How to Apply to Physics at the University of York (UK): BSc and MPhys in Physics, Theoretical Physics and Physics with Astrophysics, Institute of Physics Accredited, with A-Level AAB or AAA Including Maths and Physics, and Entry Routes and Prerequisites for Home, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of York is in the north of England, and physics is taught by the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology. In the UK you apply to a specific course through UCAS; York’s institution code is Y50. This guide sets out what York’s website says about physics for September 2027 entry, for UK (home) applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. The courses

• Physics undergraduate courses in the school’s list: Physics (BSc and MPhys, with year abroad, year in industry and foundation year versions), Theoretical Physics (BSc and MPhys, with year abroad and year in industry versions), Physics with Astrophysics (BSc and MPhys, with year abroad and year in industry versions), Physics with Philosophy (BSc and MPhys, BSc with a year abroad version) and Mathematics and Physics (BSc, BSc with a year abroad, MMath/MPhys).
• Key courses: Physics BSc F300 (three years, typical offer AAB); Physics MPhys F303 (four years, AAA); Physics with a year in industry BSc F301 (four years, AAB); Theoretical Physics BSc F345 (three years, AAB); Physics with Astrophysics BSc F3F5 (three years, AAB); Physics with a foundation year BSc F304 (four years, BBB); Mathematics and Physics BSc GF13 (three years, AAB). Check each course page for the codes and requirements of other variants.
• Accreditation: the physics course pages state that the degrees are accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP), a pathway towards Chartered Physicist status; Mathematics and Physics is accredited by both the IOP and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA).
• The school also teaches engineering degrees (BEng and MEng, including electronic and biomedical engineering); they are not covered here.

2. How admission and the course structure work

• You apply directly to a course by its UCAS code, for example F300, F303, F345 or F3F5.
• Credits: the Physics BSc page says you study 360 credits over three years: five core modules and one option in each of Years 1 and 2, and a 40-credit dissertation plus four options in Year 3. For the MPhys, Year 3 is one core module and five options, and Year 4 is a 60-credit dissertation plus three options.
• Year 1 core modules: Classical Mechanics and Laboratories, Classical and Quantum Waves, Mathematical, Computational and Professional Skills 1 and 2, and Electromagnetism and Relativity, plus one option (for example Mapping the Universe and Laboratories or Theoretical Skills and Laboratories) and an online Academic Integrity module.
• Labs and research project: the pages say students design experiments, analyse data and use specialist equipment and software, and in the final year work with a team of physicists on a research project under an academic supervisor. Facilities named include the Astrocampus, the York Plasma Institute, an Atomic and Nuclear Lab and computational laboratories.
• Year in industry: Physics with a year in industry runs for four years; its page lists an additional Year 1 option, Introduction to Clinical Engineering and Physiological Systems. Fees are reduced for a placement or year abroad (see below).
• Admissions tests and interviews: the Physics BSc and MPhys pages mention no written admissions test or interview; this is not given on the pages used for this guide, so check with pet-admissions@york.ac.uk. The page for Physics with a foundation year (F304) says applicants will be required to attend an interview prior to any offer being made.

3. Prerequisites and grades (typical offers on the course pages)

• Physics BSc (F300): A-Level AAB including Physics and Mathematics; IB 35 points including 5 in Higher Level Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation) or 6 in Standard Level Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches), plus 5 in Higher Level Physics; European Baccalaureate 80% overall with 85% in Physics and Mathematics; Scottish Advanced Highers BB in Physics and Mathematics plus Highers BB.
• Physics MPhys (F303): A-Level AAA including Physics and Mathematics; IB 36 points with the same Mathematics and Physics requirements; European Baccalaureate 85% overall with 85% in Physics and Mathematics; Scottish Advanced Highers AB in Physics and Mathematics plus Highers AB.
• Theoretical Physics (F345), Physics with Astrophysics (F3F5) and Physics with a year in industry (F301): the BSc versions all show AAB including Physics and Mathematics and IB 35, as for Physics BSc.
• Mathematics and Physics (GF13): AAB with an A in Mathematics and a B in Physics; IB 35 points including 6 in HL Mathematics and 5 in HL Physics; European Baccalaureate 80% overall with 85% in Physics and Mathematics.
• T Levels: not currently accepted unless additional A-Levels (or equivalent) in Mathematics and Physics have been taken. BTEC: no BTEC requirement is listed on the Physics BSc page; not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Foundation: the Foundation Certificate from York’s International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
• No suitable Maths and/or Physics qualification: the page says successfully completing a Foundation Year will guarantee a place on the degree that follows (the course it lists is Physics (with a foundation year) BSc). The foundation year course (F304) asks for A-Level BBB, IB 31 points or Scottish Highers BBBBB; it is based on A-Level mathematics and physics, assumes no prior knowledge, closely limits numbers, and applicants are usually interviewed. York advises those who already have or are studying A-Level Maths and Physics to apply to a course without a foundation year.
• Contextual offer: BBB including Physics and Mathematics; widening participation routes: BBC including B in Mathematics and Physics; an EPQ at C or higher may qualify for an offer up to one grade lower.
• Score requirements for other systems such as the Gaokao or AP are not given on the course pages used; ask pet-admissions@york.ac.uk.

UK (home) applicants

• York lists UK (home) and international fees separately: for 2027/28 the UK (home) fee is £10,050 a year, which may rise within the government fee cap in later years. The course pages do not give separate fees for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; use York’s fee status page to confirm which category you fall in.
• Qualifications: A-Level, BTEC, European Baccalaureate, IB and Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers requirements are on each course page; T Level acceptance varies by course. Course pages also list alternative offers, such as an EPQ that may lower the offer by one grade.
• Funding for UK students listed on York’s pages includes the York Bursary (based on residual household income), the Care Leavers and Estranged Students Bursary, the Commuter Award (£250) and the Sanctuary Bursary, plus UK government loans, which open in early 2027; see the website for amounts and conditions.
• Contextual offers: each course page gives the reduced requirement; see the course sections below.

International applicants

• International qualifications: the course pages link to country-by-country entry requirements, and York’s entry page says it accepts a wide range of international qualifications depending on the course.
• Tuition: for 2027/28 the international fee is £33,500 a year for the physics courses above (BSc, MPhys, year in industry, foundation year, Theoretical Physics, Astrophysics), against £10,050 for UK students.
• Proof of funds and credential evaluation details are not given on the pages used for this guide; check York’s visa and immigration pages or ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).

Students from China

• Gaokao: York’s China page says that students studying the Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate who take the Gaokao are accepted with a minimum 75% overall average for Year 1 entry to courses with no other essential subject requirements, and should also complete the Senior High School Graduation Certificate. Physics courses require A-Level Mathematics and Physics (or equivalent subjects), so they are not courses with no other essential subject requirements; whether Gaokao applicants can apply directly to physics and what Maths and Physics scores are needed is not given on the pages used for this guide; email pet-admissions@york.ac.uk. Students without the maths and physics background can look at Physics with a foundation year (F304), which involves an interview.
• Foundation: the China page and the course pages say the Foundation Certificate or International Year One at York’s International Pathway College can help you meet entry requirements, and the course pages also accept an appropriate alternative foundation programme.
• CSCSE-SQA Advanced Diploma: York accepts these students through its official partnership with the High Achiever Programme (HAP), which the page calls the only approved application route for that diploma (hapadmission@achieve-international.com).
• Chinese university degrees: degrees from Ecctis-recognised institutions are considered case by case, with 75% to 85% overall required (this concerns applicants who already hold or are studying a degree).
• A-Level or IB: use the typical offers on each course page.
• The China page lists York’s agent partners for China and gives contact details for the Regional Manager (China) and two China representatives (marissa.cao, shawn.gu and janet.chai @york.ac.uk); using an agent is optional.
• Whether interviews, accreditation bodies or Chinese high school transcripts and exam certificates are required beyond this is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the China page or ask the admissions team.

English language

• The course page sets the minimum IELTS (Academic) at 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (Physics BSc / MPhys, Theoretical Physics, Astrophysics, year in industry, foundation year, Mathematics and Physics).
• York’s undergraduate English page lists accepted tests including IELTS (Academic and Online), PTE Academic (not the online version), TOEFL iBT (MyBest scores not accepted), Trinity ISE, Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced, Duolingo, LanguageCert and the Kaplan Test of English. Scores cannot be combined across attempts or test types, and results must be dated within two years of the course start. See York’s IELTS equivalencies page for exact scores.
• Some school-leaving certificates are accepted if you reach the required grade in an English language subject and completed them within seven years of the start; the International Baccalaureate Diploma is among them.
• You may not need to show English evidence if you are a UK national, a national of a majority-English-speaking country as specified by UK Visas and Immigration, have completed a degree in the UK, Ireland or a listed country (except Canada) or a degree taught in English (within seven years, with official confirmation), or have completed or are completing A-Levels or another Level 3 qualification in the UK over two years (within seven years).
• If you fall short, York’s pre-sessional English courses are an option; the length depends on how far you need to improve.

Transfer students

• York’s entry page says it is sometimes possible to transfer from another university directly into 2nd Year, but not into 3rd or 4th Year; discuss options with the academic department.
• The physics course pages give no specific second-year conditions; not given on the pages used for this guide, so contact pet-admissions@york.ac.uk.

International fees and scholarships

• Tuition: for 2027/28 entry the physics course pages show £33,500 a year for international students and £10,050 for UK students. International fees rise in later years in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 10%; the fee in your offer letter is normally for one year. A full year abroad is charged at 15% of the full-time fee and a year in industry or placement year at 20% (15% under the Turing Scheme).
• York International Undergraduate Scholarship: £5,000 for each year of study in 2027/28, open to students from countries including China, the USA, Canada, India, Japan and Singapore; eligible students receive it automatically with no application. Conditions: a conditional or unconditional offer by 1 July 2027, overseas fee status, and a full-time on-campus undergraduate course starting in September 2027. Not eligible: holders of a 100% tuition scholarship or full sponsorship, students on York’s International Pathway College and certain other pathways, students not joining in Year 1, and courses with the same Home and International fee. You must accept the award via the link in your offer email by the deadline given there; deferring forfeits it. The page also says that 2027-entry scholarships are “opening shortly”, so check the page for the current status.
• International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship: up to £10,000 (first year only), considered automatically for eligible international offer holders with no application; a panel of senior staff selects awardees. Eligibility includes predicted or achieved A-Level ABB, IB 34 points or equivalent. The page says awards will begin “shortly”.
• Combining awards: the York International Undergraduate Scholarship page says it may be combined with other University of York scholarships and external funding, and the Achievement Scholarship page says it may be combined with departmental scholarships and external funding, in each case up to 100% of tuition fees. Whether the two can be held together is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).
• Departmental opportunities are listed below.

• School undergraduate funding page: the items open to international students are the Masterclass Research Placement, a paid placement with one of the Physics research groups (international and UK students, multiple places); the Cobham Scholarship (£9000, 15 places) is for UK (home) students with a contextual offer for an Engineering degree. The school also has a separate foundation-year scholarships page; ask York whether the scholarships above apply to foundation-year students.

Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• Applications go through UCAS. York’s application page says you can start your UCAS application from 12 May 2026 and submit it from 1 September 2026. York’s institution code is Y50; you can apply to up to five courses, and you need the course code, grades achieved or predicted, a teacher’s reference and a personal statement.
• 13 January 2027 is the main UCAS deadline for all courses except Medicine (15 October 2026). Applications by that date are treated equally; you can apply until 30 June 2027, but the course may have filled its places.
• For applications by the main deadline York says to expect a decision by 12 May 2027; some courses add extra steps, such as an interview invitation.
• UCAS Extra opens on 25 February 2027; A-Level and BTEC results come out on 12 August 2027; international applicants need a visa in place by September 2027.
• The UCAS website and portal are not used for this guide: check the deadlines and course codes on the UCAS website.

Checklist

UK (home) applicants:

• Physics BSc: A-Level AAB including Physics and Mathematics; MPhys: AAA; Scottish Advanced Highers BB in Physics and Mathematics plus Highers BB (AB and AB for MPhys); contextual offer BBB including Physics and Mathematics
• Submit via UCAS by 13 January 2027; UK fee £10,050

International applicants:

• IB 35 points (36 for MPhys) with 5 in HL Mathematics (or 6 in SL Analysis and Approaches) and 5 in HL Physics; IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each component)
• Fee £33,500 a year; look at the York International Undergraduate Scholarship (£5,000 a year, automatic) and the Achievement Scholarship (up to £10,000)

Applicants from China:

• Gaokao applicants should first confirm by email whether physics courses can be applied for directly and the Maths and Physics requirements; the International Pathway College and the foundation year (F304, with interview) are routes York lists

Transfer students:

• Entry is possible at most into second year; contact the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology first

Sources: University of York, How to apply; Entry requirements and transfers; English language requirements; Information for students from China; International tuition fees; International undergraduate scholarships; York International Undergraduate Scholarship; International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship; School of Physics, Engineering and Technology course list; Physics BSc; Physics MPhys; Theoretical Physics BSc; Physics with Astrophysics BSc; Physics with a year in industry; Physics with a foundation year; Mathematics and Physics BSc; School undergraduate funding. Information is for September 2027 entry; check York and the UCAS website for the latest dates and course codes.