Overview

The Theoretical Physics degree programme allows you to acquire an excellent all-round knowledge of physics, with a special focus on the theoretical aspects of the subject. It is suited to students who wish to develop their mathematical and/or computational skills within the overall context of physics.

These theoretical skills, combined with the broad knowledge of physics that the York Theoretical Physics degree offers, open career opportunities in many areas including the financial sector and high-performance computing, as well as being an excellent preparation for research or teaching careers.

The content of the York Theoretical Physics degree is a recognition of these modern skills required: it provides a balanced programme ranging from traditional mathematical physics methods to, at the other extreme, the simulation of large, complex physical systems on supercomputers.

It offers a unique blend of skills which have applicability well beyond the boundaries of physics. On the computational side, York's considerable research prominence in computer simulation allows our theory students to acquire experience in performing simulations as "computer experiments", which may then be analysed - much as one would analyse a real experiment, but with the advantage of access to all the detailed internal aspects of the system - using simpler computational and mathematical models.

These skills are particularly addressed in the specialist modules.

Download our Undergraduate Degree Programmes booklet for further information: Physics Undergraduate degree programmes (PDF , 742kb) 

First year

Second year

Third year

* Compulsory for BSc students and not available for MPhys students
** Compulsory for MPhys students and not available for BSc students

Fourth year

There is a great deal of freedom in the fourth year of the single-subject Physics course. You get to choose 6 modules from the 'Optional modules' column to study alongside your MPhys project work.