Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons)
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The UK space sector is growing. Graduates in Physics with Astrophysics have never been more in demand, and at Northumbria you will be learning from the best, in world class learning environments with the aid of the best technology.
Choosing Physics with Astrophysics at Northumbria can open up your career possibilities.
Physicists are problem solvers, future shapers, and at Northumbria we empower our Physics students to think creatively about how to tackle the challenges we put in front of them.
The research strengths of our staff include astro-particle physics and solar physics, as well as quantum devices, smart and nano materials, soft matter, chaos theory and dynamical systems.
Physics & Astronomy at Northumbria is ranked 1st in the UK for Teaching Quality & Student Experience (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
100% of students studying Physics & Astronomy at Northumbria believed their course was intellectually stimulating and felt free to express their ideas, opinions, and beliefs (NSS, 2024).
Accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP) for the purpose of partially meeting the educational requirement for Chartered Physicist.
UCAS Code
F3F5
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department
Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025 or September 2026
Fees
Fee Information
Hear what it is really like to study Physics with Astrophysics BSc (Hons) from our current students.
Our current and future projects work towards establishing the North East as a world-renowned hub for agile, dynamic, cutting-edge space research and development.
Find out what our Maths, Physics and Electrical Engineering students and staff are taking part in and achieving.
Brighter, cheaper blue light could revolutionise screen technology.
Read the news story.Northumbria academic helps develop contact lens that can detect glaucoma.
Read the news story.Northumbria academic receives award for research breakthrough.
Read the news story.Northumbria to host Isaac Newton Institute Satellite Programme event.
Read the news story.This course is eligible for a scholarship
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Our Department includes the subject areas of Maths, Physics, Astrophysics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Find out more about the department below.
Physics with Astrophysics students at Northumbria are taught through a wide range of methods, including directed learning, laboratory experiments and self-directed research. There is a strong emphasis on problem solving, ranging from laboratory sessions and seminars to develop solutions to ideal problems, to applying computational techniques to multi-variable constrained problems.
You will be exposed to and encouraged to use the latest technology, through dedicated facilities, to study and understand complex physical concepts.
Our assessment philosophy is to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and application in a variety of ways and settings including laboratory experiments, presentations, assignments, exams, reports and project work.
Physics with Astrophysics students will share common modules with Physics BSc students, but in your final year you will study specialist subjects such as cosmology and stellar evolution and your final year project will be an astrophysics research topic.
Find out how research is brought into teaching on the BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics.
With a large number of staff linked to our BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics programme, each with their own specialist areas of interest, you will learn from some truly inspiring experts. If you choose Physics with Astrophysics at Northumbria, you will engage with world-leading Astrophysicists including a Royal Astronomical Society Fellow, and a former award winner
Whether you are interested in magnetohydrodynamcs or solar-terrestrial plasma physics our staff are not only teaching their specialist subjects but also writing textbooks and adding new knowledge and perspectives to our understanding of the world and the universe around us.
We are an enthusiastic, committed, knowledgeable and likeable staff team, who are here to motivate you and propel you through your degree and beyond.
Northumbria has recently invested more than one million pounds into Physics facilities, meaning our students have access to the state-of-the-art learning environments.
The Smart Materials and Surfaces Lab supports research into many specialist fields including super-water repellent surfaces and microfluidics. The Microwave Technology Lab is at the centre of exciting research into breast cancer detection and security screening for concealed weapons. The New and Renewable Energy Lab is closely connected to future-changing research into wind power, photovoltaics and electric vehicle battery testing.
The core Physics Teaching Lab contains a variety of cutting-edge equipment to measure and experiment on invisible forces and physical phenomena.
Technology Enhanced Learning is core to the Physics course. You will undertake online tests and self-guided exercises, which have a positive impact on your formation as they enable you to work independently and to develop innovative thinking.
The department of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering has modern laboratory and computing resources for learning, teaching, research, innovation and business engagement.
At the heart of each Northumbria campus, our libraries provide a range of study space and technology to suit every learning style.
At Northumbria your learning will be enhanced through one-to-one contact with the Physics staff.
Key research interests of staff include:
Physics and Astrophysics research is fundamental to the University’s distinctive learning experience. At Northumbria you will be surrounded by research opportunities and actively encouraged to contribute to developing new knowledge.
Wherever possible, research at the frontiers of physics and astrophysics enters lectures and seminars, through simulations and reports on recent scientific enquiry. There is a world-leading research group looking at:
From statistics to complex and nonlinear phenomena, astrophysics to smart materials, and communications to renewable energy, the pioneering research in the Department of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering focuses on a wide range of issues.
From the first day of your Physics with Astrophysics degree to the last, you will be empowered to take responsibility for and develop your own learning. This experience will equip you with a valuable range of transferable skills from the analytical to the practical and interpersonal.
Our industry partners tell us they value highly the analytical skills of Northumbria Physics and Astrophysics students such as estimation, quantitative modelling and statistical analysis, and these skills can be deployed across a wide range of disciplines in addition to research, such as healthcare energy, electronics and finance.
Whatever you decide to do, you will have a strong employability potential as a result of having acquired the characteristics of a Northumbria graduate. These include the ability to think creatively while at the same time applying rigorous structure to solve complex problems.
You can boost your CV and develop your experience whilst studying at Northumbria.
From first year through to final year and beyond graduation, we are here to help.
We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.
Careers and Employment Services
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Physics with Astrophysics. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
112 UCAS Tariff points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
Subject Requirements:
Applicants will need Grade B in A-level Mathematics and Physics, or recognised equivalents.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.
Additional Requirements:
There are no additional requirements for this course.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
For further admissions guidance and requirements, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/admissionsguidance Please review this information before submitting your application.
96 to 112 Tariff Points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions and we understand that every applicant’s circumstances can be different, which is why we take a flexible approach when making offers for this course. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our university regardless of personal circumstances or background. Typically, offers range from 96 to 112 UCAS tariff points, but we’ll assess your individual circumstances and potential when reviewing your application
To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
Subject Requirements:
Applicants will need Grade B in A-level Mathematics and Physics, or recognised equivalents.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.
Additional Requirements:
There are no additional requirements for this course.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
For further admissions guidance and requirements, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/admissionsguidance Please review this information before submitting your application.
UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535
* This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift, as decided by the UK Government, up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has recently suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX ( Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments)
International Fee in Year 1:
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
UK Fee in Year 1*: TBC
* Government has yet to announce 26/27 tuition fee levels.
International Fee in Year 1:
TBC
ADDITIONAL COSTS
TBC
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
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Home or EU applicants please apply through UCAS
International applicants please apply using the links below
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If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
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