Physics

Physics at Aberdeen takes you on a fascinating journey of understanding through every level of the physical world, from quarks, atoms and molecules to solar systems, galaxies and the universe. We will explore questions as vast as how the universe has evolved into its present state and cover topics such as the quantum nature of reality and other fascinating topics like thermodynamics and entropy.

**We are ranked 6th in the UK for Physics - The Guardian University Guide 2024 We are ranked 2nd in Scotland for Overall Satisfaction - NSS 2023**

We offer a stimulating environment for learning, with small class sizes and friendly staff that you will truly get to know well as you study here. Our overall aim is to build a solid foundation of physics knowledge and use that to teach you how to think differently about the world and learn the widely applicable problem-solving skills of a physicist.

Here, you will be taught by experts in both experimental and theoretical areas of physics. Our highly research-active staff's work also interfaces strongly with other disciplines, so you will learn how to apply your physics skills and knowledge to understanding problems in multiple fields, including the environment, the economy and medicine.

We have laboratory physics available at all four years of the degree, with a solid introduction to the skills required for experimental physics in our first-year labs, leading to ever more complex experiments and more freedom to pursue your own interests in the second and third year.

In fourth year, you may choose to undertake an experimental physics project - this year, this has included designing an in-vitro chip for studying heart disease, or constructing an optical tweezers.

Thanks to our connections with other disciplines we have offered other fourth year projects in medical physics, including MRI, and solid state chemistry and the study of anti-matter. We also have extremely strong expertise in computational modelling, and have projects modelling topics as diverse as patient flow through a hospital, the effects of chaos on network communications and the spread of disease.