Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Study Details: 1 year
Our MSc Physics course will deepen your understanding of the Universe through topics at the cutting edge of physics research.
Our flexible one-year MSc Physics course is designed to equip you with the experience required for a successful career. You’ll master the problem solving and analysis skills that employers value in a variety of sectors, spanning computing, data science, engineering, finance and consultancy, and public administration. You’ll also develop the advanced knowledge needed to pursue a career in research.
Whether you want to advance your understanding of the topics you found most interesting during your undergraduate studies or gain the skills needed to achieve your goals, our wide range of optional modules allow you to focus on the topics that are most important to you.
You’ll have the opportunity to explore areas such as quantum mechanics, semiconductor physics, electrodynamics, particle physics, dark matter, and cosmology. You’ll gain expertise that can be applied to some of the biggest challenges in science and technology, by developing technical skills and specialist knowledge, such as computer programming and data analysis.
One of the biggest parts of your degree is a year-long research project. You’ll investigate an important issue or problem in physics of your choice, under the supervision of an active researcher who is an expert in your chosen area. You’ll review research literature, design and conduct research using qualitative and quantitative research techniques, and handle and analyse data. You’ll also gain experience communicating your findings verbally and in writing.
Examples of recent dissertation topics include:
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in Physics or any degree where Physics is a named component, with relevant modules.
Employers hire our graduates because of their ability to plan projects, analyse data and solve complex problems, independently and as part of a team. Our courses are designed to give you the skills that will help you succeed in a range of careers, spanning areas such as:
A physics degree from Sheffield can take you far, whatever you want to do, whether that’s in roles like software engineering or research and development. Our graduates have been hired by a variety of employers, such as BAE Systems, BT, EDF energy, HSBC, IBM, Nissan, the NHS and the Civil Service.
You’ll cover advanced topics and gain extensive research training, which is also great preparation if you’d like to pursue a career in research. Sheffield graduates have secured PhDs at many of the world's top 100 universities and have gone on to work at major international research facilities, such as CERN and ESA.
Some of our students also choose to complete teacher training in order to inspire the next generation of physicists.
Core modules:
Physics Research Skills
Research project
Optional modules:
A student will take 90 credits (six modules) from this group.
The Development of Particle Physics
Dark Matter and the Universe
Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Solid State Physics
Optical Properties of Solids
Particle Physics
Advanced Particle Physics
Physics in an Enterprise Culture
Further Statistical Physics
Advanced Electrodynamics
Semiconductor Physics and Technology
Origin of the Chemical Elements
Introduction to Cosmology
Quantum Optics and Quantum Computing
A QS world top-100 university Studying at the University of Sheffield means you’ll get the future that follows a degree from a Russell Group Universit...
Wed 29 Apr 2026