Physics

Physics is the most fundamental of the natural sciences, concerned with understanding the basic rules that govern matter, energy, space, and time across every scale from the subatomic to the cosmological. It is the discipline from which much of modern technology has grown, and it continues to drive advances in fields as varied as materials science, quantum computing, medical imaging, and our understanding of the early universe. Studying physics develops rigorous analytical and quantitative skills alongside deep scientific intuition.

This four-year, full-time MPhys programme at Queen Mary University of London takes you from the foundations of classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics through to quantum mechanics, statistical physics, special and general relativity, particle physics, and cosmology. You will develop mathematical fluency alongside physical understanding, and you will learn to design and conduct experiments, to interpret data, and to communicate scientific results clearly. The additional year of the MPhys allows you to engage with current research at a more advanced level, often including a substantial research project that gives you genuine experience of how physics is done at the frontier of the field.

Physics graduates are amongst the most versatile of all science graduates. Many pursue research careers in academia or industrial research and development, working on problems in areas such as quantum technologies, photonics, condensed matter, or high-energy physics. Beyond research, physics graduates move into roles in data science, software engineering, financial modelling, engineering consultancy, technology companies, and teaching.

The quantitative skills and analytical habits of mind that a physics degree develops are genuinely valuable across a very wide range of professional contexts, and employers in competitive sectors actively seek graduates with this background.