ip target image
You are currently browsing our site with content tailored to students in your country

Physics and Astronomy MPhil/PhD

UK

15

2

What will I learn?

Overview

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.

Careers

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.

Employability

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.

Which department am I in?

Physics and Astronomy

Study options

Full Time (3 years)

Tuition fees
£31,100.00 (US$ 40,163) per year
This is a fixed fee
Start date

September 2025

Venue

UCL (University College London)

Gower Street,

London,

Camden,

WC1E 6BT, England

Entry requirements

For 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. Overall grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the subtests. Overall score of 92 with 24/30 in reading and writing and 20/30 in speaking and listening.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

ADD TO MY FAVOURITES

Get in touch