Physics with Particle Physics and Cosmology MSci
A*AA at A level, A-level Mathematics and A-level Physics grades A*A; graduates earn a median £32,500 three years on.
A-level Mathematics and A-level Physics grades A*A · 85% of entrants came with A levels · 90% stay on after year 1 · Birmingham course page, Discover Uni
What do you need to get in?
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. A contextual offer can be lower for applicants from under-represented backgrounds; none is published for this course.
Birmingham course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
- 1A-level Mathematics and A-level Physics grades A*A
UCAS tariff points — a points scale for grades: A* = 56, A = 48, so A*A*A = 160. Entrants’ totals include extra subjects.
Other qualifications2
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IB | 32 points7,6,6 at HL, to include Mathematics and Physics, with a minimum of 32 points overall. 7 must be in Mathematics or Physics. | Mathematics and Physics, with a minimum of 32 points overall |
| BTEC | —options considered when combined with other Maths and Physics qualifications. | — |
What do you study?
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
Birmingham course page · optional modules vary by year
Year 2 · 5 core, 4 optional · 100 credits ≈ 1,000 hours
Year 3 · 5 core, 9 optional · 100 credits ≈ 1,000 hours
9 optional modules
Year 4 · 2 core, 8 optional · 80 credits ≈ 800 hours
Where does it lead?
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 130 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 13, 24, 14, 23
Half of graduates earned between £26,500 and £41,000. Five years on, the median is £43,500. 84% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 86% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 110% left | 90% | 20 |
| In work or study, 15 months on14% studying | 84% | 95 |
| Professional or managerial job | 86% | 60 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £34,000 | 45 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £32,500 | 130 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £43,500 | 155 |
What does it cost?
Tuition fee loan — paid straight to the university; repayments start the April after you leave, at 9% of income above the threshold. UK fees are capped by government and rise with inflation; placement and study-abroad years are usually charged at a lower rate.
Birmingham fees page · source
About £39,160 in fees over 4 years, covered by a tuition fee loan you repay only when earning above the threshold. International students: £29,160 a year (2026/27).
What do students say?
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 68% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 15 students answered
Highest: 100% agreed on question 1; lowest: 46% on question 25.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 100% |
| Question 2 | 100% |
| Question 3 | 100% |
| Question 4 | 100% |
| Question 5 | 100% |
| Question 6 | 93% |
| Question 7 | 80% |
| Question 8 | 100% |
| Question 9 | 100% |
| Question 10 | 80% |
| Question 11 | 93% |
| Question 12 | 93% |
| Question 13 | 93% |
| Question 14 | 87% |
| Question 15 | 100% |
| Question 16 | 87% |
| Question 17 | 100% |
| Question 18 | 79% |
| Question 19 | 92% |
| Question 20 | 93% |
| Question 21 | 93% |
| Question 22 | 100% |
| Question 23 | 87% |
| Question 24 | 73% |
| Question 25 | 46% |
| Question 26 | 86% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of Birmingham’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of Birmingham is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.