| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | Full-time | 4 years | September | GBP 9250 per year | GBP 19456 per year |
| MPhys | Full-time | 5 years | September | GBP 9250 per year | GBP 19456 per year |
Our Physics BSc programme offers a broad and rigorous education in physics, underpinned by strong computational and mathematical training. These skills are in high demand across cutting-edge industries, from quantum technologies and photonics to renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.
Physics is not just a theoretical discipline — it’s the engine behind many of today’s most transformative technologies. From revolutionising medical imaging and enabling ultra-fast computing to powering green energy solutions and advancing secure communications, physics is at the heart of innovation. This programme shows how physics is applied in real-world contexts, helping you understand how scientific principles are translated into practical technologies that shape our world.
You’ll explore how physics operates beyond the classroom. Through hands-on experiments, computational modelling, and exposure to current research, you’ll gain insight into how physicists solve real-world problems and contribute to emerging sectors.
Whether you're fascinated by the quantum world, the behaviour of light, or the structure of the universe, you’ll develop the ability to measure, model, and predict physical phenomena. Along the way, you’ll build a versatile skillset — including analytical thinking, data analysis, programming, teamwork, and communication — that prepares you for a wide range of careers.
Topics include fields and forces, photonics and optics, and thermal physics. You’ll delve into quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, solid-state physics, and laser technologies, engaging with the same ideas and tools used in frontier research and industrial innovation.
In your final year, you’ll undertake an individual research project, applying your knowledge to a specialised area of experimental, theoretical, or computational physics. This is your opportunity to demonstrate mastery and contribute to the advancement of science and technology.
For students who meet additional entry requirements, a 3-year BSc Physics degree option is also available — offering a faster route into employment or further study.
Heriot-Watt has been ranked second in Scotland for Physics based on student experience by the Guardian (2024). You’llbenefit from a supportive and personal learning environment, where you can engage directly with academic staff, explore developments in the wider physics community, and receive tailored support throughout your studies.
Our Expertise
Heriot-Watt University is top in Scotland for Physics research, with 97% of its research classed as world-leading (4*) in the REF 2021 results. The university also received the Queens Anniversary Prize in 2021, the highest honour for universities in the UK, in recognition of our research in Photonics.
Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active physicists, scientists, and academics. You will be taught by passionate and engaging experts who will provide you with insight into emerging topics in quantum technologies, photonics and condensed matter physics, by relating taught material to their own research.
Our degrees are directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Research Institute for Photonic and Quantum Sciences and the Research Institute for Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering. These research Institutes focus on promoting excellence across research themes which include:
The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remaincutting-edge and industry focused.
Your learning environment
The BSc Physics programme is delivered through a dynamic blend of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory-based practicals, giving you regular, meaningful contact with your teaching staff, academic mentors, and fellow students. This supportive environment allows you to ask questions, explore ideas, and build the confidence to take your learning further — both in theory and in practice. You’ll be assessed through a balanced mix of coursework, exams, laboratory reports, and your final project or dissertation. Feedback and guidance are built into the course to help you progress and achieve your best throughout your studies.
From the start, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience in our well-equipped labs, where you’ll be supported by friendly, knowledgeable staff. Whether you're new to lab work or already confident in your practical skills, our teaching approach is inclusive, engaging, and designed to build your competence and enjoyment of experimental physics
In your first year, you’ll develop the core practical skills that form the foundation for more advanced work. With around three hours of timetabled lab sessions each week, you’ll explore topics such as optics, electronics, and mechanics — learning how to design, perform, and analyse experiments with care and creativity.
As you progress, your practical experience deepens through experiments in areas like radioactivity, dynamics, interferometry, fibre optics, and electronic systems. You’ll also explore modern computational tools — using simulations and computer-interfaced experiments to model physical systems, process data, and solve real-world physics problems.
Throughout the programme, our hands-on teaching approach ensures that you’re not just learning physics — you’re doing physics. You’ll gain technical, analytical, and collaborative skills that directly translate to careers in industry, research, and beyond.
Outside the lab and lecture theatre, you’ll take part in community sessions — informal, engaging forums where students and staff come together to explore the bigger picture of physics in society. These sessions cover a wide range of thought-provoking topics, from Nobel Prize-winning breakthroughs to the role of science in media, ethics, and public discourse. You’ll even explore the science behind popular conspiracy theories and debates in modern science. These discussions help you broaden your perspective, develop critical thinking, and connect with the wider physics community in a relaxed and inclusive environment.
You’ll have the opportunity to join a variety of societies to meet like-minded people, get involved in regular social and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects. Subject relevant societies include:
Customise your learning
You’ll have the opportunity to focus on the areas of physics that interest you the most. You can customise your degree to match your specific interests or desired career pathway a mix of mandatory and optional units. You will choose optional courses from an extensive list, including astrophysics, dynamics, elements of probability, optical sensing and energy studies, along with a range of wider science and engineering courses.
In your fourth year, you’ll complete a research project in which you’lldevelop your individual capabilities to apply experimental, theoretical, and computational techniques to a defined project. The project will give you a realistic exercise in the practice of physics andprovide you with feedback on your working ability in a simulated professional situation to help ease you into life after graduation.
Industry
We work in close collaboration with our Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) — a panel of scientists, engineers, and business leaders from across the physics and technology sectors — to ensure our course content remains current, relevant, and aligned with the evolving needs of industry. Their insights help shape your learning experience, making sure you graduate with the right combination of technical knowledge, practical experience, and transferable skills that employers value.
Through this strong industry engagement, our programme reflects the real-world challenges and emerging technologies shaping the future — from quantum computing and photonics to sustainable energy and data-driven innovation. You’llbenefit from guest lectures, industrially relevant projects, and opportunities to engage with professionals working at the cutting edge of applied physics.
Throughout your degree, you'll develop highly marketable skills in problem solving, numerical analysis, experimental design, and data handling. You'll also build expertise in computational modelling, coding, teamwork, and communication — a flexible and future-facing skillset that prepares you for a wide range of high-impact careers.
Graduates from our physics programmes are in high demand across sectors such as technology, engineering, data science, and healthcare. Recent alumni have gone on to roles in:
Whether you're developing new optical devices, designing smart sensors, analysing complex data sets, or contributing to scientific breakthroughs, your training in applied physics will open doors across industries that rely on scientific thinking and technological innovation.
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