STUDY PHYSICS
AT IMPERIAL
Why should I study Physics
at Imperial College London?
Very selective intake means that
you will be in a class with other
very bright and talented students
You will be taught by
world-leading experts
Wide range of options and projects
available in active areas of current
physics research
Emphasis on mathematics
as well as the underlying concepts
Very strong
global prole
942
Physics Undergraduates
in 2020–21
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
5
Physics
Undergraduate
degrees
What physics degrees does Imperial oer?
Imperial oers both BSc and MSci physics degrees:
MSci
The MSci (sometimes called MPhys elsewhere)
is an integrated four-year undergraduate
programme which includes a major research
project and a wide range of advanced options
in the fourth year and gives a Masters-
level qualication. It is the usual route to
a professional career in Physics, including
progression to a PhD.
BSc
The three-year BSc may be preferred by those
who don’t necessarily expect to be using
advanced physics in their day-to-day careers
but who value the numerical, logical thinking
and problem solving skills that a wide range
of employers like to see in physics graduates,
while still receiving an excellent physics
education. The BSc followed by a one-year
postgraduate MSc gives an alternative route
to Masters level.
Qualication and title Length Course code
BSc Physics 3 years F
MSci Physics 4 years F
BSc Physics with Theoretical Physics 3 years F
MSci Physics with Theoretical Physics 4 years F
MSci Physics with a Year Abroad 4 years F
Our BSc and MSci degrees with Theoretical
Physics will be attractive to those who wish
to specialise in the more mathematical and
theoretical branches of physics. That said,
it’s still possible to transfer between the
‘with Theoretical Physics’ and standard
‘Physics’ degrees during the rst two years.
The MSci with a Year Abroad gives students the
opportunity to spend their third year at one of
our partner universities abroad.
Within our degrees there are a large number of
advanced options to choose from, so that there
is great freedom for specialisation without tying
yourself down to specic course titles.
PHYSICS
DEGREES
Do I need to choose when I apply?
At Imperial, the degree programmes are
structured so that the nal choice between
MSci and BSc does not need to be made until
the start of Year 3, though applicants who are
unsure are recommended to start on an MSci.
Specically, Imperial oers
ve dierent degree programmes in Physics
Designing your Physics Course at Imperial
Our Physics degrees are structured around
a compulsory core, which covers the essential
elements of the subject, followed by specialist
or option courses, which allow you to focus
on specic areas.
At Imperial, “core physics” is taught in the rst
three years, with more courses being chosen
from Options as you progress through the years.
This leaves most of the third and fourth years
available for you to develop your specialities.
This is possible because of our selective intake
and very wide research coverage.
Many universities appear to oer a wide range
of options, but sometimes they are clustered into
specic streams. This can greatly reduce your
actual choice. Subject to some minor timetable
constraints and guidance by the Senior Tutor, you
will have a free choice at Imperial and the range
and coverage is outstanding.
For more details and a full list of options,
please refer to the Course Table document.
Take, for example, an MSci student who already knows that she/he wants
to specialise in Astronomy or Astrophysics:
Select a First Year Project oered by the Astrophysics or Space
and Atmospheric research groups. Recent projects have included:
Orbits around black holes
Investigating a massive cluster of galaxies
The kitchen sink heliosphere
Select the option Sun, Stars and Planets, which gives a good introduction
to astronomy and astrophysics.
Alternatively, learning a language can be a real asset to a scientist who joins
an international collaboration, or you might take Mathematical Methods if your
interests are more in theoretical astrophysics.
Astrophysics is the main course that establishes the physics of stars and galaxies.
The option on Plasma Physics treats both astrophysical plasmas (in stars) and
man-made plasmas.
Principles of Instrumentation would be a good course to take as it is applicable to
instrumentation used with telescopes. Optical Communications Physics also covers
related themes.
Select an MSci Project oered by the Astrophysics or Space & Atmospheric research
groups. Recent MSci Project titles have included:
Dust in local galaxies from Herschel and Planck
Galaxy sizes as a probe of cosmology
Stellar microvariability
Magnetic explosions in the solar wind
Select options from Cosmology, Advanced Particle Physics, General Relativity,
Space Physics, Atmospheric Physics.
YEAR
1
YEAR
2
YEAR
3
YEAR
4
This is just a possible selection of courses and projects, not a dened ‘stream’.
It will be up to you to decide, in consultation with your Personal Tutor, the Senior
Tutor, and other sta, which would be your best choice.
EXAMPLE
i
PHYSICS
TEACHING
Blackett Lecture Theatre
SMALL GROUP TUTORIALS
are typically 5 students, give
you the opportunity to ask
more questions and solidify
your understanding of the
lectures.
OFFICE HOURS provide you
with an additional opportunity
to visit the lecturers to clear
up points arising from the
lectures. Every lecturer has
two Oce Hours per week
while their course is running.
LABORATORY SESSIONS
teach you important
experimental skills and
allow you to see the same
physics in practice that you
have learned about in the
lecture. You will be supported
by demonstrators who are
members of the academic
sta, research workers, or
research students.
COMPUTING is an essential
tool for any modern physicist.
We teach you to program in
Python and how to use it to
solve physics problems.
No prior knowledge of
computing is assumed.
Physics teaching at Imperial
LECTURES
Lectures are central to university teaching.
At Imperial, you will have typically around ten
lectures per week. They focus on specic areas
of physics and mathematics depending on the
lecture courses you are following at the time.
We augment the lectures with Seminars, Small
Group Tutorials and Oce Hours, as well as
Laboratory and Computing sessions.
SEMINARS
Run in groups of 20–60 students, seminars are
led by an academic with one or more teaching
assistants and involve a range of activities
including problem solving and active discussion.
University physics is all about understanding the
subject, not about getting a perfect set of notes,
hence it is very important to ask questions!
Seminars are also used for developing
professional skills such as making presentations
and working as part of a team.
Will I do any project
work during my degree?
Yes – projects are an important way for you to
develop your scientic skills and to pursue your
own interests.
At Imperial most students do a short project
in their rst year and a substantial one in their
nal year. As most projects are done in one of
the research groups, they give you a rst-hand
experience of what research is all about.
Where will I be taught?
Imperial’s Department of Physics is
housed in the Blackett Laboratory,
a building purpose-built for physics research
and teaching at our South Kensington Campus.
This means that everything you need is under
one roof – your lecture theatres, laboratories,
lecturers, tutors, computing suite, everything!
So no need to have to rush across campus (or
even across the town) to get to your next class.
R A M P
College
Main Entrance
A Y R TO N
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W AT T ’ S W AY
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B
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M E R
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S H E R F IELD W ALK WAY
Natural
History
Museum
Royal College
of Music
Dalby
Court
Dalby
Court
Dalby
Court
Dalby
Court
Royal
Albert Hall
Royal
Geographical
Society
Diamond
Jubilee
Steps
Holy
Trinity
Church
V&A
Science
Museum
Prince’s
Gardens
Prince’s
Gardens
Queen’s
Lawn
Queen’s
Lawn
City and
Guilds
Building
Dyson
Building
of Design
Engineering
Southside
Eastside
Sir Alexander
Fleming
Building
RCS
Building
Faculty
Building
Bessemer
Building
Roderic Hill
Building
Beit Quad
Business
School
Royal School
of Mines
Chemistry
Building
William
Penney
Laboratory
Blackett
Laboratory
Blackett
Laboratory
ACEX Building
Bone
Building
Huxley
Building
Flowers
Building
Sir Ernst
Chain Building –
Wolfson Laboratories
Queen’s
Gate
Prince’s
Gate
Weeks
Hall
Prince’s
Gate
–
Prince’s
Gardens
–
Prince’s
Gardens
Skempton
Building
Queen’s
Tower
Sherfield
Building
(West)
Sherfield
Building
(East)
Electrical
and Electronic
Engineering
Building
Grantham
Institute
Wohl
Reach Out
Lab
Energy
Futures
Lab
Central
Library
Central
Library
Great
Hall
Great
Hall
Ethos
Sports
Centre
Ethos
Sports
Centre
Imperial
College
Union
South
Kensington
CA B
Hyde Park
Gloucester Road
min walk
m / min walk
Blackett Laboratory, South Kensington
Physics student Soa in South Kensington
1
Year in College
Accommodation
Guaranteed
Where will I live?
Student accommodation guarantees you
one year in College Accommodation which will
give you an opportunity to make friends, explore
your new surroundings and concentrate on
your studies. In later years groups of students
who have become friends in their rst year
typically rent flats privately together. The student
accommodation oce provides much support and
advice with this process.
www.imperial.ac.uk/study/campus-life/
accommodation/prospective/ug/
Will there be anyone to turn to?
At Imperial you will have a Personal Tutor, who
will monitor your academic progress and give
you support and guidance. Personal Tutors stay
with you throughout our course. Other help is
available from the Physics Department’s Senior
Tutor, Student Liaison Ocer, Disability Ocer,
the Faculty College Tutors, The Union and from
the College’s Student Counsellors.
AND AFTERWARDS?
A degree from Imperial College has a very
high standing world-wide. It will open doors
for you. It could be the start of a successful
career in research, industry or business.
Many of our graduates have gone on to make
a name for themselves. You can check for
more information at
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
OUTSIDE OF
CLASS
What is student life like?
If and when you visit a university, try to
meet some undergraduates and ask them
about the plusses and minuses of student
life. Ask whether they nd the sta to be
approachable and friendly. If you receive an
oer, we will invite you to an Oer Holder
Day where you will be able to speak with
current undergraduate students. Use this
opportunity to get a rst-hand impression.
Check out the Student Union. Imperial
College Union oers over 300 dierent clubs
and societies, oering sports and social
activities for everyone, one of the largest
choices in the UK. Remember, you will be
in the best part of one of the world’s major
cities with unrivalled opportunities for
entertainment and cultural life of all kinds.
Music and the arts are outstandingly good
at Imperial and in London.
www.imperialcollegeunion.org
An Imperial student in Halls of Residence
Imperial College Union Building
How to apply to Imperial Physics programmes
You will need to apply through UCAS before the application deadline which is in January.
We will then consider your application, and you will receive the decision by mid-March.
www.ucas.com
What A-Levels will I need?
For 2022 our minimum entry requirement is
A*A*A in three full A Levels (A* grade in
Mathematics, and A*A including Physics and
a third A Level, excluding Critical Thinking or
General Studies). In practice the oer conditions
are usually higher than this. In 2020 over 50%
of our intake achieved at least three A* grades.
Depending on numbers, we may have some
flexibility when A Level results are released in
August to reconsider a few applicants.
We also welcome applications from candidates
with Scottish Advanced Highers, International
Baccalaureate, Cambridge Pre-U, as well as
overseas qualications giving university entrance
in other countries. We take on students from
all over the world (in 2021 from 35 countries)
accepting well-qualied students from other
national educational systems, not just A-levels.
General College guidance on international
qualications can be found at
www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/
requirements
APPLY TO
IMPERIAL
Admissions Test
As part of the 2021 admissions cycle, all
applicants will be invited to take an online
Admissions Test, which will take place aer
the application deadline. It will cover only
standard school mathematics and physics.
You will receive details of the test and
instructions on how to take it aer you have
applied. The results will be used alongside
other information to select candidates for
oers. Please note that the test does not
require intense revision or coaching to
prepare for it, as success relies much more on
understanding than memory.
ucas.com
OPEN DAYS
The best way to experience what our Department is like is to attend one of our Open Days.
To nd out when they take place, and to reserve a place, visit:
www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/visit/open-days
More Information
You can nd more information
about our degree programmes and
studying at Imperial in our Prospectus:
www.imperial.ac.uk/study/prospectus
or the Physics Department website:
www.imperial.ac.uk/physics/students/
admissions/undergraduate-admissions
If you have more specic questions,
the Admissions Tutor Professor Arttu
Rajantie, and the Deputy Admission Tutor
Dr Mark Richards are happy to answer them.
You can email them at:
ph.admissions@imperial.ac.uk
i
You can also take a virtual
Imperial360 tour of the Department:
-visit.imperial.ac.uk/direct/department-
of-physics
