How to apply for physics at the University of Salford: the Institute of Physics-accredited BSc (Hons) Physics runs three years (four with a placement year) and asks for 112 UCAS points including Mathematics and Physics at A-level – how UK, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants are admitted and what you need to have studied

The University of Salford is in Greater Manchester in north-west England, a few minutes from Manchester city centre. Physics is taught in the School of Science, Engineering and Environment on the Peel Park campus. This guide sets out what you need to know for September 2027 entry (2027/28) based on Salford’s own pages, for UK applicants, international applicants (including students at high schools in China) and students who want to transfer in.

1. The course and how you are admitted

• In the School’s undergraduate course list there is one physics degree: BSc (Hons) Physics (UCAS code F300). The list does not show an MPhys or separate astrophysics or theoretical physics degrees; acoustics and nanotechnology are specialisms within the degree (the course page says you can choose specialisms in acoustics or nanotechnology).
• Length: three years full-time, four with an industry placement. The placement year sits between Years 2 and 3; you secure the placement yourself, and a tutor supports you, monitors progress and assesses your placement report.
• You apply directly to this course (UCAS F300). The course page does not describe moving between courses after enrolment.
• Accreditation: the course page says it is accredited by the Institute of Physics.
• Foundation year version: BSc Physics with Foundation Year (F305), four years (five with placement), for people who do not meet the direct-entry requirements or are returning to education. Its course page says it is not suitable for international students; see the International Foundation Year below.

2. What you study and how

• Year 1: Physics in Context, Physics Laboratory 1, Modelling of Physical Systems, Electricity, Magnetism and Light, Mechanics, Relativity and Quantum Physics, and Mathematics. The mathematics module reviews A-level standard algebra, trigonometry, functions, geometry, vectors, complex numbers and calculus with an emphasis on physics applications; one module is taught through problem-based learning with industry employers.
• Year 2: Quantum Physics, Physics Laboratory 2, Waves and Optics, Thermal Physics and Electromagnetism, plus one elective (Principles of Acoustics or a Group Project in Physics). In the group project you design and build a piece of physics equipment using computer interfacing and CAD.
• Year 3: Project in Physics (a research or development project under supervision, with a scientific report and a presentation to a staff panel), Nuclear and Particle Physics, Physics Laboratory 3, Condensed Matter Physics, and Astrophysics and Planetary Physics.
• Teaching: lectures, tutorials, group projects and laboratory work; assessment is by laboratory exercises, examinations and reports. Labs are in the £65 million SEE building, with a Laser Lab, a Microfabrication Lab and Clean Room facilities.
• The pages do not mention an entrance test, a maths test or interviews for this course.

3. What you need to have studied

The BSc Physics course page gives these standard requirements:

• A-levels: at least two full A-levels including grade C in both Mathematics and Physics, with 112 UCAS Tariff points. The page does not say whether Further Mathematics is required.
• BTEC: DMM in Engineering. T Level: reviewed case by case.
• GCSE: English and Maths at grade C/4 or above (Level 2).
• IB, Scottish Highers and others: the physics page does not list them separately and sends international students to the country pages. Not published here; ask admissions. For comparison, the foundation-year page lists IB 26 points with grade 4 in Higher Level Maths and Physics, but that is a foundation-year requirement and should not be read as the three-year requirement.
• Alternative entry: applicants who do not meet the requirements but can show ability may be assessed under the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (review of prior learning or a formal test).

4. Fees and scholarships (2027/28)

• International students: £18,600 a year full-time; Home students: £10,050 a year. The course page says the fee shown is for the first year and later years may rise with inflation up to the UK government limit.
• Foundation-year version (Home): £8,970 for the foundation year, then £10,050 a year.
• Other costs: the page mentions books, stationery, printing and costs of trips and visits, with no amounts.
• International scholarships: the Global Gold Excellence Scholarship and the Global Silver Excellence Scholarship are assessed automatically when you apply for your course; there is no separate form. For undergraduates starting from September 2026, Gold is worth £3,500 a year (A-level ABB or the equivalent from your country) and Silver £3,000 a year (BBC or the equivalent), with a good academic record needed to keep it; the pages are written for entry from September 2026, so check whether the same applies to 2027 entry. IFY graduates who are self-funded are eligible if they pass with 70 or higher (Gold) or 65 to 69 (Silver). You must accept your offer and pay your deposit by the deadline. The scholarships page says you can hold only one scholarship or discount, and paying fees in full on or before enrolment gives a further 3% off.

International applicants

• How to apply: undergraduate applications go through UCAS, where you can make up to five choices (at Salford or at different universities). Enter Salford’s institution code S03, code name SALF and the course code, and leave the campus code blank. For the UCAS fee, check the UCAS website; the amount is not given on the pages used for this guide.
• English: Salford says international students from countries that are not majority English-speaking need IELTS Academic 6.0 with no element below 5.5 (physics course page). Salford accepts a range of equivalents: its English requirements page lists UKVI IELTS, PTE Academic UKVI, Trinity ISE, LanguageCert Academic SELT and others (scores are in the table on that page), and says online IELTS and online PTE are not accepted. The page also says Salford stops accepting the Oxford ELLT from 9 October 2026. If your English is below the level, Salford points to the Pre-Sessional English course or the International Foundation Year.
• Grades and credentials: Salford says it accepts qualifications from around the world and sends you to the “Your country or region” pages for the full list. The amount of funds to show is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website and the UK government Student visa pages.
• Visa: Salford says you can request a CAS and apply for the Student visa once you hold an unconditional offer.
• Decisions: Salford says it tries to decide within a few weeks, sometimes longer in busy periods; undergraduate decisions are sent through the UCAS Hub.
• Deadlines: the international deadlines page lists only the September 2026 undergraduate dates (meet your conditions by 21 August 2026, induction 7 September 2026, teaching 14 September 2026). Dates for September 2027 entry are not given on the pages used for this guide; check UCAS and Salford’s application deadlines page.
• International Foundation Year: The IFY has an Engineering and Physics route (English and Study Skills 40 credits, Mathematics 40 credits, Physics 40 credits) for applicants with the equivalent of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including maths, physics and three other subjects; you can start in September or January. The IFY page lists BSc Physics among the degrees you can progress to, but the link is to the Sound Engineering page, while the Physics with Foundation Year page says it is not suitable for international students. The two statements do not fully agree, so ask admissions. The IFY is not applied for through UCAS but through Salford’s online application form. It needs IELTS 4.5 (no band below 4.0, UKVI IELTS), costs £16,000 for full-time study in 2027/28, and Salford says you progress to the linked degree if you pass with the right grade; the grade is not given on the pages used for this guide.

• Contextual offers: the contextual offers page says these are for full-time undergraduate applicants who live in the UK, apply through UCAS and pay Home fees, and who fall in its lowest participation groups, are care experienced or are seeking sanctuary; international applicants are generally not covered.
• Timeline note: check the UCAS website for the 2027 entry deadline; the international scholarships need no separate application.

Applicants from China

• Direct undergraduate entry: the Salford and China page says applicants who have completed three full years of high school and hold a senior secondary graduation certificate with an overall grade of at least 60% will be considered for undergraduate study. This is a general statement for all undergraduate courses, not a mark for any one subject; you must also meet the subject and UCAS-points requirements on the course page, and how the two fit together is not published, so ask admissions.
• Gaokao: neither the China page nor the course pages mention gaokao scores or cut-offs. This is not published; use the contact on the China page (it names a contact for applications from China) to ask.
• International Foundation Year: applicants with a zhongzhuan graduation certificate at 60% or above, or who completed the huikao with a final grade of 60% or above, will be considered.
• Education consultants: the China page lists consultancies Salford works with; you do not have to use one.

Transfer students and changing course

• Joining Year 2: the course pages used for this guide do not describe direct entry to Year 2. The China page says only that applicants with a dazhuan qualification at 60% or above who have studied relevant modules will be considered for advanced entry on relevant undergraduate programmes; whether that applies to these courses is not published, so contact admissions.
• If you do not meet the standard requirements: every course page describes the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme, which assesses applicants who can show they will succeed, through a review of prior learning or a formal test.
• Changing course inside Salford: the changing your course page says the earlier you ask the more likely you can switch, the new course leader decides and has to have a place, you should contact askUS first and then get a transfer form from the new course administrator.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Two A-levels with at least C in Mathematics and Physics and 112 UCAS points, or BTEC DMM in Engineering; GCSE English and Maths at 4/C
• Apply through UCAS with institution code S03 and course code F300
• Home fee £10,050 a year (2027/28); if your grades fall short, look at the foundation-year course F305

International applicants (including China):

• Apply to F300 through UCAS; IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; check your country page for qualifications, and the China page says a senior secondary certificate at 60% is the starting point
• How the gaokao is used is not published; ask admissions before you apply
• £18,600 a year; ABB or the equivalent gives £3,500 a year automatically, BBC or the equivalent £3,000
• If you cannot enter directly, use the International Foundation Year (Engineering and Physics route)

Transfer students:

• Entry to Year 2 is not described; contact admissions first. To change course inside Salford, contact askUS and the new course leader

Sources: University of Salford, BSc Physics; Physics with Foundation Year; School of Science, Engineering and Environment undergraduate courses; How to apply; International applicants; Application deadlines; English language requirements; International Foundation Year; Salford and China; International scholarships; Global Gold; Global Silver; Contextual offers; Changing course. Information is for September 2027 entry (2027/28). Check Salford and UCAS for the latest details.