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Theoretical Physics

  • MSci
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • September 2025
  • Undergraduate
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Course options

2025-20262026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Join a University ranked in the UK top five for Physics research (THE analysis of REF 2021) with an excellent reputation for teaching and learning.

Studying Theoretical Physics, you will learn how to understand and predict phenomena in the physical world, based on a conceptual and mathematical understanding of the laws of the universe.

Your first two years will follow the structure of the MSci Physics course but with a greater focus on developing your theoretical methods. In years three and four you will have the opportunity to study advanced topics which could include:

  • quantum information

  • condensed matter physics

  • general relativity

  • theoretical particle physics.

Our MSci Theoretical Physics course incorporates a greater level of mathematics and theory than MSci Physics, with emphasis on theoretical methods behind the physics and a greater number of experiments grounded in theory.

Join our friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We support you to develop a broad range of experimental, theoretical and analytical skills, as well as to develop your understanding of how to apply your skills more widely. These are vital for a career in research or industry.

Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment post-study. This is a testament to the value that employers place on the transferable skills that you will gain on this course.

Think Big bursaries (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/support/finances/scholarships/think-big-ug-science-bursaries/) of £3,000 are available to support first-year international undergraduate students in this subject area.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Physics, Institute of

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • MSci • Full-time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • September 2025

Apply by
29 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
F340
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Bristol has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
F340
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and accepts a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate study. If you studied at a school, college or university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualification equivalences, scholarships and details of our education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
A*AA - AAB

Standard offer: AAA including AA (in any order) in Mathematics and Physics.

Contextual offer: AAB including AA in Mathematics and Physics.

Please visit: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ for more information about contextual offers.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
D*DD

D*DD in Engineering BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma, with Distinctions in four specified Physics units, AND A in Mathematics at A-level (or equivalent).

Access to HE Diploma
D: 30 credits M: 15 credits

Access to HE Diploma in Engineering, Science, or Computing (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include:

at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above; and
at least 12 credits at Distinction from Mathematics units (including algebra, calculus and trigonometry); and
at least 12 credits at Distinction from Physics units.

Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.

Scottish Higher
AAAAA

Standard Higher: AAAAA.

Scottish Advanced Higher
AA

Advanced Higher: AA in Mathematics and Physics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
34 - 38 points

Standard offer: 38 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 7, 6 (in any order) at Higher Level in Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations) and Physics.

Contextual offer: 34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level, including 6, 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations) and Physics.

Please visit: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ for more information about contextual offers.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/ D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/ M2 is B, and M3 is C.

European Baccalaureate: 88% overall, with 9.0, 8.5 in Mathematics and Physics (in any order).

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. We consider a large range of contextual factors when making application decisions.

If you receive and accept an offer from the University of Bristol, and you meet the terms of your offer in full, you will be accepted.

Learn more on the University of Bristol website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Sponsorship information

This course is accredited by the following organisations:

The Institute of Physics (IOP) for the purpose of fully meeting the educational requirement for Chartered Physicist.

Related courses

At University of Bristol

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