The University of Southampton

Published: 2 October 2018
Illustration
Physics and Astronomy has entered the top 10 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019

Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southampton has risen six places to be ranked in the UK top 10 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.

The ranking follows a top 10 placement in the recent 2019 Guardian University Guide, where the subject climbed to sixth overall.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is committed to providing an excellent student experience and has been in the top three for overall student satisfaction in the Russell Group* in the National Student Survey (NSS) for the last four years.

The Times Good University Guide 2019 draws upon the most recent NSS and Destination of Leavers from Higher Education surveys, as well as other sources such as student entry tariff and research quality data.

Physics and Astronomy’s improved placing for 2019 is in part due to an increased rating for graduate prospects in the guide.

Professor Jonathan Flynn, Head of Physics and Astronomy, said: “We are delighted to be in the Top 10 in The Times Good University Guide 2019. We work hard to support our students, always trying to improve the learning experience we provide and strengthening students' employability through our placement schemes and careers activity. It is gratifying to see our efforts reflected in league tables and survey results.â€?

The University of Southampton was ranked 18th overall in the guide, a rise of 12 places from 2018.

There were 13 subjects from the Russell Group institution in the national top 10, up from nine last year. Alongside Physics and Astronomy, these included Physiotherapy, subjects allied to medicine, Music, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering, Geology, Communication and Media Studies, Criminology, Iberian Languages and Nursing.

*Not all Russell Group universities are returned in the National Student Survey every year

Articles that may also interest you

Share this article FacebookTwitterWeibo

Placements at Southampton

We’ll help you to find a paid, summer placement, so you can develop employability skills and develop links with organisations.

Get a subject brochure

Download our Physics and Astronomy subject brochure, or order one to be sent through the post.

Discover your ideal degree

View our course pages to find the right physics degree for you. You can choose to study areas such as astronomy, space science, photonics, nanotechnology and mathematics.

One of the great things about choosing to study a physics degree is that it opens up a huge range of career options when you graduate. You’ll be prepared for a role in the physics industry, or further study, if that’s the route you are interested in. But the skills and knowledge you develop will also be valued in careers in a wide range of fields, such as finance, engineering, law or business. Your degree will demonstrate to any employer that you are intellectually curious, insightful and not afraid of a challenge.

You'll develop key, transferable skills as part of your degree

By studying a degree in physics and astronomy, you’ll develop key skills which will be valuable to employers in any sector, such as:

  • Numerical: mathematics is the fundamental language of physics, and an important part of your course. You’ll develop strong mathematical modelling and statistical analysis skills, through finding solutions to scientific problems.
  • Analytical: you’ll learn how to analyse large data sets and find solutions to complex problems
  • IT: including coding and programming
  • Communication: group projects will help you develop valuable communications skills, and you’ll learn to convey complex ideas clearly and construct logical arguments
  • Project management: through planning and running your own experiments
  • Problem solving: you’ll be able to solve complex problems using analytical approaches

You'll be prepared to do almost anything when you graduate

The transferable skills and knowledge you develop on your degree will prepare you for a wide range of careers. You might be interested in a role which is directly related to your degree, in a field such as astronomy, space science, nanotechnology, photonics, medical physics, meteorology or geophysics.

Many students choose to go onto further study at PhD level. The international reputation of the School of Physics and Astronomy at Southampton means our graduates are able to secure PhD positions across the world.

Or, you might prefer to use your skills and knowledge to pursue a career in a different field. Your skills will be valued in professions such as accounting and finance, digital marketing, law, business, scientific journalism, manufacturing, engineering, teaching, computer science and software engineering.

Here are just some of the roles our graduates have gone on to:

  • astronomer (hear from graduate Liz Bartlett)
  • air traffic controller
  • bioinformatics specialist
  • business development manager (hear from graduate Richard Murray)
  • data analyst
  • digital marketer
  • government science policy officer
  • medical physicist (hear from graduate James Gray)
  • satellite engineer
  • scientific journalist (hear from graduate Daniel Sandford)
  • statistician
  • systems analyst
  • teacher (hear from graduate Holly Farnham)
  • weather forecaster
  • web developer

View our careers pages to find out more about how Southampton will help you get to where you want to be. 

Discover your ideal degree

View our course pages to find the right physics degree for you. You can choose to study areas such as astronomy, space science, photonics, nanotechnology and mathematics.

Get a subject brochure

Download our Physics and Astronomy subject brochure, or order one to be sent through the post.

Placements at Southampton

We’ll help you to find a paid, summer placement, so you can develop employability skills and develop links with organisations.

Pages