Bachelor of Science in Physics and Philosophy

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

This joint degree combines a rigorous training in mathematics with an understanding of computer science and its applications.

Mathematics is the language of the sciences and is of core value in an advanced understanding of computer science. Computer science provides many of the key tools needed to solve the most important and pressing problems of the modern age.

The degree is ideal for someone looking to apply themselves in fields as varied as high finance, cryptography, quantum computing, algorithm design, machine learning and data science.

In your first year you will study essential core components of mathematics and computer science, giving you a rigorous foundation for future years. Subsequently, you will have the opportunity to tailor your mathematics and computer science options so that you graduate with a balance of theoretical and practical skills that reflect your interests.

Learn about the physics that underpins the history, structure and dynamics of Earth systems, and how these relate to exploration for natural resources and environmental monitoring.

You will explore the inaccessible parts of Earth’s interior through a range of geophysical techniques and become immersed in hands-on science from the start.

Learn with experts whose research feeds directly into your studies at the cutting edge of scientific developments. Recent options have included?Global Seismology, Near Surface Geophysics Fieldwork and Physical Volcanology. By your final year you’ll be conducting your own independent research and exploring the questions that matter most to you.

Your third year is spent abroad, studying units comparable to those offered in Bristol. Visit Global Opportunities to find out more about where you can study abroad.

MSci courses allow you to study more advanced material in greater depth during the additional year, giving you a career boost through investing in your skills development or preparing you for further research.

Field trips are a huge part of why our community is so tight knit, and you’ll get to know your course mates whilst honing your practical skills. You will gain plenty of hands-on experience, with over 40 days of fieldwork both in the UK and overseas, the cost of which is included in your tuition fee.

The skills developed throughout your studies are highly valued by employers, from scientific and technical skills including coding, modelling, lab skills and data analysis, to transferable skills such as communication, creativity and resilience.

Our MSci course is ideal if you want to continue in research or to stand out when applying for a PhD.

In your first year you will gain a broad training in biomedical science and will begin to study the cellular and molecular basis of human diseases as well as basic biochemistry, cell biology, pathology and microbiology.

In your second year you will study molecular genetics and learn skills in recombinant DNA technology, which underpins research in many cutting-edge laboratories.

In the third year you will choose options from approximately ten different units, which reflect our research strengths in the areas of cancer biology, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, and infection and immunology.

The additional, fourth year includes an extended research project and advanced research skills training with an emphasis on enterprise. You will plan projects, communicate with a variety of audiences and learn to translate and commercialise research.

The School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine focuses on turning science into medicine and these courses aim to launch you into a research career with an emphasis on translational research.

This four-year MSci course is for those considering scientific careers that will make direct use of their subject-specific knowledge and skills. The first and second years of this course are identical to MSci Chemical Physics but during year three you will spend 12 months on a placement as a paid employee in a company.

You will focus on areas at the interface between chemistry and physics, with limited treatment of organic chemistry and more physical and non-synthetic inorganic chemistry. Similarly, there is very little nuclear and particle physics after your first year but an emphasis on materials science and nanoscience.

As well as lectures and practical classes, small-group tutorials and workshops help develop your understanding of challenging and exciting concepts. Practical labs in both chemistry and physics help develop experimental techniques, computational modelling and programming skills needed in the final year for conducting a research project with a research team.

The MSci is ideal if you have ambitions to continue in biological research and want a competitive edge in applying for a PhD or research jobs.

Studying biology at Bristol exposes you to the breadth of biological sciences, from enzymes to ecosystems. During your study with us you will gain knowledge of the diversity, evolution, function and interactions between animals, microbes and plants. Our programme reflects the interdisciplinary nature of modern biology, taking into account the past, present and future of life on Earth.

Our biology degree starts broadly and then introduces more choice in years two and three, allowing you to specialise or maintain breadth in your studies depending on your interests.

The additional fourth year of the MSci contains advanced skills training and a substantial research project, which is especially valuable for those aiming for a career in biological sciences.

Studying abroad in Europe fosters language skills and intellectual growth as well as developing your breadth of perspective.

If you're driven by intellectual curiosity and enjoy the satisfaction of cracking difficult puzzles, this course offers a rigorous foundation in mathematics that will help you stand out to top employers.

Our lecturers are passionate about their subject, with modules informed by cutting-edge research in fundamental mathematical abstractions, statistics and practical applications to global problems. Vocational units, currently including Financial Risk Management and Maths in Schools, prepare you for a successful career in industry. Opportunities to undertake a research project could inspire you to pursue postgraduate study.

The first two years of the course provide a broad background in mathematics, similar to our single honours mathematics degrees, and include relevant European language units.

Provided you fulfil the progression requirements of the Study Abroad in a Modern Language course at the end of year two, you will spend your third year abroad in one of our partner universities, studying mathematics in a foreign language. Visit our Global Opportunities website to find out where you can study.

You will return to Bristol to complete the fourth year of the degree, where you will benefit from a wide choice of third-year units.

This course combines politics and international relations with the study of German, providing a valuable skill set, ideally tailored to the increasingly globalised workplace.

You will study the politics of individual countries and governments and the relationships between countries, communities and individuals.

Politics is organised around three themes:

• Political theory
• Comparative and national politics
• International relations.

Our German curriculum is designed to introduce you to many aspects of German studies. As well as taking structured language units, you will study literature, history, thought, politics, linguistics and culture.

You will spend your third year abroad, which will enable you to refine your language skills and cultural knowledge and gain valuable work experience. For further details on year abroad opportunities please see Global Opportunities.

Both schools have an impressive reputation for teaching and research. This degree combination provides a wide range of options that allow you to pursue your own interests.

You will learn about the fundamental building blocks and forces of nature and how quantum physics and relativity help us understand the world around us.

Year one gives you a comprehensive grounding in physics and mathematics, and year two focuses on the principles of physics. Flexibility and choice are key features of a Bristol Physics degree. You are usually able to transfer between courses in the first two years, and a range of options in the final year means you can specialise in your chosen field or take a more general approach.

Your third year includes a major project or dissertation. Project options include the Physics Education scheme, centred on teaching in a school, and the Industrial Group Project, based on a real problem set by industrial partners. Recent partners have included Sellafield, Bristol Zoo, Siemens and The Fat Duck restaurant.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We provide physics-specific employability sessions and encourage you to develop a broad range of transferable skills, including problem-solving and the ability to communicate complicated concepts. Our graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on these skills.

Law is a global profession. An understanding of more than one legal system, language, and culture can open up a world of opportunity. 

On this four-year, joint honors course you will develop your language and cultural knowledge of France and the Francophone world to degree level alongside core units in civil and common law – the world’s most prominent legal systems. You will have the chance to spend your third year at a French-speaking partner university. For more information visit Global Opportunities.

The course is structured to help you think, write, reason and argue like an international lawyer while gaining a rich understanding of the French language, linguistics, literature, history, and culture. It will also help you develop key skills in research and analysis