BSc (Hons) Theoretical Physics Bachelor's degree at the University of Edinburgh
BSc (Hons) Theoretical Physics at University of Edinburgh is built for students who want to push further into the mathematical machinery behind physics rather than stopping at the standard undergraduate toolkit.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Theoretical Physics is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Edinburgh, based in Central. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Physics graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 85% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £31,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Physics & Chemistry, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 100% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 5 modules
- Physics 1A: FoundationsCompulsory
- Physics 1B: The Stuff of the UniverseCompulsory
- Mathematics for Physics 1Compulsory
- Mathematics for Physics 2Compulsory
- Transition to University Mathematics for PhysicsOptional
Year 2 7 modules
- Physics of Fields and MatterCompulsory
- Dynamics and Vector CalculusCompulsory
- Experimental Physics 2Compulsory
- Programming and Data AnalysisCompulsory
- Modern PhysicsCompulsory
- Linear Algebra and Several Variable CalculusCompulsory
- Physics and Mathematics for Direct EntryOptional
Year 3 10 modules
- Fourier Analysis and StatisticsCompulsory
- Thermal PhysicsCompulsory
- Research Methods in PhysicsCompulsory
- Methods of Theoretical PhysicsCompulsory
- Quantum MechanicsOptional
- Principles of Quantum MechanicsOptional
- ElectromagnetismOptional
- Electromagnetism and RelativityOptional
- Computer ModellingOptional
- Numerical RecipesOptional
Year 4 14 modules
- Introduction to Condensed Matter PhysicsCompulsory
- Physics SkillsCompulsory
- Relativity, Nuclear and Particle PhysicsCompulsory
- Group ProjectCompulsory
- Senior Honours Project (Physics & Astronomy) Semester 1Optional
- Senior Honours Project (Physics & Astronomy) Semester 2Optional
- Mathematical Physics Honours ProjectOptional
- Science Communication and Public EngagementOptional
- Lagrangian DynamicsOptional
- Methods of Mathematical PhysicsOptional
- Quantum PhysicsOptional
- Symmetries of Quantum MechanicsOptional
- General RelativityOptional
- Hamiltonian DynamicsOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
Across the four years, the degree moves through a sequence of building blocks rather than a flat list of modules. You start with core theory, the mathematical and conceptual foundations that everything else rests on, before moving into research & methods, where you pick up the techniques theoretical physicists actually use to model and solve problems. Applied practice gives you the chance to test that theory against real physical systems, while specialist options let you steer the degree towards areas that interest you most, such as topics that sit closer to particle physics, condensed matter, or mathematical methods, depending on what's offered when you reach that stage. The independent project is where the degree asks the most of you individually: a sustained piece of theoretical work that draws on everything that's come before. Professional skills threads through the programme too, covering the kind of communication, computation and problem-solving habits that theoretical physicists need beyond the equations themselves. Because the course is IOP-accredited, the sequencing and content are set to meet the requirements for Chartered Physicist status, which gives the four years a clear professional anchor alongside the academic one.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who finds genuine satisfaction in abstraction, who would rather understand why an equation works than just how to apply it, and who's happy to sit with a hard problem for longer than feels comfortable before it clicks. If you enjoyed the mathematical side of school physics more than the lab side, or you found yourself wanting to know what was underneath the formulas, that instinct is exactly what this degree rewards. Most students who get onto courses like this arrive with A-levels or equivalent (85% of accepted entrants over recent years), typically in the 176–191 UCAS tariff band, though that reflects what past entrants held rather than a fixed requirement. Day to day, expect a lot of independent thinking: theoretical physics degrees ask you to work through problem sets, derivations and proofs largely on your own time, then bring your reasoning to tutorials and discussions. It suits people who are comfortable with delayed gratification, the payoff often comes not in the next lecture but a year or two later, when a concept from year one suddenly makes sense of something in year three. If your longer-term interest lies in research, further study, or a career where mathematical modelling and rigorous reasoning are the core skill, this is a natural fit rather than a detour.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Physics & Chemistry courses, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 75% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled, figures that reflect the wider graduate labour market for this field rather than outcomes specific to this course or university. Nationally, graduates in this field typically start on £26,500–£34,000 fifteen months after graduating; by three years that range shifts to £24,650–£34,800, and by five years to £30,600–£43,200. These are Graduate Outcomes and LEO figures describing national earnings patterns, not a salary this course promises or guarantees, and individual outcomes vary considerably depending on the path taken, research, further study, industry, teaching, and so on. What the theoretical physics route specifically offers is the IOP accreditation, which keeps the Chartered Physicist route open without further conversion, useful if professional recognition matters to your career plans. Nationally, 90% of students on comparable courses continue past their first year, which is worth knowing if you're weighing up how demanding the transition into a maths-heavy physics degree tends to be.
University & format
The degree runs full-time over four years at the University of Edinburgh, a public, research-intensive Russell Group university founded in 1583, with around 26,138 students in total. The course is based centrally in Edinburgh and taught in English, with the UCAS code F302. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the BSc (Hons) you'd graduate with is nationally recognised, and the course carries IOP accreditation specifically for the Chartered Physicist educational requirement.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 69%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 85% |
| another higher-education qualification | 10% |
| Other | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code F302). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at University of Edinburgh →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Physics & Chemistry graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £31,000 | £27,500 – £36,000 | 30 |
| 3 years after | £29,000 | £25,000 – £37,500 | 65 |
| 5 years after | £37,500 | £30,500 – £45,500 | 70 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in physics & chemistry · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Physics & Chemistry nationally
National figures for Physics & Chemistry graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Physics & Chemistry courses at the same study level.
Compared with 886 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 50% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
- Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 20; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Physics & Chemistry graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Physics & Chemistry graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Research institutes
- Energy & manufacturing
- Universities
- Government labs
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Physics & Chemistry graduates.
Physics Content Developer for AI-Enhanced LearningUp LearnPhysics PhD, Quantum Data Scientist for AIObsidianPhysics Academic MentorRibbons and Reeves LimitedPhysics TechnicianSapientia Education TrustPhysics Academic Mentor17918Physics Teachers in Calderdale and KirkleesCV-LibraryIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £31,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 75.1% · in work or study 90% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Edinburgh
Physical sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Physics & Chemistry right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Edinburgh from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £18,552 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Edinburgh’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Edinburgh and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Edinburgh
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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