BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics Bachelor's degree at the University of Exeter
BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics at University of Exeter. Physics with Astrophysics at Exeter is built around the idea that understanding the universe requires both rigorous grounding in physical theory and hands-on experience with the tools astrophysicists actually use.
About this course
Explore what Exeter graduates do | Career Zone | University of Exeter Section links Career Planning Reflect on yourself Explore your options Exploring Postgraduate Study Employment Sectors Explore what Exeter graduates do Anthropology Arab and Islamic Studies Archaeology Art History and Visual Culture Biosciences Class From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Exeter, based in Streatham Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Physics graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 50% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £35,000. (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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (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 of Everyday LifeCompulsory60 credits
- Mathematics SkillsCompulsory30 credits
- Computational Data AnalysisCompulsory15 credits
- Experimental PhysicsCompulsory15 credits
- Employability and Professional Skills DevelopmentCompulsory
Year 2 26 modules
- Observing the UniverseCompulsory15 credits
- From Fields to QuantaCompulsory60 credits
- Mathematics for PhysicistsCompulsory15 credits
- Experimental Physics IICompulsory15 credits
- Employability and Skills Development IICompulsory
- Study Abroad OptionsCompulsory120 credits
- Professional PlacementCompulsory120 credits
- Nuclear and High Energy Particle PhysicsCompulsory15 credits
- Galaxies and High Energy AstrophysicsCompulsory15 credits
- Stars from Birth to DeathCompulsory15 credits
- Physics ProjectCompulsory30 credits
- States of MatterCompulsory15 credits
- Employability and Professional Skills Development IIICompulsory
- Scientific Programming in COptional15 credits
- The Physics of Living SystemsOptional15 credits
- Analytical and Chaotic DynamicsOptional15 credits
- From Atoms to Images with Nonlinear OpticsOptional15 credits
- Electromagnetism IIOptional15 credits
- The Biophysics of Cells and TissuesOptional15 credits
- Methods of Theoretical PhysicsOptional15 credits
- Nanostructures and Graphene ScienceOptional15 credits
- Principles of Theoretical PhysicsOptional15 credits
- Soft MatterOptional15 credits
- Introduction to Quantum TechnologyOptional15 credits
- Fluid Dynamics in Physics and AstronomyOptional15 credits
- Energy, Materials and SustainabilityOptional15 credits
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
The course is structured to take you from foundational principles through to independent research. Core theory modules build the mathematical and conceptual backbone of physics, mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum theory and thermodynamics, while research & methods modules introduce you to the techniques physicists and astrophysicists rely on, including data analysis, computational modelling and observational work. Applied practice modules give you laboratory and practical experience, testing theory against real measurement and instrumentation. As you progress, specialist options let you focus on particular areas of astrophysics or physics more broadly, such as astrophysics-specific electives, depending on what interests you as your understanding deepens. The independent project is where you take ownership of a substantial piece of research, working closely with academic staff and producing something that reflects your own scientific judgement rather than following a set brief. Running alongside the technical content, professional skills modules develop the communication, teamwork and problem-solving abilities that employers and further study routes both expect. Across three years, the balance shifts from structured teaching towards greater independence, mirroring how physicists actually work once qualified.
Who it's for
This course suits people who find themselves genuinely curious about how the universe works at both the smallest and largest scales, someone who enjoys sitting with a difficult mathematical problem until it clicks, but who's equally drawn to questions about stars, galaxies and the structure of the cosmos. You'll need a comfort with abstract reasoning and quantitative work, since much of the degree rests on mathematical physics, but curiosity matters as much as raw ability. Expect a good deal of independent study punctuated by laboratory sessions, computational work and, eventually, a research project you largely direct yourself. It suits students who like structure early on but want increasing autonomy as they progress, people who are motivated by understanding *why* something works, not just how to get the right answer. Most students who take this route have already shown strong performance in physics and mathematics at school or college level, and enjoy the kind of problem-solving that doesn't always have an obvious shortcut. If you're the sort of person who reads about black holes or cosmology for fun and wants to understand the physics behind the headlines, rather than just the popular-science version, this is likely to feel like a natural fit.
Careers & job market
Nationally, Physics & Chemistry graduates report a range of outcomes worth understanding in context rather than as guarantees. Across these subject areas, 85% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 75% of those in work were in roles classified as highly skilled or were continuing into further study. Retention is also strong nationally, with 90% of students continuing past their first year. On earnings, national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data show starting salaries (measured 15 months after graduation) typically ranging from £26,500 to £34,000, moving to £24,650–£34,800 after three years and £30,600–£43,200 after five years. These figures describe national patterns across Physics & Chemistry graduates as a whole, not outcomes specific to this course or university, and they shouldn't be read as a promise of what any individual graduate will earn. The IOP accreditation attached to this degree is relevant here too, since it partially satisfies the educational requirement toward becoming a Chartered Physicist, a step some physics careers value.
University & format
The University of Exeter is a public, research-intensive institution and a member of the Russell Group, founded in 1955. This BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics degree is delivered full-time over three years at the Streatham Campus, entirely in English. Most students accepted onto the course arrive with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, around 90% of recent entrants, with the most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students sitting between 128 and 143 points; this reflects typical entrant profiles rather than a fixed entry requirement. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships, details of which are available on its funding pages. The degree's Gold TEF 2023 rating ranking of 11th overall provide additional external reference points for prospective students weighing up where to study.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
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.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
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 | 90% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
| an Access course | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
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. 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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Exeter →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
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 | £35,000 | £30,000 – £37,500 | 25 |
| 3 years after | £31,000 | £26,000 – £38,000 | 115 |
| 5 years after | £40,000 | £32,000 – £49,000 | 130 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
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: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. 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.
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 40% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Sports and fitness occupationsSOC 2020 343 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £13,819
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: 25; response rate: 60%. 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
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £35,000. 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 8.6 out of 10: NSS 78.9% · in work or study 85% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Exeter
Physical sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Streatham Campus
1,452 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
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 Exeter from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Exeter; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 Exeter’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 Exeter and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Exeter
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
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What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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