Bachelor of Science Physics

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Entry Points (2024)

401

Course Overview

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌GY320 Physics is the fundamental science, which seeks to understand the basic laws governing the structure of matter, the nature of energy and the physical forces that form our world. Its span of interest ranges from the nature of the short-range forces which operate inside the atomic nucleus to the origin and structure of the universe.

If you have an enquiring mind, and are interested in discovering how things work, then this could be the course for you. The Bachelor of Science Physics four year degree at NUI Galway offers you the flexibility in how you can study physics. It gives you the opportunity to experience a number of subjects along with core Physics before specialising in your chosen pathway in third year.

These pathways are:

Applied Physics, the study of physics with particular emphasis on technological and practical applications
Astrophysics, the part of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including that of stars, black holes and galaxies
Biomedical Physics, the application of physics to the medical and biological sciences
Theoretical Physics, the application of mathematical tools and models to explain and predict physical phenomena
Climate Physics, focussed on understanding the physics of climate change from a rigorous-science perspective, a study of the key processes driving climate change, enabling a response on a regional, national and international scale

You will be introduced to these pathways at the very start of the programme. Students will gain an insight into some of the most exciting and interesting areas of scientific inquiry.

Do I need honours level Mathematics?

No, but physics is mathematical. In the first and second year you will be required to take mathematics courses, which will bring you to the standard required.

Do I need Leaving Certificate physics?

Leaving Certificate physics will help you but it is not a requirement. We will teach you physics in first year.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Computer Science or Agricultural Science) and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades (2024)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

4 (More Info)

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

University of Galway School of Physics was awarded Juno Practitioner status by the Institute of Physics in 2013. The aim of Project Juno is to recognise and reward departments that can demonstrate they have taken action to address the under-representation of women in physics. www.iop.org

CAO

GY320

Course code

Course Outline

Year 1

Physics
Physics Specialist Topics
Applied Mathematics or Biology
Mathematics

Year 2

Physics (four modules)
Plus eight additional modules chosen from an approved list in the following areas:
- Applied Mathematics
- Astrophysics
- Anatomy
- Mathematics
- Earth and Ocean Sciences (Climate stream)
- Megatrends (Economics and Business)

Year 3

Physics (six modules)
Plus six additional modules chosen from an approved list in the following areas:
- Applied physics
- Astrophysics
- Biomedical Physics
- Theoretical Physics
- Other modules available in the College of Science

Year 4

Core Physics modules
Specialist Physics courses (Applied, Astrophysics, Biomedical, Theoretical,Climate)
Plus advanced laboratory, project work and problem solving

See programme brochure below.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Year 3 (60 Credits)

Year 4 (60 Credits)

Further Education

Honours graduates can pursue higher degrees in physics or, depending on the specialisms selected, in a wide range of areas such as applied physics, astrophysics, energy/environmental studies, medical and biomedical physics, meteorology, and theoretical physics.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

A degree in physics is an excellent training for employment in high technology industries (e.g. communications, electronics, optics and photonics, semiconductors, medical devices) and also in fields such as second- and third-level education,climate science, meteorology, the environmental and medical sciences, and software design.

A physics degree can also lead to an exciting career in fundamental research in any area of physics or in multidisciplinary areas such as nanotechnology, medical physics, biophysics, occupational health, and materials science. Theoretical physicists often work in the financial and actuarial sectors.

Click here to read a report produced for the Institute of Physics which shows 160,000 people are employed in physics based industries in Ireland.

Employer Endorsement

“The challenges faced in Automotive Vision & Imaging are diverse and require different skill sets including technical expertise, problem solving, adaptability, communication & teamwork. Our experience is that graduates from the BSc, Masters and PhD programmes in the NUI Galway School of Physics have these competences in abundance and thus form a vital part of our team at R&D Valeo”.

Derek Savage, Computer Vision & Imaging (CVI) Department Manager, Valeo Vision Systems

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Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,268 p.a. (€7,408 p.a. including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€4,268 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€27,000 p.a. (€27,140 p.a. including levy) 2025/26

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy* €140. *Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees**.
**Excludes Full-Time EU Undergraduate fees. These are fixed and do not change.

Find out More

Dr Alexander Goncharov
College of Science
T 353 (0)91 492 490
F 353 (0)91 750 501
E alexander.goncharov@universityofgalway.ie

School of Physics - www.universityofgalway.ie/physics

What Our Students Say

Laura Britton | BSc Applied Physics

I have very fond memories of studying physics in University of Galway and have made lifelong friends along the way. The undergraduate degree gave me a strong foundation in physics theory, and in particular I developed the confidence to be able to break any problem down into its fundamentals and solve with critical thinking. I went on to study a masters in Key Enabling Technologies in the NCLA department which really helped me to hone my research and practical skills. During the masters, I conducted research alongside an exciting start-up company here in the West of Ireland. I am currently employed by this company as a photonics researcher and we are in the process of developing a light-based treatment to remove sea lice from fish! I enjoy my work and every day I am challenged to use the creative problem solving skills that I developed during my time in University of Galway.

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