Physics Study Guide 2025/26
What you can study
Our curriculum is designed with input from leading employers to ensure you have the skills, knowledge and experience needed to be a highly successful graduate. You will have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, and our award-winning student society, Chaos. Find us on Twitter and Instagram.
You will find units on:
- classical, quantum and thermal physics
- mathematics for physics
- cosmology
Pre-requisites
At UK universities, students specialise from their first year and rarely take units outside their degree subject. This means that:
- Year 1 units are suitable for all students.
- Year 2 units require some university study in the discipline.
- Year 3 units require a strong background in the discipline.
- Masters-level units require three years of study in the discipline.
Subject pathway students
If you have been nominated to Bristol on the Study Abroad (Physics pathway), you must take the majority of your credits from this guide.
Year 1
Pre-requisites: suitable for all students
Teaching Block 1
Teaching Block 2
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
- Core Physics I: Classical, Quantum and Thermal Physics - PHYS10012
- Practical Physics I: Laboratory skills, Computing and Team Discovery - PHYS10013 - this unit must be taken with PHYS10012
Year 2
Pre-requisites: some university study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
Teaching Block 2
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Year 3
Pre-requisites: strong background of study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
- Core Physics III: Atoms and Matter - PHYS30051
- Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei - PHYS30052
- Mesoscale and Biological Physics - PHYS30045
- Particle Physics - PHYS30046
Teaching Block 2
- Advanced Classical Mechanics - PHYS30048
- Environmental Physics - PHYS30049
- Materials: Fundamental properties and applications - PHYS30050
- Stellar and Terrestrial Fusion - PHYS30047
Teaching Block 4
Masters-level units
Pre-requisites: at least 3 years of study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
- Complex Disordered Matter - PHYSM0071
- Forming Planets and Feeding Black Holes - PHYSM0073
- Quantum Fields and Particles - PHYSM0072
Teaching Block 2
- General Relativity and Cosmology - PHYSM0051
- Nuclear Reactor Physics - PHYSM0046
- Quantum and Topological Materials - PHYSM0074
- Semiconductor Device Physics and Technology - PHYSM0048 - please note that this unit requires prior experience of lab work. The School advises students to have completed the equivalent of 40 Bristol credits or more in lab-based work in Physics units, or a related field, at their home university.
Application queries
Contact the Centre for Study Abroad inbound team if you have any queries about the application process for the study abroad programmes:
Phone: +44 117 39 40207
Email: cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk
You may also be interested in:
- Earth Sciences - Geophysics units
- Mathematics
What you can study at Bristol
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Study Guides
Study Guides are updated every April for the following academic year.