Physics with Astronomy with Foundation Year

Physics with astronomy combines the rigorous mathematical and experimental foundations of physics with the study of the universe beyond Earth. Astronomy asks some of the most profound questions humans have ever posed: how did the universe begin, how do stars form and evolve, what is the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and are we alone in the cosmos? These questions are addressed through the methods of physics, applied to data gathered through telescopes, satellites, and increasingly sophisticated computational simulations.

The two disciplines are inseparable in practice, and studying them together gives you both the physical foundations and the astronomical knowledge to work at the frontier of our understanding of the cosmos.

At the University of Surrey, this four-year full-time degree includes a foundation year, which builds the mathematical and physical foundations needed for degree-level study and is designed for students who are motivated and capable but whose previous qualifications may not include the required A-level mathematics or physics. The university has strong astronomy facilities, including teaching and outreach telescopes for direct observational experience alongside high-performance computing and GPU clusters for computational astrophysics. You will develop rigorous skills in physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics, alongside specialist knowledge in observational astronomy, stellar physics, cosmology, and the computational methods used to model astronomical systems.

You will develop quantitative precision, the capacity to model complex physical systems, and the data analysis skills that modern astronomy requires. These are highly transferable capacities valued across many technical and scientific careers.

Graduates pursue careers in scientific research, data science, space technology, software engineering, finance, and scientific consultancy. The foundation year makes this pathway accessible to students who might otherwise not have been able to enter a physics programme. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate research in astrophysics or a related field.