Course Overview

Theoretical physicists devote themselves to uncovering the most appropriate mathematical laws for deducing the essence of physical phenomena.

Lancaster's Theoretical Physics course concentrates on some of the more fundamental and mathematical aspects of Physics and is designed to help you develop analytical skills appropriate for solving a wide range of theoretical Physics problems.

In addition to the core first year Physics courses on Quantum Physics and Electromagnetism, you will study a range of topics in the following year, including Further Classical Mechanics, Classical Field Theory and Further Quantum Mechanics. You will go on to complete an extended research project alongside subjects such as Particle Physics and Atomic and Nuclear Physics in your third year. In your final year you will study Advanced Magnetism and Nanophysics  and Quantum Transport in Nanostructures and can choose from a range of possible topics for their extended project.

Lancaster University's an interesting place. It's a friendly and accepting environment, and I'm really enjoying it here.

Career opportunities

As a Lancaster Physics graduate, you will have a wide range of possible career options. Our graduates often go into careers where Physics is a requirement for example, as meteorologists, geophysicists, astronomers or medical physicists. Others develop careers in teaching, research or industry, where they carry on using their Physics knowledge.

Others make the most of the transferable skills they have acquired and take up employment in the financial service industries, the military, the police and management.

A substantial number of our graduates stay on to undertake research degrees at Lancaster and elsewhere. For example, recent graduates are now studying Physics, Theoretical Cosmology, Gravitational Physics, Particle Physics, Experimental and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Ultralow Temperature Physics, Biomedical Physics, Accelerator Physics and Mathematical Physics to PhD level.