Physics and Mathematics BSc (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): FG31 (full-time); FG32 (sandwich)
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: Three years full-time or four years with placement
- Study Mode(s): Full-time / Sandwich
- Campus: Clifton Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
This course provides a combination of benefits – helping develop the crucial lab skills you’ll require as a physicist alongside a thorough understanding of the theories involved. When blended with mathematics, the study of physics becomes a powerful tool that you can use to explore the biggest questions known to humanity.
In your first two years, you’ll develop basic skills in both mathematics and physics. Core subjects focus on mathematical methods, numerical methods, mechanics and matter.
Then you can decide on your journey, and we’ll help you reach your final destination. By specialising in mathematics or physics in your final year, you can make your learning experience everything it needs.
Our Mathematics and Physics degrees are current and relevant to the needs of the business. Our close links with the industry mean that, if you wish, you’ll have the opportunity to take up job placements with some of the world’s leading companies.
Foundation Year
We offer BSc (Hons) Physics and Mathematics (with foundation year), which you can apply for if you don't meet the entry criteria for this course. See our course page for foundation modules.
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Top 20 in the UK for teaching quality in Physics. (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023) -
Top 20 for student satisfaction in Mathematics (National Student Survey, 2022)
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97% of our mathematics students were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21).
What you’ll study
In the modern world, many new employment opportunities demand multi-skilled graduates. Those with mathematical and physics skills are among the most sought-after in fields including industrial research and development, computing, business, finance and teaching.
You’ll use our outstanding laboratory facilities. Last year, we spent £250,000 on new equipment for our teaching laboratories, including telescopes, CCD cameras, ultrasound scanners, magnetic resonance spectrometers, high-speed cameras, thermal imaging equipment and a high-resolution 3D printer.
Mathematical Enterprise
In this module you’ll work in small teams to develop a plan for a new business or enterprise, using your mathematical skills to showcase the viability of your venture. This module is run in conjunction with Nottingham's Creative Quarter and you’ll work with several local businesses to create business plans.
Introduction to Numerical Methods
Learn about important numerical methods for solving mathematical problems and develop computational skills using specialist mathematical software packages.
Vector Algebra and Calculus
Gain a basic knowledge of vector algebra and vector calculus and how to apply these techniques to physical situations.
Classical and Quantum Mechanics
You’ll develop an understanding of how force, motion, and energy are related, from classical to quantum mechanics. The module reinforces your ability to use mathematical techniques to model physical situations. Your understanding is developed through laboratory experiments and note taking.
Properties of Matter
Introducing the basic structure and model of both stable and unstable nucleus, this module explores radioactive decay and modern applications of ionising radiation. You’ll explore beyond elementary nuclear physics to atomic bonding and some fundamental bulk properties of matter.
Instrumentation and Physics Skills
Learn the skills needed to become a professional physicist in the module. You’ll develop good laboratory practices such as lab notebook keeping, organisation and safety alongside learning how to interpret and report your findings.
Problem Solving
Learn how to select and apply appropriate techniques and use specialist mathematical and statistical software to help solve open-ended applied problems. Extend your commercial awareness by tackling professional industrial problems.
Advanced Calculus
Broaden your knowledge, understanding and skills in advanced higher calculus to topics including Fourier series, partial differential equations and complex analysis.
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Introducing the principles and applications of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, this module includes exploring heat transfer processes, thermal properties of materials, and the behaviour of gases, liquids and solids.
Fundamental Forces
Explore the fundamental forces of nature: gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces. You’ll develop your understanding and appreciation of the principles and applications of fundamental forces and of the relationships between them. Study concepts such as Kepler's Laws, Newtonian gravitation and Einstein’s special theory of relativity.
The Quantum World
In this module you will study modern quantum mechanics. Through the application of the 1-D and 3-D Schrödinger equation you’ll learn how to model problems and scenarios.
Optional modules:
Differential Equations and Modelling
Extend your knowledge of calculus, differential equations and linear algebra, and gain an introduction to difference equations, the Eigen problem and transform methods.
Numerical Methods for Ordinary Differential Equations
You will further develop your computational and professional skills and enhance your knowledge of specialist numerical software
packages.
Optional year-long work placement. If you are not taking a placement, you will progress directly to your final year in year three.
Core modules
Project in Mathematics (Mathematics students only)
The final year project allows you to demonstrate and document your skills, knowledge and understanding of mathematics and show your planning, organisation and problem-solving abilities.
OR
Project and Professional Skills in Physics (Physics students only)
You will spend at least one full day per week in the laboratory undertaking novel research using modern equipment. You will learn the techniques required to formulate a research project, conduct a literature review, and critically appraise published research and scientific presentation. Recent projects have included building a 3D printer, optimising MRI hardware and studying the chaotic behaviour of a dripping tap.
Professional Mathematics Skills
Gain a broad view of the practical applications of Mathematics in the real world, especially in industrial contexts such as Finance, Physics and Engineering.
OR
Communicating Science and Technology
This module will interest you if you are considering a career in teaching and / or want to develop your portfolio of transferable skills.
Choose two modules from:
Differential and Integral Equations
Apply your knowledge of advanced calculus and differential equations to solve differential and integral equations.
Linear Systems
You will continue your previous studies in linear algebra and differential and difference equations.
Numerical Analysis and Dynamical Systems
Develop your knowledge of numerical methods with an emphasis on numerical optimisation techniques, advanced methods for the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations and applying methods to non-linear problems.
Partial Differential Equations
Partial differential equations are an essential topic in both pure and applied mathematics. This topic builds on the introduction given in Advanced Calculus to consider partial linear equations in non-trivial domains and to introduce methods of analysing nonlinear first-order partial differential equations.
Choose two modules from:
Cosmology and General Relativity
Discover the theories surrounding cosmology and general relativity and the mathematical tools needed to understand them. Topics study include: Geometry of the universe and Friedmann models, standard big bang cosmology, special relativity and Geodesics and the Schwarzschild metric.
Solid State Physics
Discover the macroscopic properties of matter, focusing on solid state and semiconductor physics. You’ll begin with a review of statistical mechanics to progresses and look at topics such as diffraction patterns, magnetism and waves.
Applied Fluid Dynamics
Study both the theoretical topics and applying your learning to industry and research. You’ll be covering topics such as momentum transport, Newtonian and non-Newtonian flow and Bernoilli’s equation.
How you’re taught
We will provide lectures, practical laboratory sessions, seminars and two to four surgery sessions each week. The rest of your time is given to self-guided independent study, reading textbooks, lecture notes and exercises.
Contact hours
Year 1 - lectures/seminars/workshops (30%) and independent study (70%)
Year 2 - lectures/seminars/workshops (27%) and independent study (73%)
Year 3 - lectures/seminars/workshops (24%) and independent study (76%)
A placement year may be taken between year 2 and year 3 of study
How you’re assessed
Year 1 - coursework (23%), written (60%) and practical (17%)
Year 2 - coursework (20%), written (73%) and practical (7%)
Year 3 - coursework (36%), written (60%) and practical (4%)
A placement year may be taken between year 2 and year 3 of study
Careers and employability
Your career development
You will develop numerical, analytical and computational skills greatly respected by employers, in addition to essential, transferable skills, which include report communication skills, teamwork and problem-solving.
Our recent graduates have secured roles at companies including:
- Rolls Royce
- NHS
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Nikon
- Balfour Beatty
They have gone into a wide variety of job roles, including:
- Research and Development Analyst
- Aerothermal Engineer
- Software Test Engineer
- Secondary Mathematics Teacher
- Finance Officer
Many graduates also choose to undertake further study on one of our Masters-level courses or MPhil and PhD research degrees in areas including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Quantum Computing and Detector Research.
Excellent placement opportunities
NTU is one of the most employment-focused universities. Increasingly, employers want to recruit graduates who have real-world work experience. That’s why all of our courses, across every subject area, offer you a work experience opportunity. Our experts help build and support your future with various career programmes and events.
On this course, after your second year, you will have the opportunity to take a year's work placement (sandwich placement). This will give you a chance to gain vital experience and put your knowledge into practice. You're also twice as likely to secure a graduate job within six months if you take a work placement.
Our recent students have taken placements across various companies, including DeVere Group, Cooper Parry and IBM. They secured varied roles such as Trainee Wealth Assistant, Business Analyst and Auditing Assistant.
You'll be supported and assessed throughout your placement year and will write a reflective report and diary at the end of your placement. When you complete your placement, you will be eligible to receive an additional award of a Diploma in Professional Practice.
Find out more about work placements.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their businesses.
Campus and facilities
Physics teaching and research take place in well-equipped lecture theatres and laboratories, supported by modern scientific, electronic and computing equipment, including:
- A custom-built teaching observatory recognised by the International Astronomical Union with a 20-inch and a 14-inch telescope and a 2.3m radio telescope
- MRI facilities, including a 2.35 Tesla Bruker Biospec scanner, a Halbach MRI and a unilateral MRI scanner
- A microscopy and imaging suite including electron microscopes, confocal and polarising microscopes, an atomic force microscope and a scanning tunnelling microscope
- A state-of-the-art micro-fabrication laboratory for creating micro-mechanical and microfluidic devices
- An excellent Ionising Radiation teaching laboratory and three X-ray CT scanners.
Last year, we spent £250,000 on new equipment for our teaching laboratories, including telescopes, CCD cameras, ultrasound scanners, magnetic resonance spectrometers, high-speed cameras, thermal imaging equipment and a high-resolution 3D printer. Our facilities and expertise ensure that our students get the practical experience that employers and researchers need.
Get Involved
Our student-run Astronomy and Physics Society organises social events and trips – all themed around hot Physics topics. Recently students have been searching for the Northern Lights in Iceland, visited the large hadron collider in CERN, and calculated the complex forces involved in roller coaster rides at Alton Towers.
Entry requirements
- 112 - 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level or equivalent Maths and Physics grade C
- GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer; we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other. This approach helps us find students who have the potential to succeed here but may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
- 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level or equivalent Maths and Physics grade C
- GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4
Applicants without A-levels will have their qualifications assessed for subject compatibility. We also consider equivalent qualifications and combinations. Please see UCAS Course Search for more details.
If you don't meet the entry requirements above, you might be interested in our BSc (Hons) Physics and Mathematics (with foundation year).
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made following our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, contact our Student Financial Support Service by telephone at +44 (0)115 848 2494.
Additional Costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students purchase. Book costs vary, and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to participate in optional field trips, which incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students earn a salary whilst on placement, which can help cover these living costs. Placement opportunities are available in the UK and overseas. Travel grants and Erasmus funding may be available to help fund international travel costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. Students will also be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs of approximately £20 - £50. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance, please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Other
Students will require a basic scientific calculator for use in examinations (e.g. Casio 83 or 85 series, approximately £15).
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government. See our fees.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when offered to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
What do the course fees cover?
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students purchase. Book costs vary, and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available to buy from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to participate in optional field trips, which incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students earn a salary whilst on placement, which can help cover these living costs. Placement opportunities are available in the UK and overseas. Travel grants and Erasmus funding may be available to help fund international travel costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. Students will also be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs of approximately £20 - £50. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance, please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Other
Students will require a basic scientific calculator for examinations (e.g. Casio 83 or 85 series, approximately £15).
How to apply
Writing your application and personal statement.
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only decide based on what you tell us. So include your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up-to-date
After applying, we’ll send you important emails throughout the application process, so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After applying, we'll send you important emails throughout the application process, so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only decide on your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.