Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics

Physics with nuclear astrophysics is a specialist degree for students who want to understand how the universe makes its elements, how stars live and die, and how nuclear reactions in stellar interiors and cataclysmic events determine the composition of everything we observe in the cosmos. Nuclear astrophysics sits at the junction of nuclear physics and astrophysics, applying the principles of nuclear reactions and radioactive decay to the processes that power stars, produce heavy elements in supernovae and neutron star mergers, and shape the evolution of galaxies. It is a field at the frontier of fundamental science, with connections to some of the most dramatic and consequential events in the history of the universe.

At Surrey, this three-year degree provides a thorough grounding in the core principles of physics, including classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and special relativity, before developing specialist knowledge in nuclear physics and its astrophysical applications. You will study the mechanisms of nuclear reactions in stellar environments, the processes of nucleosynthesis that build up the periodic table, and the observational and experimental techniques used to test our understanding of these extreme phenomena. Students benefit from Surrey's partnership with the National Physical Laboratory, which provides connections to high-precision experimental physics and metrology that complement the astrophysical focus of the degree.

You will be taught by passionate and dedicated academics working in this area.

Graduates of physics with nuclear astrophysics degrees are well placed for careers in nuclear physics research, space science, astronomical observation, and the nuclear energy sector. Academic and industrial research careers, including doctoral study at universities and national laboratories, are common destinations for graduates who wish to deepen their expertise. The strong quantitative foundations of the degree also provide routes into data science, defence, medical physics, and any field where rigorous mathematical problem-solving is central to the work.