FAQs

Does it matter which physics degree programme I apply for?

In practical terms, no. The four physics degree programmes are identical for the first two years and you are allowed to change between them. At the end of year 2 you must make a firm decision about your degree title because the programmes differ from each other after this point.

The UCAS code for MPhys at Durham is given as F301, but at other universities F301 is BSc with a year in industry or a year in Europe while F303 is the code for MPhys. Which code is correct?

Please use F301 as the code for MPhys Physics at Durham. Some of our codes had to change recently for technical reasons, but rest assured that F301 is our normal 4-year physics degree, FF3N is our 4-year Physics and Astronomy degree and F344 is our 4-year Theoretical Physics degree. None of these has a year in industry or a year in Europe.

Do you request UMS marks from A level candidates?

Yes, we have now started to request UMS marks from candidates who are taking A levels and where their application does not already provide their module marks. Many applications now do provide this information, and we are seeking to make the level of available marks information more uniform. We do appreciate, however, that some candidates cannot provide marks, and, of course, many candidates do not take A levels. In either case, these candidate's applications will not be disadvantaged.

Do you accept qualifications other than A levels?

Yes! We are able to specify entry requirements in any broadly equivalent system of qualifications.

Is it true that Durham require a minimum of 6 A* grades at GCSE?

No, we have no such minimum requirements at GCSE or AS level (or equivalents). We always look at all aspects of the UCAS application before making a decision on an offer.

Is it true that Durham automatically reject applicants who have also applied to certain other universities?

Absolutely not! Even if we wished to implement such a policy, and we certainly do not, the information on where else applicants have applied is not disclosed to us by UCAS. 

What should I put in my Personal Statement?

Please ensure that you include any academic distinctions, such as school or external prizes, scholarships and awards, very good results in individual academic assessments, or participation in substantial physics or mathematics projects. It is also worthwhile mentioning any extra-curricular activities, which emphasise hard work, organisation and good time management. We stress, however, that none of these individual achievements is an essential prerequisite for entry to our physics courses.

What information do you expect to find in the Referee Statement?

Except for students who have left education for several years before applying, we expect that the Referee Statement is provided by one of the applicant's teachers or academic tutors who knows him/her well and that it includes the following: a prediction of the grades or marks in the A-levels or other final qualfications, including the expected results in Physics and Mathematics; an indication of the academic standing and qualities of the applicant, both in general and relative to his/her peer group; an indication of any particular merit or esteem; the general educational background within which the application should be considered; any special circumstances mitigating a possible underperformance; and if relevant, comments on why the predicted performances are better than might be expected given the applicant's results in lower years.

Do you accept "resit" grades?

Yes, we do not distinguish them from first attempts. 

Do you insist on Further Mathematics at A level (or equivalent)?

No, Further Maths can certainly help in following the mathematical content of our first year courses, but it is not a prerequisite for entry or for successfully undertaking the courses. 

Is taking four or more subjects at A level an advantage?

Not all applicants have the opportunity to do this, so we do not take into account whether an applicant is taking more than three A levels.

Is having a better than AAA* prediction at A level an advantage?

It is not essential by any means, but we would take it as an indication of academic merit alongside other aspects of the UCAS application. 

I am about to buy a new computer that I will use for my studies at university.  Do you have any specific requirements for student computers?  For instance, would a Mac be ok?

Either a Mac or a PC would be fine.  If you get a Mac, you might find it useful to get the Mac version of Office, particularly Excel, which is used extensively in our laboratory modules.

How much paid employment will I be able to undertake during term-time?

It is certainly not unusual for students to have part-time jobs whilst studying at Durham. More information about this may be found on the Careers Advisory Service's web site: http://www.dur.ac.uk/ses/.  The Student Employment Service does not advertise any vacancy that is more than 12 hours per week, so this can be regarded as the maximum that any student could realistically expect to fit around their studies, but ultimately it is the student's responsibility to assess the academic pressures and demands of their subject discipline as this will affect the hours of part-time work they can do.

Is it possible to study abroad within a Durham Physics degree?

Yes, this is certainly possible, either within one of our MPhys degrees (by replacing a year of study in Durham by a year of study abroad) or within our degree of BSc Physics with Year Abroad (which is the BSc Physics degree with an additional year of study). More details, including a list of possible destinations, can be found on our study abroad web page.

Please note that the number of places is limited for most schemes and therefore a place cannot be guaranteed at the time of entry to Durham.

What proportion of Physics students complete the integrated masters?

At Durham University almost 75% of Physics students choose to complete the MPhys degree with the remaining students choosing to complete the BSc. This is much higher than the proportion nationally, which is about 50%.

Are students completing the MPhys more likely to obtain a better degree classification than those completing the BSc Physics?

Yes, higher proportions of students who graduate on the MPhys gain first and 2:1 degree classifications, than students who graduate with the BSc. This is partly owing to the fact that there is a required threshold for progression onto year 3 of the MPhys.

I do not possess formal qualifications/I have been out of education for some time, is there any way in which I can gain entry onto a Physics programme?

The foundation centre offers a direct progression programme BSc Physics with Foundation.  This course is aimed at those that do not possess the formal qualifications required for their chosen programme of study. Providing that the foundation year is successfully completed, students will then progress directly onto BSc Physics. More information can be found on the following webpage