Program Overview

Physics with Nuclear Technology BSc (Hons)

The BSc (Hons) Physics with Nuclear Technology degree combines the breadth of core physics with a specialized focus on nuclear science and nuclear technology. These areas are critical to the future of clean energy, advanced healthcare, and global security.

Course Overview

• UCAS code: F390 (full-time), 350J (sandwich)
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Typical offer: 112 - 120 UCAS tariff points
• Start date: September 2026
• Duration: Three years full-time or four years with placement
• Attendance: Full-time, Placement year
• Course delivery: On-campus (Clifton Campus)
• The course is accredited by the Institute of Physics, ensuring it meets high standards of teaching and assessment.

About this Course

This degree explores the principles that govern matter and energy, from quantum mechanics and particle physics to nuclear reactions and radiation safety. Alongside these foundations, students dive into the technologies that power nuclear reactors, advanced nuclear materials and systems, and cutting-edge research facilities around the world. The course also covers how nuclear technology contributes to sustainable energy solutions, reducing carbon emissions and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy, as well as its role in life-saving medical treatments and national security and global cooperation. Students develop technical expertise, creative problem-solving skills, and scientific understanding that employers in these growing fields are looking for. The course includes opportunities for study abroad programs at partner universities or work placements overseas, which can boost employability, build lifelong friendships, and allow students to experience the world in a new way. The university's nuclear physics facilities include practical laboratory environments, such as a radioisotope suite and cutting-edge imaging facilities. Many of the expert physics team are Fellows of Advance HE and are active researchers whose work directly informs their teaching, with many winning awards for innovation in teaching. The course is accredited by the Institute of Physics, reflecting the high standards of teaching and assessment and externally recognizing the high quality of the physics degree program at NTU. Students have the opportunity to complete a year's work placement in industry, with recent students having worked in various roles at companies such as AWE, Rolls Royce, Ultra Electronics Nuclear Control Systems, QinetiQ, EDF Energy, and BMW. The course prepares students for careers in research and academia, engineering and technology, finance and business, computing, the energy sector, healthcare and medical physics, education, and space and aerospace. Examples of recent graduate roles include Nuclear Engineer, Project Manager, Technical Safety Manager, Graduate Physicist, and Test Automation Engineer. The university offers personalized support, one-on-one coaching, and industry-specific advice as part of its Employability Promise. The course includes assessed work-like experiences on active industry-led projects with partners such as Rolls Royce and Amentum. The university has a strong, active, and collaborative physics community, including student societies, research groups, and outreach projects, with regular opportunities for curricular and extracurricular activities. Students can complete paid summer placements embedded within active research groups tackling real challenges at the cutting edge of physics through the Physics Undergraduate Research Scholarships (PURS) scheme. The course offers a personalized learning experience that allows students to shape their physics degree to match their own interests and career goals, with opportunities to achieve additional certifications in certain related areas. The university has active connections with industry and commerce, facilitating meaningful work-life experiences on its suite of physics courses, and support from mentors, as well as project management and entrepreneurial opportunities. Students receive one-to-one personal tutoring and coaching at all stages of their physics degree to support them academically and personally. The course is taught by experts, with the majority of the teaching team being highly active in research, specializing in areas including soft matter, imaging and sensing, medical technologies, and heritage and sustainability. Many of the team also have industrial experience across the sector, and this fusion of knowledge, insight, and experience feeds directly into all the physics degrees. Students learn through a mix of lectures, smaller group seminars and workshop sessions, practical sessions with industry-standard facilities, independent reading and research, an optional year-long placement in industry, assessed work-like experiences on active industry-led projects, and various field trips. Assessment methods are broad and diverse, including problem-based assignments, work-like experiences, presentations, project work, and case files, skills portfolios, and examinations. Students receive regular feedback throughout the course to help them, usually through in-class or laboratory discussion with the teaching team, and written feedback on submitted work. The university's physics modules have around 40 hours of contact time and expect an additional 80 or so hours of independent study time outside of the classroom. Some modules, such as those with substantial laboratory work in cutting-edge facilities, will have slightly more contact hours completing experiments and investigations with supervision. The course includes opportunities for field trips, typically including an excursion to Alton Towers theme park to investigate classical mechanics in action, and a trip to Rolls Royce facilities in Derby as part of a first-year programming work-like assignment. The university offers a range of scholarships, including international scholarships of up to 50% of tuition fees. The course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of the library, support from the expert Employability team, and free use of IT equipment across the campuses. There are just a few additional things students may need to budget for, including physics textbooks and library books, printing and photocopying costs, a scientific calculator, placements, and field trips. The university has a range of facilities, including a radioisotope suite, a purpose-built, on-campus astronomical observatory, an MRI scanner, and microscopy suites in the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility. The Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures, with facilities including the Pavilion's barista cafÚ and Refectory, chic and stylish study spaces, and the Clifton Sports Hub. The campus is located in the heart of Nottingham, a legendary student city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at leisure.

Entry Requirements

• UK students:
  • Standard offer: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level equivalent Maths and Physics grade C.
  • Contextual offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level equivalent Maths and Physics grade C.
• International students:
  • Academic entry requirements: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications, including A-level equivalent Maths and Physics grade C.
  • Other requirements: GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
  • English language requirements: See the English language requirements page for requirements for the subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Fees and Funding

• UK students:
  • ú9,790 per year.
  • If you choose to do a placement year or year abroad, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year: Placement year - ú1,905, Year abroad - ú1,430.
• International students:
  • ú17,950 per year.
  • If you choose to do a placement year or study abroad placement year, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year: Placement year - ú1,905, Year abroad - ú1,430.

Careers and Employability

Graduates from this course have successful careers in organizations such as Greencore Group, National Nuclear Laboratories Ltd, Rolls Royce Plc, Jacobs Engineering, BMW, Kuehne and Nagel, and EDF Energy. Examples of recent graduate roles include Data Analyst, Radiation Protection Supervisor, Nuclear Compliance Graduate, Nuclear Physicist / Engineer, Test Automation Engineer, Structural Integrity Engineer, and Secondary Science Teacher. The university offers personalized support, one-on-one coaching, and industry-specific advice as part of its Employability Promise. The course includes assessed work-like experiences on active industry-led projects with partners such as Rolls Royce and Amentum.

Campus and Facilities

The university's physics facilities include practical laboratory environments, such as a radioisotope suite and cutting-edge imaging facilities. The Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures, with facilities including the Pavilion's barista cafÚ and Refectory, chic and stylish study spaces, and the Clifton Sports Hub. The campus is located in the heart of Nottingham, a legendary student city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at leisure.

Applying

• UK students: Apply through UCAS.
• International students: You can apply for this course through UCAS or directly to the university on its applicant portal.