Physics and Astronomy

Enhance your study

From customising your course, to studying abroad or doing a summer research placement - at Sussex we know there's more to your degree than the classroom. See what you can add to your degree below.

Customise your course

You can choose from a range of study options to enhance your Physics degree. You can also choose to research a particular topic within your final year project.

Flexible module choices

Years one and two of our Physics degrees provide you with a firm foundation of Physics and the core principles of the subject.

Subsequent years allow you to apply the core principles in a broad range of areas such as astrophysics, particle physics and quantum physics.

In your final years, you can specialise in the areas that interest you the most. 

Final year projects

The final-year project is an important part of your degree. It is in the project where you have a chance to put your studies into practice, experience academic research and develop professional skills.

You will be closely supervised by a faculty member and in many cases you will interact with postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. Projects vary from the purely experimental, including numerical projects using a supercomputer, to theoretical projects.

Find out more about final year projects

Choosing your project

You will be given a list of ongoing projects with information about the type of skills you need to be accepted on to the project (for example, experimental, numerical, theoretical).

You will then select a number of projects you are interested in and give your project preference. You will then be matched to a project taking into account your preference.

Find out more about customising your course 


Study abroad opportunities

If you are a MPhys and BSc student, you can spend a term or a year studying abroad at some of the world's top universities.

Our students have gone to a range of destinations including:

  • University of Texas, Austin, USA
  • University of California, USA
  • University of Uppsala, Sweden.

The University of Sussex has over 140 student and teaching exchange links with institutions across North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Central and South America, meaning you can choose to study at a variety of leading universities.

Find out where you can study abroad as a Physics student

See our fees for studying abroad


"During my degree I took advantage of the opportunity to study in Sweden for a term. I went to Uppsala and it was a fantastic experience. Teaching is in English, and so students can experience living abroad without having to be fluent in a second language. This was a brilliant opportunity that I would never have otherwise had."

James Urquhart
Physics with Astrophysics

Research opportunities

Examine star formation in the distant universe. Search space for evidence of dark matter. Help build future quantum circuits. Whatever you want to discover, getting involved in our research means you're a step closer to your future career.

If you're studying our Physics (research placement) MPhys you'll do a summer placement as part of your course. But no matter what you're studying you'll be involved in our research - you may be able to apply for a summer placement from other courses and you will do research as part of your final project. 

Find out more about our undergraduate research opportunities

See examples of student research project work


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Contact us

Physics and Astronomy
ug.admissions@physics.sussex.ac.uk