Physics with an Industrial Placement Year BSc

Course description

This four-year accredited BSc Physics with an Industrial Placement Year course will give you the skills, knowledge and industry-level experience you’ll need for a successful career.

Have the freedom to explore the extraordinary scale of the field of physics and apply your knowledge in industry with our Institute of Physics accredited course.

In your first year, you’ll focus on fundamental theories, exploring topics such as heat, motion and quantum mechanics. From the start of your degree you’ll gain hands-on experience in our specialist teaching lab, developing lab skills and learning how theories can be applied in the real world.

You’ll also take part in programming classes, which will teach you skills that are valuable in a variety of graduate careers ranging from data science to computer game design.

In your second year, you’ll explore essential physics concepts in even more detail. You’ll also have the flexibility to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals through a range of optional modules across areas such as particle physics, advanced programming and astrophysics.

The whole of your third year is spent working at a leading organisation in the science industry on a placement. Our students have secured placements in roles working on particle accelerators, to nuclear waste management, with organisations including CERN, Jaguar Land Rover, Sellafield, EDF Energy and the Civil Service.

You’ll gain experience of applying your knowledge of physics in the real world, and have the opportunity to develop new skills and build up your CV. Some students even come back with the offer of a job when they graduate.

When you return to Sheffield in your fourth year, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from a variety of more in-depth optional modules on topics like dark matter, nuclear physics and semiconductor technologies. You’ll also get the chance to complete a research project, a Quantum Information Laboratory project, a physics education and outreach project, or work with an external partner on an industrial group project.

Through your project, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience in an area of your choosing, with the opportunity to investigate a real-world problem.

Your final year is the perfect time to build on your placement experience to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals, equipping yourself with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.

With Access Sheffield, you could qualify for additional consideration or an alternative offer - find out if you're eligible.

• Standard offer
• Access Sheffield offer

English language requirements |

You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

Equivalent English language qualifications

Visa and immigration requirements

Other qualifications | UK and EU/international

Graduate careers

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

You won’t be short of career options with a degree in physics from Sheffield. Our courses are designed to give you the skills that will help you succeed in your chosen career. Employers hire our graduates because of their ability to plan projects, work to deadlines, analyse data and solve complex problems, independently and as part of a team

A physics degree from Sheffield can take you far, whatever you want to do. Whether you want a job that involves developing renewable energy technologies, improving medical treatments, creating quantum telecommunications systems or exploring outer space.

We have graduates putting their skills to use in computer programming, software engineering, data science, and research and development roles for companies such as BT, EDF energy, HSBC, IBM, Nissan, the NHS and the Civil Service.

Many of our graduates also choose to pursue a research career. 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.

We are part of the White Rose Industrial Physics Academy (WRIPA), a partnership with other universities and technical industries. Our students benefit from collaborations with 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.