Philosophy and Physics
Philosophy and physics is a degree that takes the deepest questions about the nature of reality seriously from two complementary directions. Physics is the most fundamental of the natural sciences, concerned with the laws that govern matter, energy, space, and time, from the subatomic to the cosmological scale. Philosophy asks what those laws mean, what the nature of scientific explanation is, how we can know anything about a world we can only partially observe, and what the implications of our best physical theories are for questions about causality, time, and the nature of matter itself.
The combination is not artificial: the deepest questions in modern physics, about quantum mechanics, the nature of space-time, and the origins of the universe, are simultaneously philosophical and scientific.
At the University of Aberdeen, this four-year full-time programme takes you on an exploration of the fundamental questions that both disciplines address, developing the strong analytical and quantitative skills of physics alongside the rigorous conceptual analysis that philosophy provides. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to engage with different academic traditions in either physics or philosophy. The typical entry tariff of 184 points reflects the academic demands of a rigorous scientific and philosophical education.
You will develop mathematical and analytical reasoning of a high order, the ability to engage with complex abstract ideas, and the precision of argument that both physics and philosophy demand at their best.
Graduates pursue a wide range of careers. The mathematical and analytical skills of a physics degree are valued in finance, data science, engineering, and technology. The philosophical training adds a rigour of conceptual thinking that distinguishes graduates in roles requiring careful analysis and clear argumentation.
Postgraduate study in physics, philosophy, or philosophy of science is a well-established route for those wishing to pursue research.