Physics with Astronomy (with Professional Placement)

Join a top 10 university for physics in the UK (The Guardian Best UK Universities 2024) in the vibrant, welcoming capital city of Wales.

Study a Physics with Astronomy degree and you will investigate the science behind the development of the Universe – from how it began to astronomical events that we are now discovering for the first time.

This five-year MPhys course is ideal if you want to study physics with astronomy in more depth than during a BSc course. You will spend your fourth year working as a company employee, during which you will earn a salary while gaining valuable skills and experience. Often, our students go on to work for the same organisation after graduating, but a wide range of careers from technology and finance to education are also open to you. If you’re interested in becoming a research scientist, an MPhys degree is a great route to this role.

At Cardiff University, we are home to one of the largest astronomy groups in the UK and have led many new discoveries, from the detection of gravitational waves to the first images of black holes.

You’ll be taught by staff whose research is leading to these discoveries, gaining both the fundamental skills in physics for a wide range of careers, and the more specific knowledge needed to become a professional astronomer or astrophysicist.

In year one, you’ll take core modules to lay the foundations of your physics, mathematics and computing knowledge, while gaining the confidence to design and conduct experiments in the laboratory.

As you progress through the degree, you can choose optional modules along with your core modules to further your understanding and knowledge of both physics and astronomy in fascinating areas such as:
- the physical properties of the Earth and the observation and exploration of the planets and moons in other solar systems;

- observational techniques in astronomy;

- an understanding of quantum mechanics and nuclear physics;

- the formation and evolution of stars;

- solving unseen problems in astrophysics;

- the Big Bang and contemporary cosmology;

- the formation and evolution of galaxies.

As part of the observational techniques module, you’ll carry out a project using real data from the Las Cumbres Observatory, which uses a range of robotic telescopes around the world working as a single network.

In the final year of your MPhys, you’ll carry out a significant research project as part of our research team, learning how to become a research scientist working on a real challenge, and developing the analytical and problem-solving skills needed by professional physicists.