Physics and Astrophysics

Course description

On this course, you'll spend half your degree studying astrophysics modules, more than most other UK astrophysics courses. You'll also develop the skills for a career in research, whether you want to help map the universe as an astrophysicist or apply your scientific knowledge to solve problems in industry.

There are two telescopes on the roof of our building, which you'll be trained to use from your first year. We also run a telescope on La Palma in the Canary Islands, which students use during our annual field trip. 

At the start of your course, in lectures and lab classes you'll cover the essential physics behind everything else you'll study: heat, motion, electricity, magnetism and quantum mechanics. You'll also begin studying the fundamentals of astronomy and astrophysics with modules that cover our solar system, stars, galaxies and basic cosmology. There are practical sessions using our telescopes and, in programming classes, you can learn skills that are essential to modern astrophysics and valuable in many graduate careers, from data science to computer game design.

You'll explore essential physics in even more depth in your second year, and continue to specialise in astrophysics with modules on the structure and evolution of stars and galaxies. You'll do more practical work with our telescopes and continue to develop your programming skills. 

In third year, you can branch out into lots of different areas and complete your own research project in astrophysics. Your core modules will cover topics like cosmology and stellar atmospheres. Optional modules include topics such as dark matter and nuclear astrophysics.

A variety of optional modules are also available in the fourth year, when you'll also be working on a major research project. You'll choose a research topic in astrophysics and work closely with a member of academic staff who is an expert in the area you want to explore. The project takes up around half of your final year and can lead to a publication in a scientific journal.

Learning and assessment

Assessment

You will be assessed through a portfolio of problem sets, lab work and other material, as well as exams, essays, lab reports and presentations.

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Graduate careers

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Our physics students develop numerical, problem solving and data analysis skills that are useful in many graduate jobs, including computer programming, software engineering, data science, and research and development into new products and services. Their expertise can be applied to many of the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, from developing renewable energy technologies and improving medical treatments to creating quantum telecommunications systems and exploring outer space.

Students who want to work as a physics researcher often do a PhD, which can lead to a career at a top university or a major international research facility such as CERN.

The University of Sheffield is part of the White Rose Industrial Physics Academy. This partnership of university physics departments and technical industries can set up collaborations between our students and industrial partners through internships, year in industry placements, final year projects and careers activities. WRIPA also organises the UK's largest physics recruitment fair, where our students can meet potential employers.

Completing your application

The form is divided into two parts. Part 1 is for personal information, including English language ability, and previous education and employment. You have to complete all of the mandatory fields in this part (marked with a *) before you can go on to Part 2. Part 2 is where you select the course or courses you want to apply for. You can apply for a total of three different postgraduate courses.

Supporting documents

You'll need to include certain documents to support your application, for example evidence of your previous qualifications, and a personal statement. You can supply these simply by uploading them to the relevant sections of your application.

You can find more information about the supporting documents you'll need, and how to supply them, on our Supporting Documents webpage:

Supporting documents

Submitting your application

Your application will only be submitted to us when you click the 'Submit Application' button. If you've forgotten to fill in any sections, you'll be prompted to go back and complete them at this stage. When you've successfully submitted the completed form, we'll confirm this on-screen. We'll also send you an email confirmation.

If you want to apply for more than one course, you don't need to submit them all at the same time. Each course choice has its own 'Submit Application' button.

If you have any problems completing your online application, please contact us:

Contacts for prospective students

See our key dates webpage for application deadlines:

Deadlines for postgraduate courses

After you've applied

When we've created your applicant record, we'll send you a second email to confirm this. This email will include your applicant and choice numbers, as well as information about what happens next.

You can find more information about what happens after you submit your application, and about preparing to study at the University of Sheffield, on the After You Apply webpage:

After you apply