Theoretical Physics Degree Courses in the UK - Bachelors & Masters

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Theoretical Physics Msci (Hons) Queen's University of Belfast 72% 5% 2% £9250 £21400 165 Belfast On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) Royal Holloway, University of London 79% 0% 8% £9250 £23200 124 Egham On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics Msci (Hons) University of Glasgow 78% 0% 0% £37000 £94590 220 Glasgow On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics MPhys University of Hull 94% 5% 0% £9250 £17550 112 Hull On campus Full-time
Physics with Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) Imperial College of Science 56% 0% 0% £9250 £36200 216 London On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) The University of York 83% 10% 3% £9250 £24000 153 York On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics Msci (Hons) University College London 85% 7% 5% £9250 £31200 208 London On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 73% 2% 0% £9250 £30400 219 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Physics with Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) The University of Nottingham 79% 0% 3% £9250 £25000 182 Nottingham On campus Full-time
Mathematical and Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) Aberystwyth University 90% 5% 15% £9000 £16300 121 Aberystwyth On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics MPhys Durham University 100% 10% 5% £9250 £28500 219 Durham On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics BSc (Hons) University of Birmingham 84% 4% 0% £9250 - 187 Birmingham On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics with Mathematics BSc (Hons) Lancaster University 95% 0% 3% £9250 - 170 Lancaster On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics MPhys Lancaster University 90% 0% 0% £9250 - 189 Lancaster On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) Newcastle University 51% 10% 5% £9250 - 162 Newcastle On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics Msci (Hons) Queen Mary University of London 64% 10% 8% £9250 - 139 London On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) University of Birmingham 84% 4% 5% £9250 - 180 Birmingham On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics with Mathematics (Study Abroad) Msci (Hons) Lancaster University 95% 0% 10% £9250 - 181 Lancaster On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics with Year Abroad MSci (Hons) Queen Mary University of London 64% 10% 8% £9250 - 139 London On campus Full-time
Physics with Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) King's College London 45% 5% 5% £9250 - 152 London On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics (4 years) Msci (Hons) University of Birmingham 86% 10% 5% £9250 - 197 Birmingham On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) University of Leeds 71% 15% 5% - - 167 Leeds On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics MSc University of Hertfordshire 72% 0% 10% - - 90 Hatfield On campus Full-time
Mathematics with Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) Plymouth University 100% 0% 5% - - 116 Plymouth On campus Full-time
Physics with Theoretical Physics MPhys The University of Manchester 80% 0% 5% - - 211 Manchester On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics BSc (Hons) Swansea University 65% 10% 11% - - 123 Swansea On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics with a Year Abroad MPhys (Hons) University of Liverpool 65% 5% 2% - - 147 Liverpool On campus Full-time
MSc Theoretical Physics MSc Queen Mary University of London 64% 10% 8% - - 139 London On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics with a Year in Industry MPhys Swansea University 65% 0% 11% - - 123 Swansea On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics MPhys University of Liverpool 65% 5% 2% - - 147 Liverpool On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics MPhys The University of Sheffield - - - £9250 £25670 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics PhD The University of Manchester - - - £2250 £12750 - Manchester On campus Part-time
Theoretical Physics with an Industrial Placement Year MPhys The University of Sheffield - - - £9250 £25670 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Physics with Theoretical Physics MPhys Loughborough University of Technology - - - £9250 £25700 - Loughborough On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics MSc University of Bristol - - - £9250 £24700 - Bristol On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics MPhys University of Sussex - - - £9250 £22500 - Brighton On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics with Study Abroad MPhys The University of Sheffield - - - £9250 £25670 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Physics with Theoretical Physics MPhys University of Bath - - - - - - Bath On campus Full-time
Theoretical Physics DPhil University of Oxford - - - - - - Oxford On campus Full-time
Mathematical and Theoretical Physics MSc University of Oxford - - - - - - Oxford On campus Full-time
Interested only in courses in London?
6 Theoretical Physics Courses in London.
  • Friendly Feuds: Experimental Physicists vs. Theoretical Physicists
    1/6
  • What does a theoretical physicist do?
    2/6
  • a very honest review of my oxford university master's degree (theoretical physics at keble college)
    3/6
  • Day in the life of a theoretical physics student on summer vacation
    4/6
  • A Week in my Life | Theoretical Physics at the University of Oxford
    5/6
  • Ana's story: studying Physics with Theoretical Physics at King's
    6/6

Salary

Primarily based on salary data of undergraduate students

Salary of all UK Graduates of Theoretical Physics

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £27959 £29015 £34497
25-75 percentile range £23959 - £31947 £22931 - £36583 £26874 - £45969
Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All Theoretical Physics courses in the UK

Salary of all UK Graduates of all subjects

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £27427 £29226 £34578
25-75 percentile range £23903 - £31541 £23523 - £36411 £27340 - £45741
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Dec 20, 2022

Jobs & Career Perspectives

Career perspectives for Theoretical Physics

15 months after graduation, graduates of this subject were asked about their current circumstances of employment, what they do, and whether their activities and perspectives are directly related to their studies.

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Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Dec 20, 2022

Current jobs

Among graduates of Theoretical Physics who indicated that they are working, the percentage below represents the number who “agree” or “strongly agree” with the statements about their job.

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Dec 20, 2022

Typical employers for graduates of Theoretical Physics

  • Laboratories
  • Colleges and Universities

Jobs of graduates of Theoretical Physics (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Theoretical Physics at Imperial College of Science

35% Information Technology Professionals
20% Finance Professionals
20% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Teaching Professionals
5% Business and public service associate professionals
5% Natural and social science professionals
5% Engineering professionals
5% Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Dec 20, 2022

Grading & Study Time

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Grading Distribution

Students of Theoretical Physics in the UK received the following grades.

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Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 2016

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Theoretical Physics

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Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Dec 20, 2022

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Theoretical Physics, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

FAQ

Theoretical Physics is the mathematical principles and techniques of physics theory and explanation of physical phenomena.

The median salary of graduates of Theoretical Physics was £27959 15 months after graduation, £29015 3 years after graduation and £34497 5 years after graduation.

  • The following degrees are offered for Theoretical Physics studies:
  • Master of Science (Honours) - Msci (Hons)
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) - BSc (Hons)
  • Master of Physics - MPhys
  • Master in Science (Honours) - MSci (Hons)
  • Master of Science - MSc
  • Master in Physics (Honours) - MPhys (Hons)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
  • Master of Science (Research) - MSc (Res)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - DPhil

Mathematics with Theoretical Physics - BSc (Hons) at Plymouth University received the highest rating among all graduates in the National Student Survey 2022 with a rating of 100 out of 100 among 10 respondents.