BSc (Hons) Physics / Theoretical Physics at University of Glasgow

Programme overview

Physics at Glasgow covers experimental and theoretical study of matter and energy, from elementary particles and nuclear and atomic physics to solids and the origins of the universe. Students are taught by staff involved in international projects such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and the LIGO gravitational wave observatory. The programmes are accredited by the Institute of Physics.

Duration: 4 years full-time | Intake: September | Location: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year 1 covers Physics 1 and Mathematics 1 (dynamics, wave motion, properties of matter, thermal physics, optics, electricity and magnetism, quantum physics); Year 2 adds Physics 2, programming under Linux and mathematics courses; Honours years cover Quantum Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Electromagnetic Theory, Solid State Physics, Nuclear & Particle Physics and Atomic Systems, with an independent research project in the final year.

Career pathways

Graduates go on to professional roles and further study; University of Glasgow Graduate Outcomes data (graduates of 2023-24, surveyed 15 months later) shows 93.3% in work or further study and 75.4% of those in work in graduate-level employment.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

BSc (Hons) Physics / Theoretical Physics (Physics F300, Theoretical Physics F344 (BSc Hons, 4 years)). Application deadlines (2027 entry): 15 October for Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Oxford/Cambridge applicants; 13 January for all other UK applicants; 30 June for international students. Applications are made through UCAS. International applicants from non-English-speaking countries: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no subtest under 6.0 (one-skill retake accepted; single test, taken within 2 years 5 months of the start date). Equivalents: TOEFL iBT 92 overall with minimum Reading 22, Listening 20, Speaking 23, Writing 21 (tests from 21 January 2026; 90 overall with Reading 20, Listening 19, Speaking 19, Writing 21 for earlier tests); PTE Academic 59 overall and in all subtests; Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency 176 overall with no subtest below 169; Oxford ELLT 7 overall with no subtest below 6; LanguageCert Academic SELT 70 overall with no subtest below 60; Password Skills Plus 6.5 overall with no subtest below 6.0. Accepted school qualifications include IGCSE English First Language grade C, A-level English grade C, IB English A SL5/HL5, WAEC English grade C6. University of Glasgow pre-sessional English courses are also accepted. The programme is accredited by the Institute of Physics.

Intake: September 2027

Duration: 4 years full-time

Explore more study programmes

Engineering