Particle and Nuclear Physics MSc

Taught courses

The taught element of the programme includes two compulsory courses and a minimum of three specialist courses which will bring you to an advanced level in the required subject material. You will also have the opportunity to select courses from a range of options depending on your interests and career ambitions.

Dissertation

Following the taught component of the programme, you will undertake a three-month research project leading to a dissertation. You will be based within one of the projects of the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics as part of an international collaboration, and may have the opportunity to visit a leading research laboratory.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

By engaging with and completing the MSc in Particle & Nuclear Physics, graduates will acquire core knowledge of current experiments in nuclear and particle physics and gain a theoretical understanding of nuclear and particle physics.

The programme aims to develop research and problem solving skills, with graduates gaining the skills to apply advanced data analysis techniques to large data sets, critically assess research activities and design future experiments.

This programme provides an exposure to frontier activities in experimental nuclear and particle physics and develops general transferable skills related to data analysis, research and communication.

This provides a platform for employment in research, science-based industry, medical physics, education and a wide spectrum of professions that call for numeracy and data analysis skills.

These entry requirements are for the 2022/23 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2023/24 academic year will be published on 3 October 2022.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in physics or a related subject with sufficient physics content. In particular we expect that you will have completed a quantum mechanics course.

University level mathematics and basic programming skills are essential. During your degree you should have gained experience in at least one of the following: C/C++, Java, Python, R, Matlab, Haskell, ML and you should state this information on your application. If you are in doubt on this point please contact the Programme Director.

We may also consider your application if you have relevant experience; please contact us to check before you apply.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

(*Revised 17 November 2021 to add accepted PTE Academic qualifications.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Featured funding

• Higgs Scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding