Two students in a lecture hall
  • Undergraduate
  • MSci

Physics

Deepen your knowledge of physics with an integrated year of Master’s level study in this professionally accredited degree.

  • Undergraduate
  • MSci

Physics with a Year Abroad

Deepen your knowledge of physics with an integrated year of Master’s level study in this professionally accredited degree.

Deepen your knowledge of physics with an integrated year of Master’s level study in this professionally accredited degree

Tailor your studies to suit your career needs across a range of optional modules

Enrich your studies on an extensive final-year project or through a year abroad with an approved university

How would you like to study?

Study option:

Showing course information for 2024 View 2025 course information

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • MSci

  • Duration

    4 years

  • Start date

    October 2024

  • UCAS course code

    F303

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • £9,250 Home

    • £41,650 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • South Kensington

  • Applications: places

    8 : 1 (2022)

Minimum entry standard

  • A*A*A (A-level)

  • 40 points (International Baccalaureate)

View full entry requirements
  • Qualification

    • MSci

  • Duration

    4 years

  • Start date

    October 2024

  • UCAS course code

    F309

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • £9,250 Home

    • £41,650 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • South Kensington

  • Applications: places

    8 : 1 (2022)

Minimum entry standard

  • A*A*A (A-level)

  • 40 points (International Baccalaureate)

View full entry requirements

Study option:

Course overview

Enhance your understanding of both fundamental and applied physics on this accredited four-year course.

You'll receive an excellent grounding in a range of physics, mathematics and experimental methods. This work will prepare you for advanced study or a career within this exciting field of science.

You'll also benefit from access to the cutting-edge research being carried out by our internationally recognised research groups at Imperial.

This course offers you the flexibility to tailor learning towards your career interests as your studies progress.

You'll have the opportunity to specialise across a variety of topics including cosmology, laser technology and quantum physics, and develop your practical skills through extensive laboratory work.

This will help you to gain expertise in using apparatus, conducting experiments, interpreting data, problem-solving and scientific presentation. The computing aspects of the programme will also augment your programming skills in Python.

This course allows you to build on the BSc curriculum by completing an integrated year of study at Master's level, including a module preparing you for the research environment.

Your work will culminate in a substantial final-year project, allowing you to explore an area of physics in detail. 

Enhance your understanding of fundamental and applied physics on this accredited four-year course, which incorporates a year of study abroad.

You'll receive an excellent grounding in a range of physics, mathematics and experimental methods. This work will help prepare you for advanced study or a career within this exciting field of science.

You'll also benefit from access to the cutting-edge research being carried out by our internationally recognised research groups

This course offers you the flexibility to tailor learning towards your career interests as your studies progress. This includes opportunities to specialise across a variety of topics including cosmology, laser technology and quantum physics.

You'll develop your practical skills through extensive laboratory work.

This will help you to gain expertise in using apparatus, conducting experiments, interpreting data, problem-solving and scientific presentation. The computing aspects of the programme will also augment your programming skills in Python.

In your third year, you'll have the chance to complete an integrated year abroad at one of our partner universities. During this time, you'll investigate an area of physics in detail across a substantial research project.

You'll then return to Imperial to complete your studies during your fourth and final year.

Study option:

Structure

This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about potential course changes.

Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.

You’ll study the following core modules and take one optional module.

Core modules

Optional modules

You’ll take the following core modules.

You’ll also choose one I-Explore module, and two optional modules.

Core modules

Optional modules

You'll study all core modules. 

You will also choose four or five optional modules.

You can choose up to one project module. You can also choose one optional module from Year 4.

Core modules

Optional modules – Group A

Optional modules – Projects

You'll study all core modules.

You will also choose four or five optional modules.

Core modules

Optional modules

You’ll study the following core modules during your first year. 

You’ll also choose one optional module. 

Unless you have fluency, the additional module must be the appropriate Horizons Language course for your Year Abroad study destination.

Core modules

Optional modules

You’ll take the following core modules.

You’ll also choose one I-Explore module, and two optional modules.

Core modules

Optional modules

The third year consists of an agreed programme of study at an approved university in either France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland or the USA.

This is an integrated year abroad so the grades you achieve will count directly towards your Imperial degree.

You'll carry out a Master's level project at the host institution and choose from a selection of the host institution's courses.

We currently have exchange agreements with:

  • University of Grenoble, France
  • University of Paris Saclay, France
  • University of Freiburg, Germany
  • Ludwigs-Maximillians University, Germany
  • University of Heidelberg, Germany
  • University of Padova, Italy
  • University of Utrecht, Netherlands
  • La Laguna University, Spain
  • Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
  • University of Valencia, Spain
  • EPF Lausanne, Switzerland
  • MIT, USA

You'll study all core modules.

You will also choose four or five optional modules.

Core modules

Optional modules

Professional accreditation

This degree is professionally accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP).

With a professionally accredited degree, you’ll be able to demonstrate to employers that you have achieved an industry-recognised standard of competency. Professional accreditation also provides international recognition of your qualifications, which you can use to launch a career abroad.

Our MSci Physics courses also fully satisfy the academic requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Physicist (CPhys). This is a highly respected qualification earned by professionals working in physics, and can help you to enhance your career prospects and earning potential.

Our accreditation agreement with the Institute of Physics is renewed every five years. The current accreditation agreement was recently renewed through 2027.

Associateship

In addition to your degree, you’ll receive the Associateship of the Royal College of Science (ARCS) upon completion of this course. This associateship is awarded by one of our historic constituent Colleges.

Study option:

Teaching and assessment

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work
  • Independent study
  • Research project

Years 1 & 2

  • 50% Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work
  • 50% Independent study
  • 0% Research project

Year 3

  • 17% Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work
  • 83% Independent study
  • 0% Research project

Year 4

  • 8% Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work
  • 52% Independent study
  • 40% Research project

Teaching and learning methods

  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Four students sitting in a tutorial
    Tutorials
  • Laboratory classes
  • Computing labs
  • Person giving feedback
    Office hours
  • Individual research project
    Project work
  • Blackboard virtual learning environment
    Virtual learning environment
  • A person studying independently
    Independent learning

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Coursework
  • Practical
  • Written examination

Year 1

  • 25% Coursework
  • 15% Practical
  • 60% Written examination

Year 2

  • 20% Coursework
  • 10% Practical
  • 70% Written examination

Year 3

  • 15% Coursework
  • 15% Practical
  • 70% Written examination

Year 4

  • 35% Coursework
  • 20% Practical
  • 45% Written examination

Assessment methods

  • Computing reports and laboratory reports
  • Mastery tests
  • Oral presentations and assessments
  • Poster project
    Poster presentations
  • Project reports
  • Progress tests and quizzes
  • A person completing a written exam
    Written examinations
  • Papers from a written report
    Written problems

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work
  • Independent study
  • Research project

Years 1 & 2

  • 50% Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work
  • 50% Independent study
  • 0% Research project

Year 3

  • 8% Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work
  • 52% Independent study
  • 40% Research project

Year 4

  • 17% Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work
  • 83% Independent study
  • 0% Research project

Teaching and learning methods

  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Four students sitting in a tutorial
    Tutorials
  • Laboratory classes
  • Computing labs
  • Person giving feedback
    Office hours
  • Individual research project
    Project work
  • Blackboard virtual learning environment
    Virtual learning environment
  • A person studying independently
    Independent learning

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Coursework
  • Practical
  • Written examination

Year 1

  • 25% Coursework
  • 15% Practical
  • 60% Written examination

Year 2

  • 20% Coursework
  • 10% Practical
  • 70% Written examination

Year 3

  • 35% Coursework
  • 15% Practical
  • 50% Written examination

Year 4

  • 15% Coursework
  • 15% Practical
  • 70% Written examination

Assessment methods

  • Computing reports and laboratory reports
  • Mastery tests
  • Oral presentations and assessments
  • Poster project
    Poster presentations
  • Project reports
  • Progress tests and quizzes
  • A person completing a written exam
    Written examinations
  • Papers from a written report
    Written problems

Study option:

Entry requirements

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

Study option:

How to apply

Applications for 2024 entry are now closed

Applications are closed for 2024 entry.

Applications are closed for 2024 entry.

Tuition fees

Home fee

2024 entry

£9,250 per year

Year abroad

2024 entry

£1,385 for that year

Overseas fee

2024 entry

£41,650 per year

Year abroad

100% of the fee for that year

Your future career

Person in a bubble surrounded by 4 skills

Improve your career prospects by developing a broad range of professional skills.

Graduate Cap above rolled Degree

Approximately half of Imperial students also pursue MSc or PhD degrees.

Computer screen with cog

Many Imperial graduates move into traditional technical jobs because of their analytical and problem-solving skills.

Oil derrick

Oil and gas, telecommunications, business consultancy, banking, and finance are among them.

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Other potential career prospects include the civil service, cyber risk modelling, the energy industry, and the automotive industry.

Course data

Compare this course

Compare this course – Physics with a Year Abroad MSci

Terms and conditions

There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications