BSc (Hons) Physics with a Foundation Year
Course options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- F301
- Typical Offer
- CCC
- Contextual Offer
- CDD
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
If you don’t yet meet the academic requirements to start a physics degree, our Foundation Year Physics programme will prepare you with everything you need to study Physics at undergraduate level here at UEA. We’ll fully support you with all the necessary knowledge and skills needed for a successful degree, and you’ll make a smooth transition into university study and research.
Once you’ve completed the Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto your BSc degree. In small teaching groups, we offer a wide range of subjects, including astrophysics, quantum physics, geophysics, fluid mechanics and computing in a friendly environment. You’ll receive individual attention and feedback on your work and projects.
Our highly flexible degree allows to choose optional modules of your interest in addition to core modules. You’ll undertake a theoretical or experimental project in your final year. At this stage, you’ll be prepared to design a project to answer a question you have in mind or discover the research direction of our staff. You can also work on a medical physics project, in collaboration with the hospital next to campus.
All along, you’ll use our top-class laboratories and high-tech equipment, which adds a practical understanding to the theoretical teachings. This will add to the enthusiasm and energy of your learning journey.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll be assigned an academic adviser for the duration of your studies. They’ll help guide your course choices and help to ensure you're keeping up with the necessary studies. In your first year of study, compulsory modules will include both physics and mathematics. Also, you’ll be offered a range of optional modules in chemistry and computing. You’ll be assessed through a combination of coursework and exams.
For information on subsequent years of this course, please see the full BSc Physics course profile.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our teaching combines lectures, small-group seminars, workshops and practical sessions. Some sessions may also involve programming activities to enhance your learning experience.
Our group sessions are relaxed and informal, providing a space for you to ask questions about lecture topics and collaborate on solving problems set by tutors. Additionally, we strongly encourage you to engage in one-on-one discussions with your tutors to address any academic concerns or questions you may have. You’ll use laboratory sessions to perform experiments based on subjects from the lecture programme. Lecturers or postgraduate students supervise these sessions to ensure that experiments are safely executed.
Independent study
You’ll have plenty of opportunity for independent study during your degree programme as you work on coursework and prepare for exams. However, your final year research project will truly show your independent work. It’ll allow you to get to grips with an aspect of physics that really interests you.
For a year-by-year breakdown of teaching, please see the full BSc Physics course profile. Please note that the Foundation Year (Year Zero) has the same structure as Year One of the BSc programme.
Assessment
We use a range of assessment methods to best reflect each module and what we hope you’ll gain from it.
Assessments will usually feature a combination of practical reports, data handling, project work, dissertations, and examinations.
Your foundation year results will not count towards your final degree classification, but they’re important if you wish to transfer to a different degree programme.
For a year-by-year breakdown of assessment methods in the following years, please see the full BSc Physics course profile.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK fee-paying students. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
CCC
Contextual offer: CDD
Not accepted: Critical Thinking and General Studies.
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: MMM
Contextual offer: MMP
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Diploma: MM plus C at A level.
Contextual offer: MM plus D at A level.
Extended Certificate: M plus CC at A level.
Contextual offer: M plus CD at A level.
Not accepted: Critical Thinking and General Studies.
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Science Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
T levels
Obtain an overall Pass including a C in the core of the T Level and a Pass in the Occupational Specialism. All pathways are accepted.
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
28 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
6 subjects at H4
Scottish Highers
BBCCC
Scottish Advanced Highers
DDD. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
-
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:
Employability
After the Course
You’ll have many career opportunities as a physics graduate. You can work in science-based industries or pursue academic and research careers. Other careers include nanotechnology, energy, space research, engineering, telecommunications, education, defence, data science, science journalism, finance, medicine and government agencies. You could also choose to continue your studies to a Master’s or doctoral level.
We work with UEA’s Careers Service to support you at every stage of the course, from choosing a career to applying for graduate jobs.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Research scientist
- Actuary astronomer
- Data analyst
- Academic
- Programmer
- Teacher
Discover more on our Careers pages.