Mathematics and Physics

Mathematics and physics are so deeply intertwined that studying them together is less a combination than a recognition of how the two disciplines have always worked. Physics discovers the laws that govern matter, energy, space and time; mathematics provides the language in which those laws are written and the tools through which their consequences are worked out. At University College London, this three-year full-time BSc treats both subjects with equal seriousness, developing your mathematical rigour alongside your physical intuition in a single integrated programme.

UCL is one of the world's leading research universities, and the degree benefits from teaching by researchers at the frontier of both fields.

You will study mathematical analysis, linear algebra, differential equations, complex analysis and the mathematical methods that underpin physics, alongside the core physics content of classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics and statistical physics. The mathematical depth means you can engage with the theoretical underpinning of physics in ways that a physics-only degree may not support, and you will develop the formal proof-writing and abstract reasoning skills that distinguish mathematical training. The combination is particularly strong preparation for careers and further study at the boundary between the two disciplines, including mathematical physics, quantum field theory, statistical mechanics and cosmology.

A typical tariff of around 216 points reflects the competitive entry.

Graduates are among the most mathematically and analytically capable of any undergraduate cohort, and career paths span research in physics and mathematics, financial modelling, quantitative analysis in finance and investment, data science, technology, engineering and the full range of careers available to mathematics graduates. Many go on to postgraduate study, including master's and doctoral programmes in pure and applied mathematics, mathematical physics, theoretical physics and related fields at leading institutions worldwide.