Physics and Astronomy

The study of Physics is both stimulating and thought provoking, and requires commitment. At the University of Exeter you will discover a very well-equipped department of physics, staffed by academics dedicated to their research and teaching. Set in a beautiful location, our building provides an inspiring environment for you to address the intellectual challenges that arise as part of your scientific training.

Our research is highly rated and this has enormous benefits for you as a student. Lectures are illustrated with in-depth descriptions of recent discoveries and many of our option modules reflect our experimental and theoretical research interests. You can obtain first-hand experience of what it is like to conduct research by undertaking a project in one of our research groups.

The department provides a variety of modern apparatus in the undergraduate laboratories and extensive IT facilities for numerical and theoretical studies and project work. Experimental research facilities include clean-rooms, mechanical and electronic workshops, rapid prototyping machinery, a helium liquefier that enables world-class research at low temperatures, and a research-grade telescope.

Our research laboratories also include advanced facilities for the fabrication of nanostructures, amplified ultra-fast laser systems for the study of high-speed phenomena, microwave labs for the study of antennas and metamaterials, a sonar tank for underwater acoustic studies and a suite of instruments for imaging biological materials. State-of-the-art supercomputers are used in our astrophysics and theoretical research. You will have the opportunity to use many of these facilities during your research project work.

We firmly believe in individual attention, and you will work with the academic staff in tutorials, in problem-solving classes, in the laboratories and when you undertake project and research work. There is an active and effective Staff/Student Consultative Committee where suggestions and ideas can be discussed and introduced. You will feel part of a department that is enthusiastic about physics and astronomy and wants you to succeed.

Our Physics and Astronomy degrees are well-understood and respected in industry and commerce, and will give you a sound basis for a satisfying and fruitful career as a professional scientist. Our Single Honours programmes are accredited by the Institute of Physics and holders of the MPhys degrees are eligible to follow a route to corporate membership of the Institute and to the CPhys professional qualification.