Program Overview

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Astrophysics, BSc (Hons)

Attendance

• Full-time
• Part-time

Campus

• Preston Campus

Start

• September 2025

Duration

• 3 years

UCAS Code

• F510

Delivery

• In-person

Foundation year available

• Yes

Study abroad option

• Yes

Placement option

• Yes

Course Overview

This course provides the opportunity to explore the very fabric of our universe. You’ll develop skills in various scientific methods and learn how physics applies to stellar objects and systems.

Why Study with Us

• 2nd in the North West for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide, Physics and Astronomy, 2024)
• 5th in the UK for teaching quality (Times Good University Guide, Physics and Astronomy, 2024)
• 1st in the UK for teaching (National Student Survey, Astronomy, 2024)
• Learn at one of the UK’s best-equipped teaching observatories, with our recent £200,000 investment in probably the most powerful modern optical telescope available in the country.
• You’ll have access to specialist laboratory facilities for the study of nuclear physics, mechanics, optics, quantum physics, laser physics, spectroscopy, and astrophysics.
• You’ll develop your mathematical skills, and benefit from a state-of-the-art learning environment for practical analysis, interpretation, and modeling of astronomical data.

What You’ll Do

• This course begins with the same introductory modules as both our Physics and Physics with Astrophysics courses, so you’ll have the flexibility to switch within your first year.
• We collaborate with some of the world’s leaders in the field, including NASA and the Southern African Large Telescope: you’ll become an active part of our vibrant research culture, learning from research-informed teaching, working on projects, and even joining funded internships.
• If you’re doing well on the BSc program, you can step up to the MPhys route – an ideal option for a career in scientific research.

Modules

Year 1

• Astrophysics I
• Fundamentals of Physics
• Applied and Computational Physics
• Functions, Vectors, and Calculus

Year 2

• Astrophysics II
• Principles of Physics
• Properties of Matter
• Second Year Laboratory
• Ordinary Differential Equations

Year 3

• Formation, Structure, and Evolution of Stars
• Cosmology and Galaxies
• Third Year Laboratory
• Physics/Astronomy Project
• UAS Teaching Placement

Optional Modules

• Nuclear and Particle Physics
• Atomic Physics and Advanced Quantum Mechanics
• Electrodynamics, Plasma, and Solar Physics
• Partial Differential Equations and Integral Transforms

Entry Requirements

• UCAS: 120 points at A2 including BB in Physics and Maths
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM only accepted alongside A-level Maths and Physics at grade BB
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 120 points from Higher Level subjects including Higher Level 5 Maths and Physics
• T Level: M and A2 Maths and Physics at grade BB
• IELTS: grade 6 with no component lower than 5.5
• GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths and English or equivalent

Fees and Funding

• UK: £9,535 per year (full-time), £1,623 for the placement year, £1,587 per 20 credits (part-time)
• International: £17,325 per year (full-time)

Scholarships and Bursaries

• Care Leaver Bursary
• Estranged Student Support Bursary
• Dependants Bursary
• Financial support package

Learning and Assessment

• We use a variety of teaching methods to support you through your studies.
• You’ll have lectures, seminars, and tutorials, as well as more practical sessions including observatory experiments, laboratory work, and problem classes.
• We keep our classes small to make sure you can make the most of your contact time with tutors, but you’ll also need to do plenty of independent study outside the classroom.

Industry Links

• We have links through our research collaborations with:
  • NASA
  • UK South African Large Telescope Consortium

Research Areas

• Galactic and extragalactic astrophysics
• Stellar astrophysics
• Solar physics

Facilities

• Alston Observatory
• Nanophysics Laboratory
• Physics Laboratories

Accreditations

• Institute of Physics (IOP) accreditation
• This course is accredited by the IOP, the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. On completion of this course, graduates can progress towards Chartered Physicist (Phys) status.