Expand+How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained...

Hide-How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in Autumn 2020 from 1 September 2019.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2020 (18:00).

Late applications are, in practice, accepted by UCAS throughout the remainder of the application cycle, but you should understand that they are considered by institutions at their discretion, and there can be no guarantee that they will be given the same full level of consideration as applications received by the advisory closing date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Expand+A level requirements
AAA (Mathematics and Physics)
OR
A* (Mathematics) AB (Physics)

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H2H2H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H2 in Mathematics and Physics

Access Course
Not considered. Applicant...

Hide-A level requirements
AAA (Mathematics and Physics)
OR
A* (Mathematics) AB (Physics)

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H2H2H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H2 in Mathematics and Physics

Access Course
Not considered. Applicants should apply for the BSc Theoretical Physics degree.

International Baccalaureate Diploma
36 points overall including 6 6 6 at Higher Level including Mathematics and Physics. If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE then Standard Level grade 4 in English would be accepted.

Graduate
A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirement is also met.


Selection Criteria

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.


Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by the School of Mathematics and Physics. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

For entry last year, applicants for programmes in the School of Mathematics and Physics must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C or better (to include English Language and Mathematics), though this profile may change from year to year depending on the demand for places. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.

Offers are normally made on the basis of three A-levels. The offer for repeat applicants may be one grade higher than for first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of performance in individual BTEC units rather than the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of performance in individual BTEC units rather than the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

Applicants offering other qualifications will also be considered. The same GCSE (or equivalent) profile is usually expected of those applicants offering other qualifications.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of degree courses in the School of Mathematics and Physics, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking four A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Visit Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions and Access Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.


International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs


If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes

INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.
•Foundation
The INTO progression course suited to this programme is
http://www.intostudy.com/en-gb/universities/queens-university-belfast/courses/international-foundation-in-engineering-and-science.

Expand+Theoretical Physics is aimed at students interested in the more mathematical and theoretical aspect of physics. The course provides a solid grounding in all aspects of physics, both theoretical and experimental, although a significant amount of pract...

Hide-Theoretical Physics is aimed at students interested in the more mathematical and theoretical aspect of physics. The course provides a solid grounding in all aspects of physics, both theoretical and experimental, although a significant amount of practical work is replaced by lecture courses and project work in theoretical physics. In the first two years, you study the topics of mechanics, applied mathematics and computational physics. In third and fourth year you study in more depth topics of particular interest to you, for example, quantum theory, electromagnetic theory and advanced mathematical methods

Theoretical Physics Degree highlights

Professional Accreditations
•You will have partially fulfilled the requirements to obtain the status of Chartered Physicist (CPhys) with the Institute of Physics.

Industry Links
•Graduate employers include: BT; Seagate; Allstate; NYSE; Andor; Civil Service

Career Development
•You can join the Physics and Mathematics Society (PAMSOC) which organises events and trips throughout the year. You can also take advantage of the many events held within the Northern Ireland Science Festival each February, which School staff and postgraduate students heavily support.

World Class Facilities
•You will be taught in our new state-of-the-art teaching centre, containing specialist laboratory equipment and computer facilities.

Internationally Renowned Experts
•All of our faculty staff are research scientists in their own right; in the 2014 REF peer-review exercise, 88% of our research was judged as internationally excellent or world-leading, and QUB Physics was 3rd in the UK for research intensity.

Student Experience
•Our students rated overall satisfaction in our undergraduate physics degrees at 91% in the 2017 National Student Survey; above the average for UK Universities.

Brexit Advice

Information on the implications of Brexit for prospective students.

Expand+Introduction
The module details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Stage 1
Analysis and Calculus
Numbers, Vectors and Matrices
Foundation Physics
Scientific Skil...

Hide-Introduction
The module details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Stage 1
Analysis and Calculus
Numbers, Vectors and Matrices
Foundation Physics
Scientific Skills

Stage 2
Classical Mechanics
Linear Algebra & Complex Variables
Optics, Electricity and Magnetism
Physics of the Solid State
Quantum & Statistical Physics
Partial Differential Equations

Stage 3
Electromagnetic Theory
Quantum Theory
Calculus of Variations and Hamiltonian Mechanics
Tensor Field Theory
Partial Differential Equations
Solid State Physics
Applied Mathematics
Computer Algebra

Stage 4
Advanced Quantum Theory
Project
Statistical Mechanics
Advanced Mathematical Methods
Mathematical methods for quantum information processing
Practical methods for partial differential equations
Information theory
Cosmology
High-Energy Astrophysics
Laser Physics
Medical Radiation Simulation
Planetary Systems
Plasma Physics
The Physics of Nanomaterials
Ultrafast Science

Expand+Career Prospects

Introduction
Studying for a degree in Theoretical Physics at Queen’s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic in...

Hide-Career Prospects

Introduction
Studying for a degree in Theoretical Physics at Queen’s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Graduates from this degree at Queen’s are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, including theoretical physics.

Although the many of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in teaching, banking and finance, significant numbers develop careers in a wide range of other sectors. The following is a list of the major career sectors that have attracted our graduates in recent years:

Management Consultancy
Export Marketing (NI Programme)
Fast Stream Civil Service
Varied graduate programmes (Times Top 100 Graduate Recruiters/AGR, Association of Graduate Recruiters UK)

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.