Why Bristol?

• Reasons to choose Bristol
• About our University
• The city of Bristol

What is the School like?

• About the School of Physics
• Take a virtual tour
• What types of research do we do?

How do we teach?

• Five special features
• What is Physics like at Bristol?
• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Practical work

What degrees can I do?

• Degree programmes
• 4 year MSci or 3 year BSc?
• Entry requirements
• How to apply

What support is available?

• Personal matters
• Financial support
• When you graduate

Further information

• Leaflets and brochure downloads
• Visiting the School of Physics
• Maps and travel information
• Undergraduate Admissions Statement
• Frequently asked questions
• Contact the Admissions Team

Others

• What do our students think?
• What will I do after Bristol?
• Links

What types of research do we do?

The School of Physics at Bristol has over 40 full-time academic leaders active across the whole range of research areas. Why is this important? Because you will be taught by world-leading academics right at the cutting edge of research, and you will have the maximum amount of choice in your final year research project.

We cover all the key areas of Physics: Astrophysics, Biophysics, Condensed Matter and Superconductivity Physics, Microstructural Physics, Nanoscience, Particle Physics, Polymer and Liquid Crystal Physics, Theoretical Physics and Quantum Information. Successful grant applications to funding councils have provided a £650k award to construct a new high-resolution positron annihilation spectrometer, £400K for research on novel boron-rich icosahedral semiconductors, £150K for observations on distant galaxies, a £9m award of an Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Nanotechnology (NSQI), £2.4m for a nanoscale Dynamic Holographic Assembler, £562K over four years to study the normal and superconducting state electronic structure of iron based superconductors and £300K to perform research on the reliability of novel GaN based semiconductor power transistors.

Below are some of the themes of our research activities. You can find out more by following the links to the homepages of the research groups:

Astrophysics What will happen to the Universe, and is there Dark Matter? Cosmology, active galaxies, black holes, microwave background radiation and plasma processes are just some of the areas being researched.	Correlated Electron Systems CES research focuses on trying to understand the basic physics behind a variety of unusual phenomena in metals, polymers, insulators and superconductors. The Positron group investigates the properties of materials by annihilating their electrons and making measurements of the gamma rays that are produced.
Micro and Nanostructural materials The common theme of research in this group is understanding how structure on a length scale from 1 angstrom to 10 micrometres affects the physical behaviour of solids, and how this structure may be controlled to create new materials. Research in this area not only reveals exciting new physics, but is often also of direct technological value.	Nanophysics and Soft Matter A large, dynamic research group with a diverse range of research interests, covering techniques from neutron diffraction to optical tweezers, and studying systems from novel glasses to living cells.
Particle Physics Where does matter come from and will the Large Hadron Collider give us the answer?	Theoretical Physics From mathematical singularities in rainbows to the Foundations of Quantum Computing and all in between
Centre for Quantum Photonics Spanning the School of Physics, the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the NSQI, CQP was established to develop future quantum technologies and explore fundamental science using photons. Quantum communication, which offers perfectly secure communication and quantum computing, which promises exponentially faster computation for particular tasks are just two of the anticipated future quantum technologies.