2023 entry (view 2024 entry)
BSc Physics (F300)
Course overview

Typical offer
A-level standard offer: A*AA
A-level contextual offer: AAB
See entry requirements for full details and eligibility.
Course duration
3 year(s) full-time
Part-time study is not available for this course
Application method
Full-time: UCAS
Fees
£9,250 per year, home students
£27,200 per year, international students
Fees quoted are for 2023 entry only. Fees for 2024 will be confirmed, subject to government approval, later in 2023.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Location
Join a University ranked in the UK top five for Physics research (THE analysis of REF 2021) with an excellent reputation for teaching and learning.
Learn about the fundamental building blocks and forces of nature and how quantum physics and relativity help us understand the world around us.
Year one gives you a comprehensive grounding in physics and mathematics, and year two focuses on the principles of physics. Flexibility and choice are key features of a Bristol physics degree and a wide range of units in the final year means you can specialise in the topics that you find most fascinating.
Your third year includes a major project or dissertation. Project options include the Physics Education scheme, centred on teaching in a school, and the Industrial Group Project, based on a real problem set by industrial partners. Recent partners have included Sellafield, Bristol Zoo, Siemens and The Fat Duck restaurant.
You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We provide physics-specific employability sessions and encourage you to develop a broad range of transferable skills, including problem solving and the ability to communicate complicated concepts. Our graduates have an excellent record of employment which is a testament to the value that employers place on these skills.
The course is accredited by the Institute of Physics.
Think Big bursaries of £3,000 are available to support first-year international undergraduate students in this subject area.
This course is accredited by the following organisations
The Institute of Physics (IOP) for the purpose of partially meeting the educational requirement for Chartered Physicist.
Course structure
Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.
Go to programme catalogueEntry requirements
We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.
A-level standard offer
A*AA including A*A (in any order) in Mathematics and Physics
A-level contextual offer
AAB including AA in Mathematics and Physics
Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offerBTEC
D*DD in Engineering BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma, with Distinctions in four specified Physics units, AND A in Mathematics at A-level (or equivalent).
Find out more about our BTEC entry requirementsInternational Baccalaureate Diploma
38 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 7, 6 (in any order) at Higher Level in Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations) and Physics
International Baccalaureate Diploma contextual offer
34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level, including 6, 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations) and Physics
Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offerEuropean Baccalaureate
88% overall, with 9.0, 8.5 in Mathematics and Physics (in any order)
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Advanced Higher: AA in Mathematics and Physics, and Standard Higher: AAAAA
Access to HE Diploma
Access to HE Diploma in Engineering, Science, or Computing (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include:
- at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above; and
- at least 12 credits at Distinction from Mathematics units (including algebra, calculus and trigonometry); and
- at least 12 credits at Distinction from specified Physics units.
Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.
Welsh Baccalaureate
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Cambridge Pre-U
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/ D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/ M2 is B, and M3 is C.
International qualifications
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Search international qualificationsApplicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
No specific subjects required.
Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
- IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all skills
- GCSE English Language grade C or 4
- An alternative English Language Profile E qualification
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels
More about UK qualifications.
Selection process
- We only use your information in UCAS to assess your application. There are no other selection criteria or processes.
- Full information about our selection processes for this course:
- The admissions statement above relates to 2023 entry. The statement for 2024 entry will be available in summer 2023.
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement: