School of Physics and Astronomy

The University was granted its Royal Charter in 1948 and moved to the current three hundred and forty two acre campus which was donated by Sir Jesse Boot, founder of Boots the chemists. The Department was located in the Trent Building. Following the expansion of higher education in the 1960s, the Department of Physics moved into the new, purpose built accommodation that we still occupy today. 

The School of Physics and Astronomy is a research led school, with our research informing our teaching and our teaching invigorating our research.  The School's research thrust is divided into six broad areas.

• Astronomy
• Condensed Matter Theory
• Experimental Condensed Matter & Nanoscience
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy(Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre)
• Particle Theory
• Ultracold Atoms

Physics underpins most science and technology, but the range of careers entered by physics and astronomy graduates is far wider than even this fact would suggest. Many employers see a physics graduate as someone who has demonstrated an ability to work through a demanding course of study and who will have acquired a variety of technical and other transferable skills. The range of careers enjoyed by our graduates and their success in finding suitable positions is a measure of how many employers appreciate the value of a physics degree. This appreciation is reflected in the lucrative salaries that graduates from this School can typically expect, even at the start of their careers.