Which UK university is 'best' for physics?

In summary: Many of the university prospectuses i have looked at say that they have 'the best physics department', and i am finding it hard to choose between them. However, the top universities for physics according to this information seem to be Warwick, York, UCL, Imperial, and Oxford. Are there any major ones that i have missed?
  • #1
rattis
41
0
I am currently researching into universities that offer physics, either as a single subject, as theoretical physics, or with astronomy (astrophysics) or maths.

Many of the university prospectuses i have looked at say that they have 'the best physics department', and i am finding it hard to choose between them.

So i am asking anyone want they think of various universities throught the UK for their physics department. I have seen that the top universities for physics look like Warwick, York, UCL, Imperial and Oxford. Are there any major ones that i have missed?

There is no need to take number of pubs, general student life, etc into account. But pubs being close are always a good thing :smile:
 
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  • #2
If you take N.Ireland into account there's Queens' who are ranked petty highly in Physics, esp. for their research. I think they got in the top 5 in the UK for Physics but I'm not 100% sure. Here's the link-

http://143.117.13.2/
 
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  • #3
Oh and has great social life, loadsa of pubs etc and the Physics and Applied Maths society has regular piss-ups where you get free booze!
 
  • #4
rattis asked: "I have seen that the top universities for physics look like Warwick, York, UCL, Imperial and Oxford. Are there any major ones that i have missed?"

You probably don't need help from a yank, but unless UCL is an abbreviation for Cambridge, you left off one the best in the universe! I don't know how many pubs there are, but the thought of having a drink in the same place that Newton might have had one would be good enough for me.
 
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  • #5
Newcastle's research links and department are excellent I can vouch for them but maybe I'm a little biased. I think jdavel got it pretty much in one.
 
  • #6
jdavel said:
rattis asked: "I have seen that the top universities for physics look like Warwick, York, UCL, Imperial and Oxford. Are there any major ones that i have missed?"

You probably don't need help from a yank, but unless UCL is an abbreviation for Cambridge, you left off one the best in the universe! I don't know how many pubs there are, but the thought of having a drink in the same place that Newton might have had one would be good enough for me.

Unfortunatly they do not do the course that i wish to study. They offer physics as part of natural sciences programme, not as a single subject.
 
  • #7
Unfortunately, the Queens' website is possibly the ugliest thing on the net...

:eek: :eek: :eek: AHHHH!
 
  • #8
This may sound a little foolish but i just registered so i could ask what 'UCL' stands for? If it's University of Central Lancashire that would be great, as I have them down as my back up offer on my ucas form and i have no clue about the place.

My first choice is Newcastle (because it's close, and I am lazy :P), but i have offers for physics from both, so if anyone has any experience with either of the above institutions id love to hear it.
 
  • #9
Ok on second thoughts, ULC would have to be University College London... damn. So anyway, Newcastle's good then is it?
 
  • #10
I would say so. I am studying physics there. I don't know if that makes me biased though.
 
  • #11
Perhaps biased, but certainly knowledgeable about the place :wink:. I just relieved they still offer the course, when i first applied they sent a letter saying something about moving all physics courses in north-east England to durham :eek: . Seems there's been a change of plan for now, but it did make me wonder whether that meant the course wasnt up to scratch or something.
 
  • #12
The university of Newcastle, as with all in the UK is suffering from serious underinvestment from the government. As physics isn't one of the most popular courses it was provisionally put up to be closed which is a shame cos i think we can do without 'soft' subjects such as and pathetic things like that. Anyway such is the world. It looks stable at the minute but saying that if you'd feel more comfortable going elsewhere i wouldn't blame you. And as for the teaching and the courses, they're all excellent.
 
  • #13
Guess that's fair enough. Maybe investment will improve by my last year there when the top-up fees come in... but i doubt ill see much of that. Well Necastle is still first choice by a long way, providing i get the grades of course. Can't believe I am struggling to get 2 B's and a C, which reminds me i best be getting on with my IT Cwk in for tomorrow :eek: . Thanx for the info Kurdt
 
  • #15
The times is a good source for university information. Someehre they list the top universitys by subject, apparently Durham is best for physics
 
  • #16
Well, my personal opinion is that Imperial College is best - but I am hugely biased :wink: (although I see the Times put us below Oxford this year... grrr!)

Other places I have heard good things about are Bristol, Nottingham, Durham and St Andrews. Although you need to watch out which ones do the amount of theory you want as courses change dramatically from place to place.

By the way, you should take all these lists and tables you find in newspapers etc with a pinch of salt. Sometimes the criteria they use are a bit odd, for instance, I have seen ratings based on whether the university achieved what they set out to accomplish. In which case an institution which is only trying to produce 'ok' graduates can achieve full marks.

Also, there can be huge political biases. For instance, you will not see Imperial anywhere near the top of any list produced by the Guardian whilst Sir Richard Sykes is the rector.

Hope that helps.

Matt
 
  • #17
jdavel said:
rattis asked: "I have seen that the top universities for physics look like Warwick, York, UCL, Imperial and Oxford. Are there any major ones that i have missed?"

You probably don't need help from a yank, but unless UCL is an abbreviation for Cambridge, you left off one the best in the universe! I don't know how many pubs there are, but the thought of having a drink in the same place that Newton might have had one would be good enough for me.

Newton came from Grantham in Lincolnshire. If you have ever been there then your hypothesis that drinking in the same place as he may have once would be cool needs a rethink. Its like Pittsburg, but without the charm.

edited spelling mistakes.
 
  • #18
Trinity in Dublin has a fantastic Magnetism Lab and in general a great Condensed Matter Group.

I think UMIST is worth looking into too.
 
  • #19
Does anyone know what happened to the proposed merger of UMIST with the university of Manchester? (the latter have a very good liquid crystals/condensed matter group I think)
 
  • #20
Do cambridge even DO physics? I can't see physics at cambridge in any league tables. I want to do physics at Oxford because it has the best reputation but I don't think i'll get in because i have the worst physics teachers in the country teaching me for AS. oh well.
 
  • #21
Cambridge do what they call 'the natural science tripos' or something like that. It's not pure physics though.

The thing is when you start trying to decide between places like Imperial, Oxford and Cambridge then it really doesn't make much difference academically. Get an excellent degree from any of these places (or others already mentioned in this thread) and you will be in a fantastic position when it comes time to find a job/PhD. You should think carefully about where you want to study though. For instance, Cambridge is very claustrophobic (have you seen the place? It's absolutely tiny!), but London is very very expensive - for some reason Imperial college is in the richer part of Kensington so student accomodation is a nightmare.

It's very important to pick a place you think you will be happy at. No matter how good the institution is, you will do very little work if you are miserable.

Matt
 
  • #22
I don't know if you looked at Bristol, but I recall it being pretty good.
 
  • #23
DaveZZZ said:
Do cambridge even DO physics?

Between Stephen Hawking and the Cavendish Lab (which the likes of Rutherford, Chadwick and JJ Thompson have graced) I think a good bit of Physics gets done.
 
  • #24
DaveZZZ said:
I want to do physics at Oxford because it has the best reputation but I don't think i'll get in because i have the worst physics teachers in the country teaching me for AS. oh well.

I was thinking of this, but changed my mind to wanting to do Physics with theoretical astrophysics, and Oxford don't do that.

I found that OxBridge only do the general subjects, no real specilised subjects until a few years into the course. But i suppose that at the end of the day a physics degree is a physics degree
 
  • #25
I think none of the Physics courses will be specialised at first. You first have to do your basic calculus, mechanics, optics, etc...,which isn't very applied.
 
  • #26

1. What factors should I consider when determining the best UK university for studying physics?

Some factors to consider when choosing a UK university for studying physics include the university's reputation and ranking in the field of physics, the quality and expertise of the faculty, the availability of research opportunities, the curriculum and course offerings, and the location and campus environment.

2. How do I find out a university's ranking in the field of physics?

There are several reputable ranking systems that evaluate universities based on various criteria, such as research output, teaching quality, and international reputation. Some of the most well-known ranking systems for universities in the UK include the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the QS World University Rankings, and the Complete University Guide.

3. Are there any specific UK universities known for their strengths in physics?

Yes, there are several UK universities that are highly regarded for their strengths in physics. Some of the top universities for physics in the UK include the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and the University of Edinburgh.

4. How important is the availability of research opportunities in a university's physics program?

Research opportunities are crucial for students studying physics as it allows them to gain hands-on experience and develop practical skills in their field of study. It also provides valuable networking opportunities and can enhance job prospects after graduation. Therefore, it is essential to consider the availability of research opportunities when choosing a university for studying physics.

5. What are some resources I can use to compare different UK universities for physics?

Aside from ranking systems, there are other resources that can help you compare different UK universities for physics. These include university websites, student forums and review websites, and subject-specific guides and publications. It is also recommended to attend university open days and talk to current students and faculty to get a better understanding of the university's physics program.

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