Bachelor of Science in Physics

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

Inspired by the Royal Academy of Engineering, this in-depth course aims to develop high-calibre engineers who can lead complex engineering projects that are vital to modern society.

After a broad, common first year, you can choose to specialise in mechanical, aerospace or civil engineering, studying technical units alongside students from these other engineering degrees.

The third year is usually a paid placement in industry, which forms an assessed part of the course and is closely monitored by the University, allowing you to start working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer. You will be given responsibilities similar to graduate entrants, with opportunities to manage your own projects. We will support you in applying for a placement.

In years four and five you can choose from a wide range of technical modules from the School of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and open units in other faculties. This gives you the chance to gain further technical expertise in your chosen specialisation and a broader learning experience in other subjects, such as computer science, finance, geography or languages.

A group research and design project forms a major component of your final two years. The project is conducted with one of our industrial partners and you can choose from a range of topics, such as robotics, manufacturing, renewable energy, future cities and sustainable transport.

Studying biology at Bristol exposes you to the breadth of biological sciences, from enzymes to ecosystems. During your study you will gain knowledge of the diversity, evolution and functions of living organisms and the interactions between animals, microbes and plants.

Our course reflects the interdisciplinary nature of modern biology, taking into account the past, present and future of life on Earth.

Our biology degree starts broadly and then introduces more choice in years two and three, giving you the freedom to specialise or maintain breadth in your studies depending on your interests. The range of research-oriented and transferable skills you will learn will also enhance your employability as a graduate.

We have outstanding facilities in our brand new state-of-the-art Life Sciences Building and our lecturers are world-leading researchers in their fields.

This course allows you to combine subjects from the School of Economics and the School of Accounting and Finance with the benefit of one year abroad. 

The School of Accounting and Finance prepares you for a career in the accountancy profession or financial markets through access to subjects accredited by several professional accountancy bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Additionally, you will be prepared for a career as an economist, studying in a School of Economics run by world-leading experts. 

Places on the course are allocated on merit depending on first-year examination results and availability of spaces at destination universities.

This course provides rewarding opportunities to participate in summer internships and the Bristol PLUS Award. You will also benefit from the faculty's Professional Liaison Network, which runs a professional mentoring scheme with alumni, insight talks and internships. 

You will learn about the fundamental building blocks and forces of nature and how quantum physics and relativity help us understand the world around us, from the infinitesimal scale of particle and nuclear physics to the cosmic scale of galaxies and the Universe.

Year one gives you a comprehensive grounding in physics and mathematics. In year two you will develop a fundamental understanding of the principles of physics, including practical work in the laboratory and computational physics. Flexibility and choice are key features of a Bristol physics degree and you are usually able to transfer between courses in the first two years.

In your final year you will undertake a major project, working in a research group with a staff member. Our students' final-year projects address questions at the frontiers of our research fields and the most successful have been published in scientific journals.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We encourage you to develop a broad range of skills, including the experimental, theoretical and analytical skills needed for a career in research and industry. Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on these skills.

Years one and two provide a broad background in biomedical science as well as information about viruses and the diseases they cause.

You will study the immune system and how it controls infection. You will also learn about autoimmune diseases that can occur if the immune system attacks the body's own tissues rather than an infectious agent.

In your final year you will review the main viral diseases of humankind in terms of their natural history, biology, molecular biology, immunology, pathogenesis and epidemiology. These include HIV, hepatitis B and C, papilloma, influenza, measles and coronaviruses, among others.

You will learn about cutting-edge issues in virology and immunology, including emerging viruses such as the SARS-CoV-2, Marburg and Ebola viruses.

You will also learn about the problems associated with the production of vaccines. You will normally work on a research project in either virology or immunology.

This course combines politics and international relations with the study of French, the first language of some 90 million speakers around the world. This provides a valuable skill set ideally tailored to the increasingly globalised workplace.

You will study the politics of individual countries and governments and the relationships between countries, communities and individuals.

Politics is organised around three themes:

• Political theory
• Comparative and national politics
• International relations.

In French, you combine advanced study of the language with cultural, literary and historical units. You spend your third year abroad, which enables you to refine your language skills and cultural knowledge and gain valuable work experience. For further details on year abroad opportunities please see Global Opportunities.

Both schools encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, resulting in a vibrant learning environment as staff respond in their teaching to new research. This course combination offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges.