MSci (Hons) Physics Integrated Master's degree at the University of Nottingham
MSci (Hons) Physics at University of Nottingham. The extra fourth year is what sets this MSci apart from a standard physics degree: rather than finishing at Bachelor's level, you carry your studies further into research methods, specialist topics and an independent project, with the…
About this course
You’ll further sharpen the skills that employers highly value enabling you to transition to the professional workplace and excel in your chosen career. From the provider’s course page.
MSci (Hons) Physics is an Integrated Master's degree (MSci (Hons)) at the University of Nottingham. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Physics graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 90% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (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: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (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 one 5 modules
- Mathematical Methods and Modelling for PhysicistsCore
Module details
This year-long module covers the mathematical background required for the majority of undergraduate-level study of physics and astronomy. It will complement the material studied in other first-year physics degree modules. The structure of the module has been designed to ease students into the level of maths required for the early stages of your degree. The topics covered in this module are: Complex numbers, Differentiation and Taylor Series representations, Stationary points of two-dimensional f
- Fundamentals of Classical and Modern Physics 1Core
Module details
In this module, you'll develop your knowledge, understanding and problem-solving skills across several core areas of physics, including: classical mechanics, relativity, vibrations and waves, quantum physics, thermal physics. You'll further explore how these theoretical principles explain a wide range of natural phenomena and examine their relevance to modern technological applications. This module builds on your foundation in both classical and modern physics, preparing you for more advanced to
- Fundamentals of Classical and Modern Physics IICore
Module details
In this module, you'll continue to build your knowledge, understanding and problem-solving abilities in several core areas of physics, including: classical mechanics, relativity, vibrations and waves, quantum physics, thermal physics. You'll further explore how these theoretical principles explain a wide range of natural phenomena and examine their relevance to modern technological applications. This module builds on your foundation in both classical and modern physics, preparing you for more ad
- Investigations in Physics ICore
Module details
New physical laws are discovered, and the consequences of known laws are understood through three main approaches: experimental, computational, and mathematical. This module provides a clear introduction to these methods. This module focuses on experimental and computational physics, along with concepts common to all three approaches. In the experimental part of the module, you will carry out, record, and report on experiments, developing essential skills and learning standard experimental techn
- Professional Skills for Physicists ICore
Module details
In this module, you'll develop essential professional skills for a career in physics. You will focus on: professional communication, teamworking, professional behaviour and reflective practice, academic integrity and ethics, giving, receiving and reflecting on feedback, equity, diversity and inclusion in physics. Through a series of activities, you'll explore specialised areas of physics that you'll study later in the programme, along with broader topics such as sustainability. You will also gai
Year two 5 modules
- Electromagnetism and OpticsCore
Module details
This module begins by developing the mathematical tools needed to describe classical fields, focusing on vector calculus. You will then explore the behaviour of static electric and magnetic fields, their sources, and their effects on charged particles. The module progresses to dynamic situations where electric and magnetic fields interact, leading to the unified framework of Maxwell's equations. You will see how these equations describe electromagnetic waves in empty space and apply this underst
- Investigations in Physics IICore
Module details
This module builds on Investigations in Physics 1 and follows a similar structure, now focusing on mathematical, computational and discovery skills. The mathematical aspect expands on techniques from the Mathematical Methods and Modelling for Physicists module. You will learn new methods for modelling physical systems, applying these to specific examples and exploring how models can be tested. The computational part develops your coding skills further, covering data handling, analysis and modell
- Professional Skills for Physicists 2Core
Module details
This module provides comprehensive training in three key areas: communicating science in different formats and for various audiences, working effectively in teams and applying practical problem-solving strategies. You will have the opportunity to practice these skills in a range of settings, including synoptic tasks that integrate knowledge from across the core physics modules.
- Quantum and Statistical PhysicsCore
Module details
This module provides an introduction to the theory and elementary applications of quantum mechanics, a theory that is one of the key achievements of physics. Quantum mechanics is an elegant theoretical construct that is both beautiful and mysterious. Some of the predictions of quantum mechanics are wholly counter-intuitive and there are aspects of it that are not properly understood. Nonetheless, it has been thoroughly tested empirically for nearly a century and, wherever predictions can be made
- Dynamics and SymmetriesOptional
Module details
This module will introduce you to the mathematical language behind the classical mechanics describing our universe. You will learn about Lagrangians and Hamiltonians, the starting place from which we can determine the dynamics of complicated systems, like pendula and planets orbiting the sun, as well as the origin of conserved quantities such as energy and momentum. You will study: Newton's Laws and deriving the orbits predicted by Kepler, Lagrangians and Hamiltonians, the building blocks behind
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 core theory through to independent research practice. Early study concentrates on core theory: the mathematical and conceptual foundations of physics that underpin everything else on the course. This is paired with research & methods, where you learn the experimental and computational techniques physicists actually use, and applied practice, which puts theory to work in laboratory and problem-solving settings. As you progress, you choose specialist options such as areas of physics that reflect your own interests, alongside continued development of professional skills relevant to the workplace. The defining feature of the fourth year is the independent project, a sustained piece of research work in which you take ownership of a question, plan your own investigation and report your findings much as a professional researcher or postgraduate student would.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who enjoys physics enough to want a fourth year of it rather than stopping at three, someone curious about how things work at a fundamental level, comfortable with mathematics, and willing to sit with a problem until it makes sense. If you like the idea of moving from following set experiments to designing and running your own piece of research, the later years will feel like a natural progression rather than a leap. It also suits students who are thinking seriously about a research career, further postgraduate study, or professional recognition as a physicist, since the accreditation route rewards that kind of long-term thinking. Expect the workload to shift over time: more lecture-based structure in the earlier years, more independent reading, experimentation and writing as you approach the final project. Most students accepted onto the course arrive with A-levels or equivalent, typically in the 176–191 UCAS tariff range, so you'll be joining peers with a broadly similar academic starting point, though that figure describes past entrants rather than a fixed requirement.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Physics & Chemistry courses, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after finishing, and 75% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled or are continuing their studies, figures that reflect the breadth of destinations open to physics graduates rather than any specific job. National earnings data (Graduate Outcomes/LEO) show a range of £26,500–£34,000 for graduates 15 months after finishing across comparable courses, £24,650–£34,800 after three years, and £30,600–£43,200 after five years; these are national figures for the subject area, not university-specific pay or a guaranteed outcome. Around 90% of students nationally continue past their first year, a useful indicator of how manageable the transition into higher-level study tends to be. For this course specifically, IOP accreditation for the Chartered Physicist educational requirement is a concrete marker relevant to those aiming at professional recognition within the physics field, whether that path leads to industry research, further academic study or other technical careers.
University & format
This is a full-time, four-year integrated Master's (MSci Hons), UCAS code F303, taught in English at the University of Nottingham, a public Russell Group university founded in 1881. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body.
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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Year in industry. 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 | 95% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
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 F303). 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 (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Nottingham →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 | £30,000 | £25,000 – £36,000 | 40 |
| 3 years after | £31,000 | £25,000 – £37,500 | 145 |
| 5 years after | £38,500 | £30,500 – £50,500 | 180 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. 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: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. 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.
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
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: 45; 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
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. 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 9.3 out of 10: NSS 84% · in work or study 95% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Nottingham
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 The University of Nottingham
844 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 Nottingham from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £38,500 / 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 Nottingham’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 Nottingham and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Nottingham
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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