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Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics with Foundation Year

Course details
  • 2 Study options
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Stag Hill

Course summary

Why choose this course
Students on our Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics degrees learn in our excellent facilities, from passionate and dedicated academics. They also benefit from our partnership with the National Physical Laboratory.

There are two unique aspects of both levels of our physics with nuclear astrophysics degrees:

Get industry-ready with our award-winning Professional Training placements:

  • With the BSc, the option to take a paid Professional Training placement in industry gives you invaluable hands-on experience to enhance your employability. Our students have placed at the NPL, CERN (Switzerland) and TRIUMF (Canada).

  • On our MPhys, you’ll take a year-long, masters-level integrated research placement in one of our world-leading research groups or at one of our international partner institutions.

Our focus on undergraduate research and innovation:

  • All undergraduates have the opportunity to apply for paid 8-10 week summer research placements in our research groups and those of our South East Physics Network partners.

  • We offer in-house ‘research and innovation’ and ‘enterprise’ grants that students can apply for to fund a research placement, attend a conference or develop a new business idea.

We’re preparing you for the future by integrating AI into every course, building digital skills, confidence and creativity that employers value in tomorrow’s workplace.

What you will study
You’ll explore core elements of traditional physics and astrophysics (e.g. particle physics, atoms and molecules) and topics within astronomy and nuclear physics, reflecting the outstanding research we conduct at Surrey.

Students have the option to take a Professional Training placement on the BSc or an integrated research year on the MPhys. The latter is a direct route to a masters qualification. The MPhys integrated research year allows you to develop your skills in an academic or industrial arena, before returning for your final masters-level modules.

Formal lectures are complemented with work in our specialist radiation laboratories, which have recently been refurbished and enlarged at a cost of £2.7m. As an undergraduate student, you’ll use these labs to undertake experiments related to the Nuclear and Particle Physics module.

Foundation courses
A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. Foundation courses are a great option if:

  • You don’t have the grades for a full degree course.

  • You have non-traditional qualifications or experience.

  • You’re starting university after some time away from education.

  • You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study.

Life as a foundation year student
During a foundation year, you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course.

As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support.

Modules

Course Modules

To see the full range of modules for this course please visit our website. The link is under course ‘contact details’. You will also find full details of the programme, including assessment methods, programme structure, contact hours and Graduate prospects.

How to apply

Application codes

Institution code:
S85

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
CCC

Overall:
CCC

We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.

Required Subjects:
Mathematics and one of Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Further Maths or Physics.

Applicants taking the Science Practical Endorsement are expected to pass.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
BBBCC

Overall:
BBBCC

Required Subjects:
Mathematics and Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Maths or Physics.

GCSE or Equivalent:
English Language: Scottish National 5 - C.

Access to HE Diploma
Distinction: 21 Merit: 3 Pass: 21

Overall:
QAA recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall including 21 at Distinction, 3 at Merit and and 21 at Pass. Additionally, A-level maths at grade C.

Required Subjects:
Modules must be in relevant subjects.

GCSE or Equivalent:
Inclusion of GCSE English and Mathematics equivalent within Access programme

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English Language at Grade C(4).

Scottish Advanced Higher
CCC

Overall:
CCC

Required Subjects:
Mathematics and one of Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Further Maths or Physics.

GCSE or Equivalent:
English Language: Scottish National 5 - C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 29

Overall:
29

Required Subjects:
Mathematics analysis and approaches HL4/SL6 or mathematics applications and interpretations HL4; and additionally one of Chemistry, Computer Science, or Physics HL4/SL6.

GCSE or Equivalent:
English A HL4/SL4 or English B HL5/SL6.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Overall:
Pass overall with CCC from a combination of the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales and two A-levels. Applicants taking an A-level science subject with the Science Practical Endorsement are required to pass the practical element.

Required subjects:
Mathematics and one of Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Further Maths or Physics.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not accepted.

GCSE or equivalent: English Language at grade 4 (C).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
MMM

Overall:
MMM, with an additional A Level Mathematics, grade C

Required Subjects:
BTEC Extended Diploma must be in a relevant subject. An additional A Level Mathematics, grade C

Applications are considered on an individual basis, taking into account qualifications achieved, predicted grades, personal statement and academic reference. Conditional offers are specified in terms of required grades; we do not make offers in terms of overall UCAS tariff.

We understand that predicted grades are an estimate and will consider applicants who have predicted grades that are a little lower than our published requirement. Any offers we make will align with the grades shown above unless a grade reduction can be offered under our Contextual Admissions policy or our In2Surrey scheme. Details can be found here: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/schools-colleges/contextual-admissions-policy

Applicants with a mixed qualification profile (e.g. those taking A-levels and BTEC qualifications) are encouraged to contact admissions@surrey.ac.uk for guidance on the grades accepted.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)66.0 overall with 5.5 in each element

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/apply/international/english-language-requirements

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.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales & Northern IrelandTBC

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

Please see our website for up-to-date information on our fees for 2027/28:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/undergraduate-2027-entry

Sponsorship information

Scholarships and bursaries 1

The University of Surrey offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support our students, please visit https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries for more details.

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