD. A PhD opens up the possibility of an academic or research career in a university or research institute. Alternatively, like many of our graduates, you may consider employment in research, design, development, computing, finance, marketing and teaching, among others.

Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2020/2021 cohort.

Employability

Your scientific training will equip you with an understanding of mathematics, and of physical principles and techniques, as well as transferable skills in analysis, rational argument and innovative problem solving. Surveys by the Institute of Physics indicate that physicists' versatility is welcomed by a wider range of professions than any other subject.

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Physics . Holders of accredited degrees can follow a route to Institute of Physics membership and the Chartered Physicist (CPhys) professional qualification. Graduates of accredited Integrated Master's (MPhys or MSci) degrees have fulfilled the educational requirements for CPhys status, while graduates of accredited Bachelor's (BSc) degrees have partially fulfilled these requirements.

• Fees and funding

Fees for this course

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website .

Additional costs

You will require the approved model of calculator for use in exams.  Currently this is either the Casio FX-85GT X or Casio FX-83GT X, which can be purchased for around £11 - £15.  For details please see the UCL examinations guide . You may also be required to purchase books, stationery, printing, thesis binding and photocopying.

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages . If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

• Funding your studies

The Physics & Astronomy Opportunity Scholarship aims to attract undergraduate students from a broad range of backgrounds to tackle the lack of Black representation within the Physics & Astronomy field. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/physics-astronomy-opportunity-scholarship

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Scholarships

Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme and 2024/25 entry.

Physics & Astronomy Opportunity Scholarship

Deadline: 20 June 2025 Value: £12,400 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme) Criteria Based on financial need Eligibility: UK

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Your application

We are seeking students with a strong background in physics and mathematics, with evidence of a broader interest in science, and the capacity for independent study. You should show us your enthusiasm for physics, for example through reading, lectures or peer-mentoring, and particularly what parts of physics excite you that are beyond the A-level curriculum.

• How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application .

Some Physics Offer Holder's Days will be partially livestreamed for overseas applicants.

Your application will be carefully assessed based on your UCAS form and reference. If you are made an offer, you will be invited to a Physics Offer Holder's Day. This will include presentations, a tour of facilities and an opportunity to meet current students and staff members. Attendance is strongly recommended as we cannot provide private tours of the department at the moment.

Got questions? Get in touch

Physics and Astronomy

[email protected]

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Physics and Astronomy MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london), different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Astronomy Physics

Course type

UCL Physics & Astronomy is one of the top departments in the UK for graduate study (RAE 2008). Our large number of international collaborations provide opportunities to work with an international team, including at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) in Chile, and at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble. Graduate students whose interests are more theoretical also have ample opportunities to gain experience overseas thanks to a wide variety of international collaborations, some aimed at the foundations of quantum theory and the development of future quantum technologies, others at fundamental atomic and molecular physics or computational materials science. The wide variety of training afforded leads to a high degree of employability in many different areas.

Our recent MPhil/PhD graduates have often chosen to stay within academia as postdoctoral researchers at institutions at a variety of locations, both within and outside the UK, including some of the post prestigious institutions worldwide. Some have become researchers at related organisations such as national laboratories, or moved into industrial research. A significant number have also begun work in the financial sector for influential companies such as Deutsche Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers and some into software research and development.

A PhD in Physics provides a wide variety of high-quality training in areas which are in great demand by future employers. A high degree of mathematical ability is always required and students learn how to apply this in innovative ways, modelling realistic physical systems. An advanced level of computer literacy, including programming in common languages, is frequently developed. Many doctorates also involve a significant degree of "hands-on" work, such as building, repairing and maintaining equipment. This variety of disparate skills leads to Physics PhD students being in particular demand and finding employment in many different areas of work within and outside the academic world.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

A minimum of an upper second-class UK integrated Master’s (MSci or MPhys) degree in a relevant discipline, or an undergraduate degree followed by an MSc in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. An upper second- or first-class UK Bachelor’s or equivalent may be considered in special circumstances.

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world, conducting leading research across a wide range of subject areas. Throughout its long and prestigious history, it has inspired and educated countless minds and produced 30 Nobel prize recipients. With one campus located in the heart of Bloomsbury and a second campus in vibrant east London, the university is home to around 42,000 students... more

Planetary Science MSc

Full time | 1 year | SEP-25

Physics and Astronomy » High Energy Physics »

Theory & phenomenology.

• Data Science

UCL High Energy Physics

• Theory Home
• Standard Model
• Beyond the SM
• Publications

Within the UCL high energy physics group, the theory & phenomenology research programme focusses on the following areas:

Standard Model Physics

Probe QCD in the new environment of high multiplicity, large boosts and multiple interactions that the LHC provides and utilise the advances made to benefit our electroweak symmetry breaking programme and the development of improved models of proton structure and QCD interactions. More information on this part of our research can be found on our Standard Model Theory page .

Beyond the Standard Model Physics

Use the information provided by current particle physics experiments to constrain and pinpoint new physics scenarios beyond the Standard Model, and to guide future experimental efforts to optimally explore the new physics frontier. As part of this programme, we put a focus on neutrino and lepton flavour physics. More information on this part of our research can be found on our Beyond the SM Theory page .

Group Members

Former members.