Theoretical Physics

Entry requirements

We normally require a minimum of an upper second class Honours degree or equivalent in physics or a related field. IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Months of entry

January, October

Course content

The MSc by Research in Theoretical Physics allows you to undertake a year-long individual programme of personally and professionally enriching research.

Your theoretical physics research project will be shaped by participation in activities such as seminars, workshops, laboratory activity and fieldwork, as well as your involvement in one of our established research groups.

While this research programme usually finishes after a year, it can be used to progress to the second year of a PhD degree in the appropriate circumstances.

Over 80% of our research outputs from experimental and theoretical groups were judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2014-2021).

We have three main research groups.

The Atomic, Molecular and Quantum Physics Group (AMQP) is supported by grants from EPSRC, the EU, The Royal Society, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and various industrial and government sources.

The areas of research are:

Analytical laser spectroscopy,
Ultrafast Dynamics, Imaging and Microscopy, Optomechanics
Antihydrogen, positronium and positrons
Cold atom physics
Nano-scale physics and the life sciences
The Applied Physics and Materials (APM) Group is supported by grants from the European Union, Welsh Government, National Science Foundation, Australian Research Council, Welsh European Funding Office, and EPSRC.

The areas of research include:

Biophotonics: Nano- and micro-structured materials, biomimetics, analyte sensing and light-tissue interaction
Nanomedicine
Sustainable Advanced Materials: next-generation semiconductors, bioelectronic materials and devices, optoelectronics including photodetection, solar energy conversion, advanced electro-optics and transport physics of disordered solids
The Particle Physics and Cosmology Theory (PPCT) Group is one of the five largest particle physics groups in the UK. It is supported mainly by STFC, but also has grants from EPSRC, the EU, the Royal Society and the Leverhulme Trust.

The areas of research include:

Amplitudes in gauge and supergravity theories
Hot and Dense matter, High-performance computing
Gauge/string duality, Higher spin holography, Integrability, Large-N gauge theories, supersymmetry and duality
Holography and lattice theories in physics beyond the Standard Model
Quantum fields in curved spacetime and theoretical cosmology

Information for international students

Since its foundation in 1920, Swansea University has embraced opportunities to think globally. The vibrant mix of nationalities and cultures on campus greatly enriches our learning and teaching environment. We understand the type of support our international students need to help them settle into student life in a new country.

Fees and funding

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out more about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page: www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships