International Students Studying Physics at The University of Manchester

Updated

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Manchester provides a dedicated section for international students, which it describes as containing "all the information you need if you're an international student looking to study physics" at Manchester. That section sits alongside the Department's course and programme finder, so the practical path for an international applicant is to use the international pages for entry and study information, then use the programme finder to identify the specific course and study level.

What the Department offers international students

The site's international student area is the Department's own hub for prospective students from outside the UK. According to the Department, it gathers the information an international student needs in one place rather than scattering it across individual course pages.

The Department also presents itself as "one of the most respected schools of physics in the world," and its study pages are organised so that applicants can move from a general overview into specific programmes.

Finding the right programme

The course and programme finder lets you choose a study level first, then select a course. The levels listed are:

  • Undergraduate (2027 entry)
  • Undergraduate (2026 entry)
  • Taught master's
  • Postgraduate research

Because undergraduate entry is split by year, applicants should check the entry year that applies to them before comparing courses — the same course name can appear under both the 2026 and 2027 lists.

Undergraduate courses listed

  • Mathematics and Physics BSc
  • Mathematics and Physics MMath&Phys
  • Physics BSc
  • Physics MPhys
  • Physics with an Integrated Foundation Year BSc/MPhys
  • Physics with Astrophysics BSc
  • Physics with Astrophysics MPhys
  • Physics with Study in Europe MPhys
  • Physics with Theoretical Physics BSc
  • Physics with Theoretical Physics MPhys

Taught master's courses listed

  • Nuclear Science and Technology MSc
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics MSc by Research
  • Biological Physics MSc by Research
  • Condensed Matter Physics MSc by Research
  • Nuclear Physics MSc by Research
  • Particle Accelerator Physics MSc by Research
  • Particle Physics MSc by Research
  • Photon Physics MSc by Research
  • Physics MSc by Research
  • Soft Matter and Liquid Crystals Physics MSc by Research
  • Theoretical Physics MSc by Research

Postgraduate research programmes listed

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD/MPhil
  • Biological Physics PhD/MPhil
  • Condensed Matter Physics PhD/MPhil
  • Fluids and Soft Matter Physics PhD/MPhil
  • Nuclear Physics PhD/MPhil
  • Particle Accelerator Physics PhD
  • Particle Physics PhD/MPhil
  • Photon Physics PhD/MPhil
  • Physics PhD/MPhil
  • Soft Matter and Liquid Crystals Physics PhD/MPhil
  • Theoretical Physics PhD/MPhil

The site also provides A-Z lists for undergraduate courses (2027 entry), undergraduate courses (2026 entry), taught master's courses, and postgraduate research programmes, which is a faster route if you already know part of the course name.

Research areas reflected in the programme list

The postgraduate programme names indicate the Department's research coverage, including astronomy and astrophysics, biological physics, condensed matter physics, fluids and soft matter physics, nuclear physics, particle accelerator physics, particle physics, photon physics, soft matter and liquid crystals physics, and theoretical physics. Recent news items on the site reference work such as a "'Born-again' star" observation, MeerKAT detection of a faint hydrogen signal from the distant Universe, involvement in NASA's Roman Space Telescope mission, and support for Jodrell Bank.

Getting a feel for the Department

The site includes a student perspective: Weiann Heng explains what life is like in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. It also recommends attending an open day to learn more about the Department. For international applicants who cannot visit in person, the international student section and the course pages are the main sources to work through before deciding.

Practical next steps

  1. Open the international students section for the Department's guidance aimed at applicants from outside the UK.
  2. Use the course and programme finder, selecting your study level and then your course.
  3. Confirm the entry year for undergraduate courses, since 2026 and 2027 entry are listed separately.
  4. Check the relevant A-Z list if you want to scan all courses at a given level.
  5. If you can, attend an open day; otherwise rely on the international pages and individual programme pages.

The site does not state tuition fees, application deadlines, or English language requirements in the material available here, so those details need to be confirmed on the relevant programme or international pages rather than assumed.