# What can you do with a Physics degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/physics/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Physics degree commonly leads to roles such as graduate physicist, data analyst and laboratory technician. Five years after graduating, Physics graduates had median earnings of £43,900 (middle half: £34,000–£58,600), and 89.7% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Physics and astronomy graduates is information and communication (21.2% of those in work).

Physics trains mathematical modelling, measurement, and experiment. Graduates move into technical, data, and engineering-adjacent roles. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Physics degree?

- **Graduate physicist**: Supports an experimental or modelling team with analysis, calibration, and reports. Skills often asked for: modelling, measurement, technical writing.
- **Data analyst**. Skills often asked for: Python or similar, uncertainty, visualisation.
- **Laboratory technician**. Skills often asked for: instruments, health and safety, logs.
- **Calibration engineer (entry)**. Skills often asked for: standards, traceability, certificates.

## Where do Physics graduates work?

Physics and astronomy graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Information and communication | 21.2% | £51,200 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 20.5% | £45,000 |
| Education | 11.6% | £33,700 |
| Finance and insurance | 11.4% | £63,300 |
| Manufacturing | 8.6% | £42,100 |
| Public administration and defence | 6.2% | £42,100 |
| Wholesale and retail | 4.4% | £43,900 |
| Health and social work | 4% | £42,100 |

## How much do Physics graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Physics (CAH07-01-01). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £30,000 | £23,800–£36,200 | 89.7% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £37,300 | £29,300–£47,200 | 90.3% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £43,900 | £34,000–£58,600 | 89.7% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £54,500 | £40,300–£77,200 | 85.5% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Physics and astronomy graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [Imperial College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/imperial-college-london/) | £66,600 | 125 |
| [University of Oxford](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-oxford/) | £58,200 | 120 |
| [University College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/ucl/) | £55,600 | 145 |
| [King's College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/kings-college-london/) | £52,300 | 70 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £50,100 | 125 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £49,400 | 150 |
| [University of Edinburgh](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-edinburgh/) | £46,800 | 90 |
| [University of Birmingham](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-birmingham/) | £46,100 | 150 |
| [University of Bath](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bath/) | £45,900 | 70 |
| [University of Exeter](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-exeter/) | £45,400 | 130 |

## Is Physics the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You like deriving a result and then testing it.
- You are comfortable with calculus-heavy problem sets.
- You enjoy instrumentation and uncertainty analysis.

It may not suit you if:
- You wanted a descriptive science with little maths.
- You dislike long problem sheets.
- You expected an automatic engineering chartership.

## Interview questions for Physics graduate roles

Graduate physicist, technician and data-analyst interviews usually test measurement, uncertainty, and explaining a model. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- You take a reading that sits well outside the others. What do you do? (What it tests: Error analysis and repeating the measurement, not deleting the outlier to tidy a graph.)
- Explain a simple harmonic system from your course as if we have to build it. (What it tests: Physical intuition and what would actually break.)
- How would you check a sensor is telling the truth before a test run? (What it tests: Calibration, units, and a known reference.)
- A stakeholder wants a single number from a noisy dataset. How do you answer? (What it tests: Communicating uncertainty without hiding it.)
- Why might a simulation and a bench test disagree? (What it tests: Assumptions, boundary conditions, and what you would measure next.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Physics degree?

Common starting roles include graduate physicist, data analyst, laboratory technician and calibration engineer (entry). Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Physics and astronomy graduates in work were information and communication (21.2%), professional, scientific and technical services (20.5%) and education (11.6%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Physics graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Physics graduates of £30,000 one year after graduating, £37,300 three years after graduating, £43,900 five years after graduating and £54,500 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Physics degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 89.7% of Physics graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £43,900. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Physics 17 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Physics and astronomy graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Physics and astronomy were at Imperial College London (£66,600), University of Oxford (£58,200) and University College London (£55,600). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Physics in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Physics