Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons)

Queen's University of Belfast

Key Course Facts

Student Satisfaction	72%
Salary after 15 months	£25000
Unemployment Rate	0% unemployed Proportion of students of this particular course unemployed and not studying 15 months after their course ended. Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
Student Dropout Rate	3% Proportion of students of Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons) who are not continuing into their following year of study or have not been awarded a qualification in either of the two comparison years. Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
Tuition Fees	£9250 Tuition (UK) £25300 Tuition (International) Tuition fees per year for Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons) at Queen's University of Belfast UCAS course summary. Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023
Duration	3 years - Full-time
Campus	On campus - Main Site
Degree	Bachelor of Science (Honours), BSc (Hons)
Subject	Astrophysics, Space Science

Admission advice for international students

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 45 graduates of Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons) and other courses in Physics at Queen's University of Belfast for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Physics.

Overall student satisfaction

72 /100

45 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

	Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons) and other Physics courses of Queen's University of Belfast	Average review score among all Astrophysics courses in the UK
Explanations	95	91
Interesting courses	76	78
Intellectually stimulating	96	93
Challenged to do my best	87	89
Depth of concepts	92	84
Builds on previous learnings	87	87
Joined ideas from different topics	83	85
Balance directed/independent study	82	74
Applicability of course content	90	84
Clear criteria in markings	74	73
Fair assessment	82	78
Tests reflected your learning	86	75
Timely feedback	84	70
Helpful feedback	70	65
Approachability of teachers	97	87
Support from teachers	86	82
Organisation of courses	82	73
Communication of changes	93	74
IT facilities	91	87
Library	92	89
Course specific resources	90	89
Student feedback opportunities	91	83
Student feedback valued	83	70
Student's feedback acted upon	81	56
Work of student union	60	66
Mental wellbeing services	70	77
Overall satisfaction	72	78

Source: National Student Survey NSS 2023. The Overall student satisfaction data point is from 2022 (latest available year). The Office for Students made the unfortunate decision to discontinue collecting overall student satisfaction data points per course.
All Physics courses of Queen's University of Belfast

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of all UK Graduates of Physics

	15 months after graduation	3 years after graduation	5 years after graduation
Median salary	£28798	£28909	£34253
25-75 percentile range	£24694 - £33005	£22390 - £36739	£26224 - £45922

Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All Physics courses in the UK

Course Description

"Physics is an enabling discipline showing how to do things thought impossible and helping others refine their approach. Physics is to the rest of science what machine tools are to engineering." Sir John Pendry "Physics allows us to write with a piece of chalk on a blackboard the very structure of the universe and the shape of it. I mean… What's not to love?" Dara O'Briain Physics studies how the universe works - from the smallest atomic nucleus to the largest galaxy. It includes conceptual challenges such as quantum theory, relativity and chaos theory, and lies at the heart of most modern technology - for example the computer, the laser and the Internet. The Department of Physics and Astronomy has the highest teaching standards and is recognised nationally as being one of the leading centres for research. Physics at Queen's obtained an excellent grade in the last subject-based Teaching Quality Assessment exercise, while in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise 50 per cent of the scientific research carried out by staff was internationally excellent or world-leading. This strong link between research and teaching in Physics at Queen's means our graduates obtain one of the best degrees available for understanding our recent scientific advances, and playing a part in our increasingly technological society.

Accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP) for the purpose of partially meeting the educational requirement for Chartered Physicist.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

What graduates are doing after 15 months

	All Queen's University of Belfast graduates of undergraduate studies in Physics	All UK graduates of undergraduate studies in Physics
Total respondents	35	2425
Unemployed	0%	4%
Studying	25%	20%
Working	70%	59%
Both studying and working	0%	10%
No information	0%	5%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Physics courses of Queen's University of Belfast

Current jobs

Job in line with future plans

Utilise skills from studies

Work is meaningful

	Agree or strongly agree	Disagree
Job in line with future plans	75%	25%
Utilise skills from studies	60%	40%
Work is meaningful	85%	15%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All courses of Queen's University of Belfast

Required skill level of job after 15 months

% Skilled jobs

	% Skilled jobs
Highly-skilled jobs	90%
Non highly-skilled jobs	10%
Skill level unknown or unclassified	0%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Physics courses of Queen's University of Belfast

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons) at Queen's University of Belfast

25%	Sales occupations
20%	Elementary occupations
10%	Customer service occupations
10%	Protective service occupations
10%	Managers, directors and senior officials
5%	Administrative occupations
5%	Teaching Professionals
5%	Media Professionals
5%	Natural and social science professionals
5%	Administrative occupations

Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023

Grading & Study Time

Assessment Methods

Study Time Distribution

Assessment Methods
	Coursework	Percentage of assessment by practical exams	Written exams

Study Time Distribution
	Scheduled learning and teaching	Guided independent study	Placements
year 1	31%	69%	0%
year 2	30%	70%	0%
year 3	31%	69%	0%

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Physics

Average UCAS Tariff Score 159

Tariff score	% of students accepted for courses in Physics
<48	0
48-63	0
64-79	0
80-95	0
96-111	0
112-127	6
128-143	11
144-159	29
160-175	16
176-191	21
192-207	2
208-223	9
224-239	4
>240	1

Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
All Physics courses of Queen's University of Belfast

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

Access to HE Diploma

Including one in a relevant subject/science (80 UCAS tariff points)

31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

Including one in a relevant subject/science (90 UCAS tariff points)

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Your-Country/

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

Costs

Tuition Fees Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons)

England UK	£9250	year 1
Scotland	£9250	year 1
Wales	£9250	year 1
Channel Islands	£9250	year 1
Northern Ireland	£4710	year 1
Ireland	£4710	year 1
EU	£25300	year 1
International	£25300	year 1
Northern Ireland	£4750	year 1
Ireland	£4750	year 1

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent	£518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home)	£50
Supermarket shopping	£81
Clothing	£35
Eating out	£33
Alcohol	£27
Takeaways / food deliveries	£30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food)	£24
Holidays and weekend trips	£78
Transport within city	£17
Self-care / sports	£20
Stationary / books	£13
Mobile phone / internet	£13
Cable TV / streaming	£7
Insurance	£51
Other	£95

Average student cost of living	£1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of Queen's University of Belfast in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Queen's University of Belfast in related subject specific rankings.

Natural Sciences

- #1
- #38
Physics

The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
[Published 09 September, 2023]
- #1
- #301
Physics

GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
[Published 27 October, 2023]
- #1
- #401
Physics

NTU Rankings by Subject
[Published 11 July, 2023]

See all 30 university rankings of Queen's University of Belfast

About Queen's University of Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) is a public institution that has enjoyed international repute for the majority of the institution’s time as an educational centre, and this is reflected today in their impressive University Rankings from Times Higher Education and QS. With the university’s significant reputation for research prominence and academic results, and the city life on offer from Ireland’s capital, QUB deserves the consideration of any student hoping to excel in their field while also creating fond memories while they do it.

List of 326 Bachelor and Master Courses from Queen's University of Belfast - Course Catalogue

Similar courses

Program	University	Student satisfaction	Unemployed	Dropout	Tuition (UK)	Tuition (International)	UCAS Tariff	City
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Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons)

Queen's University of Belfast

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews