Astronomy/Physics

Astronomy and physics together address the grandest questions in science, from the structure of the atom to the origins and fate of the universe. Physics is the experimental and theoretical study of matter and energy and their interactions, from the domain of elementary particles through nuclear and atomic physics to the physics of solids and beyond. Astronomy extends these tools to the largest scales, investigating the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies and the cosmos as a whole.

Studying them together means developing a deep understanding of physical principles and seeing them at work across every scale from the subatomic to the cosmological.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year programme develops your understanding of physics in full while also giving you sustained engagement with the major questions and methods of modern astronomy and astrophysics. You will study classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics and statistical physics alongside observational astronomy, stellar physics, cosmology and the physics of the early universe. Mathematical and computational skills are central throughout, and you will learn to analyse data and model physical systems with rigour.

A year abroad is part of the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at an international partner institution and experience physics and astronomy research in a new environment.

Physics and astronomy graduates possess analytical and quantitative skills that are highly transferable. Many pursue careers in research, postdoctoral positions and eventually academic positions at universities or research institutes. Others move into technology, finance, data science, engineering, science communication or the public sector, where the capacity for rigorous quantitative reasoning is valued.

Postgraduate study in physics, astrophysics, cosmology or closely related fields is the natural route for those with research ambitions.