Key information
Duration: 1 year full time or 2 years part time
Institution code: R72
Campus: Egham
UK fees*: £8,600
International/EU fees**: £19,500
The course
Physics (MSc by Research)
Our MSc Physics by Research course is ideal both for graduates who would like to undertake original research without committing themselves to a three-year PhD, and for students who want to gain a research-based Masters before embarking on their PhD.
The Department of Physics is known internationally for its top-class research. Our staff carry out research at the cutting edge of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Experimental Quantum Computing, Quantum Matter at Low Temperatures, Theoretical Physics, Dark Matter, Particle Physics and Biophysics, as well as other areas. Together they form a vibrant, intrernational community dedicated to collaborative research that has a global impact.
Royal Holloway's Physics Department has strong links with leading international facilities, including Rutherford Appleton and the National Physical Laboratory, Oxford Instruments, SNOLAB, CERN, ISIS and Diamond.
Our Masters courses are taught in collaboration with other University of London Colleges, providing you with a wide range of options.
Course structure
Core Modules
- Major Project
Optional Modules
There are a number of optional course modules available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course modules that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new modules may be offered or existing modules may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
You will take three from the following:- Statistical Mechanics
- Advanced Quantum Theory
- Relativistic Waves and Quantum Fields
- Atom and Photon Physics
- Quantum Computation and Communication
- Molecular Physics
- Particle Physics
- Order and Excitations in Condensed Matter
- Theoretical Treatments of Nano-Systems
- Physics at the Nanoscale
- Superfluids, Condensates and Superconductors
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
- Statistical Data Analysis
- Stellar Structure and Evolution
- Relativity and Gravitation
- Planetary Atmospheres
- Solar Physics
- Solar System
- The Galaxy
- Astrophysical Plasmas
- Space Plasma and Magnetospheric Physics
Teaching & assessment
This course is assessed by the completion of a major research project (75% of the final mark) as well as other coursework assignments (25% of the final mark).
Entry requirements
2:2
Physics or a related subject such as Chemistry, Mathematics, Materials, Electronics or Engineering.
Normally, we require a UK 2:2 (Honours) or equivalent in a relevant subject, such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Materials, Electronics or Engineering. Candidates with professional qualifications or relevant professional experience in an associated area will also be considered.
International & EU requirements
English language requirements
All teaching at Royal Holloway is in English. You will therefore need to have good enough written and spoken English to cope with your studies right from the start.
The scores we require
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26.
Country-specific requirements
For more information about country-specific entry requirements for your country please see here.
Your future career
Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different areas, including careers in industry, information technology and finance.
This course also equips you with the subject knowledge and a solid foundation for continued studies in physics; around 50% of the graduates of this course progress onto PhD study at Royal Holloway.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £8,600
EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £19,500
Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course
How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.
* and ** These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.
All postgraduate fees are subject to inflationary increases. This means that the overall cost of studying the course via part-time mode is slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year. Royal Holloway's policy is that any increases in fees will not exceed 5% for continuing students. For further information, please see our terms and conditions. Please note that for research courses, we adopt the minimum fee level recommended by the UK Research Councils for the Home tuition fee. Each year, the fee level is adjusted in line with inflation (currently, the measure used is the Treasury GDP deflator). Fees displayed here are therefore subject to change and are usually confirmed in the spring of the year of entry. For more information on the Research Council Indicative Fee please see the RCUK website.
** The UK Government has confirmed that EU nationals are no longer eligible to pay the same fees as UK students, nor be eligible for funding from the Student Loans Company. This means you will be classified as an international student. At Royal Holloway, we wish to support those students affected by this change in status through this transition. For eligible EU students starting their course with us during the academic year 2023/24, we will award a fee reduction scholarship equivalent to 30% of the difference between the UK and international fee for your course. This will apply for the duration of your course. Find out more
*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2022/23 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
