The experience of having lived independently abroad and the opportunity to acquire professional level work experience is invaluable for students’ employability and personal development. These experiences not only foster independence but also provide the chance to gain professional-level work experience. As such, we strongly encourage students to consider applying for these programs during their degree. Whether it is a year-long industry placement or a study abroad opportunity through the Physics Department or the University's international partners, both avenues offer rich opportunities for growth and skill-building.
Students have the exciting opportunity to pursue an industry placement either in the UK or abroad. This extra year is assessed on a pass/fail basis, which means that it will not affect your final degree classification.
For BSc Physics (F300) students, the industry placement year can be inserted between the 2nd and 3rd years, or as a fourth year. For those enrolled in the MPhys programs (F301, FF3N, and F344), you have the flexibility to choose between adding the industry placement between the 2nd and 3rd years, between the 3rd and 4th years, or simply as a fifth year. This means you can tailor your educational journey to suit your career aspirations and personal preferences.
Upon successful completion of the industry placement, you will graduate with either a BSc Physics with Placement (F311) or an MPhys Physics with Placement (F309).
We have established partnerships with numerous institutions across Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East. These partnerships offer diverse opportunities for our students, where some destinations allow students to study in English, while others require proficiency in foreign languages. Throughout the application process and the year spent abroad, our department provides comprehensive support to ensure students have a successful experience.
The year abroad can be undertaken in two ways: it can replace the third year of study within an MPhys degree, or it can be added as an additional year of study.
The additional year of study abroad is available for all courses and is graded on a pass/fail basis, which means that the grades earned during this year will not impact the final degree classification. For BSc Physics (F300) students, the year abroad can be inserted between the 2nd and 3rd years, or as a fourth year. For those enrolled in the MPhys programs (F301, FF3N, and F344), you can add the year abroad between the 2nd and 3rd years, between the 3rd and 4th years, or simply as a fifth year.
Nevertheless, upon completion of this extended program, students will receive either the BSc Physics with Year Abroad (F300A) or the MPhys Physics with Year Abroad (F306) degree designation.
The option for a study abroad year as a replacement is exclusively offered within the Mphys programs (F301, FF3N, and F344) and is limited to a few partner universities. This choice does not alter the ultimate degree program title.
For comprehensive information on various opportunities, please refer to the "Global Opportunities" section on the Durham University website, Global Opportunities, where you can explore a wide range of work, study, and research options available to our students.
If you are interested in specific details or plan to apply for any of these opportunities, we encourage you to get in touch with the department's exchanges coordinator at f.m.b.dias@durham.ac.uk. Dr. Dias can provide you with personalized guidance and answer any questions you may have regarding these programs.
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/departments-/physics/teaching-labs/VT2A9034-1998X733.jpeg)