THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2026/2027

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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DRPS : DPTs :  School of Physics and Astronomy DPTs

Degree Programme Table: Theoretical Physics (BSc Hons) (UTTHEPHBSCH)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 1 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: September

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Physics 1A: Foundations

Must be passed and taken during Semester 1

PHYS08016 20 credits
Physics 1B: The Stuff of the Universe

Must be passed and taken during Semester 2

PHYS08017 20 credits
Mathematics for Physics 1

Must be passed and taken during Semester 1

PHYS08035 20 credits
Mathematics for Physics 2

Must be passed and taken during Semester 2

PHYS08036 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Transition to University Mathematics for Physics

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Transition to University Mathematics for Physics is required for students with Higher Mathematics only, or Advanced Higher less than grade A, or A-level Mathematics less than grade A, or equivalent.

It is not recommended for students with A-level Mathematics at grade A, or SQA Advanced Higher at Grade A, or equivalent.
Transition to University Mathematics for Physics
PHYS07001 20 credits
AND

Level 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y

Select between 20 and 40 credits from Level 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y

Year 2 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Notes:
Progression to second year requires passes in all first year specified compulsory courses or, for Direct Entry, award of 120 credits by prior learning. This is in addition to the general progression requirement.

You should meet with your Academic Advisor in Welcome Week to confirm your selection of optional courses.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Physics of Fields and Matter

Must be passed and taken during Semester 2

PHYS08046 20 credits
Dynamics and Vector Calculus

Must be passed and taken during Semester 2

PHYS08043 20 credits
Experimental Physics 2

Must be passed and taken during Semester 2

PHYS08058 10 credits
Programming and Data Analysis

Must be passed and taken during Semester 1

PHYS08049 10 credits
Modern Physics

Must be passed and taken during Semester 1

PHYS08045 10 credits
Linear Algebra and Several Variable Calculus

Must be passed and taken during Semester 1

PHYS08042 10 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Physics and Astronomy Year 2, Direct Entry Students

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Direct Entry (PoE2) students MUST take this course. Continuing students MUST NOT take this course.
Selected courses must be passed and taken during Semester 1
Physics and Mathematics for Direct Entry
PHYS08057 20 credits
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y

Select between 20 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y

Year 3 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Notes:
Progression to fourth year requires passes in the following compulsory 3rd-year courses: Electromagnetism OR Electromagnetism and Relativity, Quantum Mechanics OR Principles of Quantum Mechanics, Thermal Physics OR Statistical Mechanics. This is in addition to the general progression requirement.

Graduation with a BSc requires a pass in at least one of the following courses with a project component: Senior Honours Project (Semester 1 or 2) Geoscience Outreach and Engagement, Mathematical Physics Honours Project.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Fourier Analysis and Statistics

Must be taken during Semester 1

PHYS09055 20 credits
Thermal Physics

Must be taken during Full Year

PHYS09061 20 credits
Electromagnetism

Must be taken during Full Year

PHYS09060 20 credits
Research Methods in Physics

Must be taken during Full Year

PHYS09056 10 credits
Methods of Theoretical Physics

Must be taken during Semester 2

PHYS10105 20 credits

Course options

Theoretical Physics, JH, Quantum options

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Selected courses must be taken during Full Year
Quantum Mechanics
PHYS09053 20 credits
Principles of Quantum Mechanics
PHYS10094 20 credits
AND

Physics and Astronomy JH Computational Course Options

Select exactly 10 credits of the following courses
Computer Modelling
PHYS09057 10 credits
Numerical Recipes
PHYS10090 10 credits

Year 4 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Notes:
You should meet with your Academic Advisor in Welcome Week to confirm your selection of optional courses.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics

Must be taken during Semester 1

PHYS10099 10 credits
Physics Skills

Must be taken during Semester 2

PHYS10042 10 credits
Relativity, Nuclear and Particle Physics

Must be taken during Semester 1

PHYS10096 20 credits
Group Project

Must be taken during Full Year

PHYS11011 10 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 70 credits in this group.

Mathematical and Theoretical Physics, Senior Honours Projects

Select between 10 and 20 credits of the following courses
Senior Honours Project (Physics & Astronomy) Semester 1
PHYS10086 20 credits
Senior Honours Project (Physics & Astronomy) Semester 2
PHYS10087 20 credits
Mathematical Physics Honours Project
PHYS10107 10 credits
Science Communication and Public Engagement
PHYS10113 20 credits
AND

Theoretical Physics BSc, SH core options

Select between 30 and 60 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Quantum Physics cannot be taken by students who have taken Principles of Quantum Mechanics (PHYS10094) in Year 3.
Lagrangian Dynamics
PHYS10015 10 credits
Methods of Mathematical Physics
PHYS10034 10 credits
Quantum Physics
PHYS10043 10 credits
Symmetries of Quantum Mechanics
PHYS10083 10 credits
General Relativity
PHYS11010 10 credits
Hamiltonian Dynamics
PHYS11012 10 credits
Quantum Theory
PHYS11019 10 credits
Statistical Physics
PHYS11024 10 credits
Classical Electrodynamics
PHYS11045 10 credits
AND

Physics & Astronomy SH/IM Options - Level 10

Select between 0 and 30 credits of the following courses
Notes:
This selection includes all available Level 10 course options for SH/IM students in Physics and Astronomy.
Lagrangian Dynamics
PHYS10015 10 credits
Methods of Mathematical Physics
PHYS10034 10 credits
Modelling and Visualisation in Physics
PHYS10035 10 credits
Physics Skills
PHYS10042 10 credits
Quantum Physics
PHYS10043 10 credits
Symmetries of Quantum Mechanics
PHYS10083 10 credits
Numerical Recipes
PHYS10090 10 credits
Solid State Physics
PHYS10095 10 credits
Soft Condensed Matter Physics
PHYS10097 10 credits
Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics
PHYS10099 10 credits
Data Acquisition and Handling
PHYS10100 10 credits
Methods of Theoretical Physics
PHYS10105 20 credits
Quantum Computing Project
PHYS10110 10 credits
Astrophysics: Stars and Planets
PHYS10111 20 credits
Astrophysics: Galaxies and Cosmology
PHYS10112 20 credits
AND

Physics & Astronomy SH/IM Options - Level 11

Select between 0 and 30 credits of the following courses
Notes:
This selection includes all available Level 11 course options for SH/IM students in Physics and Astronomy.
Symmetries of Particles and Fields
PGPH11097 10 credits
Detectors in Particle & Nuclear Physics
PGPH11104 10 credits
Advanced Statistical Physics
PHYS11007 10 credits
General Relativity
PHYS11010 10 credits
Hamiltonian Dynamics
PHYS11012 10 credits
Quantum Theory
PHYS11019 10 credits
Statistical Physics
PHYS11024 10 credits
Advanced Cosmology
PHYS11035 10 credits
Computational Astrophysics
PHYS11037 10 credits
Biological Physics
PHYS11040 10 credits
Nuclear Physics
PHYS11041 10 credits
Particle Physics
PHYS11042 10 credits
Lasers and Applications
PHYS11044 10 credits
Classical Electrodynamics
PHYS11045 10 credits
Nuclear Astrophysics
PHYS11053 10 credits
Geometry and Physics of Soft Condensed Matter
PHYS11055 10 credits
Electronic Structure Theory
PHYS11061 10 credits
Current Topics in Particle Physics
PHYS11063 10 credits
Medical Physics
PHYS11064 10 credits
Quantum Field Theory
PHYS11065 20 credits
Physics of Extreme Environments
PHYS11066 10 credits
Radiation Processes in Astrophysics
PHYS11067 20 credits
Galaxy Evolution
PHYS11070 20 credits
Scientific Image Analysis
PHYS11071 20 credits
Gauge Theories in Particle Physics
PHYS11072 20 credits
Theoretical methods for fusion and astrophysical plasmas
PHYS11073 20 credits
Data Analysis and Machine Learning in Physics
PHYS11074 20 credits
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