Department of Physics

Physics is the most fundamental of sciences. It deals with the structure of matter and the principal laws that govern the behaviour of the universe. This means that it spans sub-nuclear particles to the cosmos, and asks questions about the existence of everything. Today, its influence has spread to take in a huge range of activity, creating the new subject of nanoscience, providing new methods applicable to modern biology and even helping to understand complex systems such as the world's financial markets.

So, if you find yourself wondering about how the universe happened to be created, what makes rainbows appear, or even how synthetic diamonds are grown, then physics may be the subject for you.

The department has a distinguished history, with the study of physics at King’s dating back to its foundation in 1829. The first Professor was Sir Charles Wheatstone and, since its foundation, four members of staff in the department have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. The department today has a reputation as a friendly and supportive environment, with physics teaching provided by academic staff with internationally-leading reputations in areas of current excitement in physics: understanding the origin of the universe and the LHC, nanotechnology, and the interface between physics and biology.

We offer a range of programmes, some specialising in physics, some combining physics teaching with another discipline. We have high teaching standards and high expectations. We work hard to make sure that students leave our department with a strong training in physics and maths. Our programmes are not only designed to teach physics to a high standard, but also to give you transferable skills, which will give you a head start in your career. Our degree programmes are always being developed, not only because the subject advances but also to make it most relevant to your needs as present-day students.