Astrophysics

Astrophysics is the branch of physics that applies the laws and methods of physical science to the study of astronomical objects: stars, planets, galaxies, black holes, nebulae and the universe as a whole. It is a discipline of extraordinary ambition, seeking to understand phenomena that operate on scales of time and distance that dwarf ordinary human experience, using the same fundamental physical laws that govern laboratory experiments and everyday matter. Studying astrophysics develops both deep physical insight and the mathematical and computational tools to model the most complex systems in nature.

At the University of Liverpool this four-year full-time programme is an MPhys degree, going beyond the three-year bachelor's to provide master's-level depth in the subject. The programme is delivered collaboratively by experts from the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, combining the research strengths of two institutions with significant astrophysics expertise. The programme includes a year abroad, adding an international research dimension to your studies.

As the course description notes, an astrophysics degree has the unique potential to provide you with an understanding of the most up-to-date discoveries about the universe, engaging you with the frontier of human knowledge about phenomena ranging from exoplanet atmospheres to the early universe.

You will study classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, special relativity, stellar physics, cosmology and computational astrophysics, developing both theoretical depth and numerical and observational skills.

Graduates pursue careers in research (typically following a PhD), data science, software engineering, financial modelling, defence and technology, where the rigorous analytical and computational skills developed through astrophysics are highly valued. The MPhys qualification is the standard route for those who want to pursue academic research or roles requiring an advanced level of physics. Many graduates go on to doctoral programmes at leading research universities in the UK and internationally.