Undergraduates
Our Courses
We offer two physics degrees: the three-year BA and the four-year MPhys, with an average combined intake of 180 each year. In addition, a further degree course is offered jointly with the Philosophy department and has an average annual entry of 16.
Selection is on the basis of academic potential and motivation. For details of our entrance procedure, see our How to Apply page.
Which course to choose?
Both physics courses investigate the basic principles of modern physics with a strong emphasis on its mathematical foundation. They also include a significant amount of experimental work and the possibility of studying non-physics subjects. There is also a common emphasis on individual development, discussion and the ability to work with others in the laboratory.
Please note: Harris Manchester College and Pembroke College do not currently admit students to read Physics.
How the course is taught
Physics undergraduates are also part of their college community, so that it is natural for them to mix socially with students of other disciplines. The most important component of their teaching is the college-based tutorial, an hour of discussion with a tutor around pre-set work. Typically, students attend tutorials in pairs twice a week. The college physics tutors are also the professors, readers and lecturers in the department. In their college role, they come to know their own undergraduates very well, but they also give lectures in the department which are open to all students regardless of college.
This combination of college, departmental and personal input is a unique feature of the Oxford Physics course. The teaching philosophy is that a student will spend most of his or her time on tutorial work, consulting different books, attending lectures, and coming to a view of the subject which works for him or her. This view will be developed and honed in tutorial discussion. The aim is that the experience should be a preparation for tackling new problems, rather than an exercise in memorizing received knowledge.
The Physics Department is a member of the Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences Division of the University of Oxford.
After Oxford
As a physics graduate you will be distinguished as a highly numerate and scientifically competent member of society in a world where numeracy and scientific skills are increasingly important.
The value of these skills is evidenced by the broad spectrum of careers chosen by physics graduates, not only in research but also in banking and finance, management consultancy, teaching, computing, the civil service, geophysical surveying and many others.
We hope that you will decide to read Physics at Oxford primarily because you want to undertake the enormous intellectual challenge of understanding the physical universe. New discoveries and developments in research continually influence the content of our courses and are reflected in the experiments in our practical laboratories and also in project work.
