Physics with Philosophy

Physics with philosophy is a combination that addresses the deepest questions about the nature of reality from two different directions. Physics is the most fundamental of the natural sciences, investigating the basic constituents of matter, the forces that govern their behaviour, and the structure of space, time, and the universe. Philosophy engages with the questions that lie beneath or beyond what physics alone can settle: what does it mean for a physical theory to be true, how do we understand causation and explanation, what is the relationship between the physical world and human consciousness, and what are the limits of scientific knowledge?

At the University of Lincoln, this three-year full-time programme introduces fundamental and applied physics while developing a philosophical understanding of the world we live in and the place we occupy within it. You will study mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum physics, thermodynamics, and experimental methods alongside epistemology, philosophy of science, metaphysics, and the specific philosophical questions raised by quantum mechanics and relativity. The two disciplines illuminate each other: physics without philosophical reflection can become technically proficient but conceptually shallow, while philosophy of science without genuine scientific knowledge can become empty.

Together they develop a genuinely integrated intellectual formation.

The course includes a sandwich year and work placement. The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points. Graduates go on to careers in research, data science, education, journalism, the civil service, technology, and finance.

Many pursue postgraduate study in physics, philosophy of science, or related fields.