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1. Career opportunities

Physicists need not stick to their subject too closely; graduates go into diverse roles in a wide variety of disciplines and industries. You could be a mathematician or engineer in any area from telecommunications to cryogenics. Explore the universe, develop laser technology, solve a world energy crisis – and so on and so forth.

2. Graduate prospects

The graduate prospects for the top universities in the Physics & Astronomy subject league table are pretty high. This means it's very likely you'll enter into professional-level employment or further study within 15 months after finishing your undergraduate degree.

3. Work overseas

Quite a few courses include a year in industry, and many placements can be taken abroad. For most this will be in English speaking countries such as Ireland or the USA, but if you also speak a foreign language, the possibilities go further. 

4. Transferable skills

Knowledge of the universe and how to research it offers skills that can be applied in numerous contexts. Skills you’ll develop include critical thinking, problem-solving, organisation and research, all of which make you very attractive to employers across different sectors and industries.

5. Course combinations

A degree in this area is versatile, so can be studied alongside a number of relevant subject areas. Dual honours courses include options such as physics with mathematics or business studies, or astronomy, space science and astrophysics.

6. Postgraduate studies

There are many postgraduate opportunities for those who wish to explore academia further. MSc, MPhil and PhD options range from courses in astronomy instrumentation to molecular modelling.