Physics and Astrophysics

Physics and astrophysics is a degree that takes you to the largest and smallest scales of the universe, from the quantum behaviour of subatomic particles to the formation of galaxies and the dynamics of black holes. Physics is the fundamental science, seeking the laws that govern all matter and energy. Astrophysics applies those laws to the cosmos, asking how stars form and die, what dark matter and dark energy are, how the universe began, and what its ultimate fate might be.

The combination gives you the theoretical depth of physics alongside the awe-inspiring scope of cosmological inquiry.

At the University of Sheffield, this MPhys programme is fully accredited and designed for students who wish to pursue physics and astrophysics at the highest level. You will develop a thorough grounding in the core areas of physics, including classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and relativity, before building expertise in astrophysical topics such as stellar structure, galactic dynamics, cosmology, and observational techniques. The programme includes a substantial final-year research project, which you will spend most of your final year developing, gaining direct experience of the process and skills of original scientific inquiry.

The degree also includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills in different research or professional environments and to build the kind of international networks that are valuable in an inherently global scientific discipline.

Graduates from MPhys programmes in physics and astrophysics go on to research careers in academia and national laboratories, as well as to roles in the space industry, data science, financial modelling, engineering, technology, and the public sector. The analytical, computational, and problem-solving skills developed through a physics degree are highly transferable, and many graduates work in fields that make no direct use of astrophysics while still drawing on the rigour of their scientific training. Doctoral study is a common route for those wishing to pursue research.