Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
112-120 UCAS points
Student satisfaction
This course scored 91% for overall satisfaction in the 2022 National Student Survey.
Course summary
- Study on a top-five ranked course for student satisfaction.
- Learn in small, close-knit and supportive groups.
- Work on real-world projects with industry partners throughout your course.
- Feel motivated by a course with one of the highest success rates for students acquiring placements.
On this course you’ll immerse yourself in how the universe works. You’ll study a range of classical and modern physics, developing the mathematical and analytical tools to solve the problems you encounter. The skills you develop studying physics are some of the most versatile of any degree subject.
We also offer BSc Honours Physics with Foundation Year where you study an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.
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Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Student View
Watch student Rhian Hughes talk about what it’s like to study this course.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
We’ve designed a balanced mix of activities to develop you as a professional physicist and enhance your career prospects. The physics course's focus at Sheffield Hallam is to teach in an applied way, highlighting the links between academic learning and its professional applications. As part of this, you’ll undertake projects with local industry partners to solve the real issues they’re encountering – developing professional skills and research techniques side by side.
You learn through
- lectures
- tutorials
- seminars
- practical laboratory sessions
- problem-based and practical activity-based sessions
- group and individual project work
- acting as mentors for other students
Course leaders and tutors
Alex Crombie
Lecturer in PhysicsAlex Crombie MPhys, MInstP holds degrees in physics and electronics. He teaches Professional Practice across all three years of the Physics course, along with Optics … Read more
Applied learning
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you a real-world experience to prepare you for your future career. Although optional (and competitive), a placement is actively encouraged to improve your employability at the end of your degree significantly. We’ll help you find a placement, as well as offering mentoring from returning placement students. Our mix of training and support has meant the physics course has one of the highest rates of placement uptake.
Live projects
As part of the course you’ll work on projects with local businesses. By partnering with local industry, you’ll have the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge you’ve learned in a live setting. Our industry partners provide real projects for you to tender for and work on – using the research and analytical equipment in our research centre. You’ll then be able to present your findings to the industry partner for appraisal and feedback.
In the final year of your degree you can complete a year-long dissertation project in partnership with industry. Some students choose to continue work they started during their placement year r you can work on live projects developed in tandem with business, where you develop sector-specific skills and visit sites to see your research in action.
Future careers
Physics prepares you for a very wide range of careers. The training in mathematics is widely sought after in both manufacturing and business and the research and problem-solving aspects of the degree support careers in further academia or research and development.
This course prepares you for a career in
- aerospace
- education
- energy
- electronics
- nanotechnology
- instrumentation
- physics research
- space exploration
- banking
- finance
- law
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Institute of Physics.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
You'll have access to a range of analytical equipment in our dedicated physics lab, such as the Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), X-ray Diffraction and Reflection machines and wind tunnels. You'll also be able to access research equipment such as rapid prototyping machines (3D printing), CNC and laser cutting machines with support from our dedicated team.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112 - 120
This must include at least 64 UCAS points from Physics and Mathematics A levels (with a minimum grade C in both). For example:
- BBB-BBC at A Level with the grade C in Mathematics or Physics
- A combination of qualifications, which must include 64 points from A level Mathematics and Physics (with a minimum grade C in both) and may include AS Levels, EPQ, general studies and BTEC National Qualifications
If you don’t meet these criteria you may be qualified for our BSC Physics with Foundation Year course.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4
- Maths at grade C or 4
- Science at grade C or 4
• Foundation - successful completion of our Extended Degree Programme Engineering and Mathematics or equivalent
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Atomic And Nuclear Physics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Electronics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Introduction To Condensed Matter Physics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module: Mathematics For Physicists | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: The Professional And Practical Physicist 1 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Vibrations, Waves And Optics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Mechanics, Relativity And Electromagnetism | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Physical Modelling 1 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Quantum And Condensed Matter Physics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: The Professional And Practical Physicist 2 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Thermodynamics And Statistical Physics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Analogue And Digital Electronics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Analogue And Digital Electronics 2 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Foreign Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Interfaces And Instrumentation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Programming With Mathematical Applications | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Physical Modelling 2 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Professional Practice For Physicists | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Project For Physicists | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Advanced Investigatory Techniques | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Applied Business Intelligence | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module: Foreign Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Modelling With Partial Differential Equations | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
| Module: Tensors And Relativity | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Physics courses (PDF, 184KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
