Astrophysics with a Foundation Year

If you don’t attain the grades needed to enrol on the BSc in Astrophysics, then this 4-year programme, with a Foundation Year, could be for you.

The Foundation Year, which covers core concepts in Physics and Mathematics, is a great way to gain the knowledge and skills needed for your Astrophysics undergraduate degree. The Foundation Year is integrated, meaning you’ll be taught in the same department on the Singleton Campus throughout your four years.

On completion of the Foundation Year, you will spend three years studying towards your undergraduate degree, which will take you on a journey to unlock the mysteries of the Universe!

You will go beyond lectures, with hands-on practical experience using telescopes and detectors, and analysing real astronomical data. Your final year project allows you to conduct your own independent research in an astrophysics area, potentially using data from an observatory field trip.

Our programme aims to create well-rounded astrophysicists equipped with not only the necessary scientific knowledge and skills but also the critical thinking, communication, and adaptability to thrive in the ever-evolving world of scientific exploration and discovery.

Physics at Swansea University is ranked:

• 3rd in the UK for Teaching Quality (Guardian University Guide 2025)
• 5th in the UK for Teaching (NSS 2024)*
• 11th in the UK Overall (Guardian University Guide 2025)
• Top 201-250 in the World (QS World University Rankings 2024), and
• 92% of Graduates are in Employment, Study and/or Study, or Doing other Activities such as Travelling, 15 Months after Leaving Swansea University (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023)

*Based on the average positivity score across questions 1 to 4 in the NSS 20234 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide

Why Swansea?

Physics at Swansea University is a highly regarded department that attracts students from across the world. Our student & staff space, the Event Horizon, overlooks spectacular views of Swansea Bay, provides an ideal location for quiet study, informal discussions and lunches.

The Physics department and the Swansea University Physics Society sponsor frequent social and academic events such as departmental colloquia and lectures to bring students and staff together. Elected student reps for each year and for the Swansea University Physics Society ensure that every student voice is heard through regular meetings with the programme director.

Our world-leading research groups in Particle Physics and Cosmology Theory, Applied Materials, and the ALPHA anti-matter collaboration with close ties to CERN, ensure that our teaching is informed by the latest research. Students have the opportunity to do a summer internship or undertake a final year project with the ALPHA group at CERN in Geneva.

Our graduates have become data scientists, AI engineers, demand forecasters, quantitative finance analysts, electromagnetic signature analysts, cost draftsmen, patent examiners and software engineers in sectors which include government research, the private sector, aerospace, defence, energy, engineering and space exploration. A significant percentage of our graduates go on to pursue postgraduate studies and research with a wide variety of specialisations.

Your first year of study will be your Foundation Year, which covers a mix of key themes in Physics and Mathematics, such as Mechanics, Atoms, Nuclei and Particles, and Foundation Mathematics for Physicists.

On successful completion of your Foundation Year, you will spend a further three years working towards your BSc.

Year 2 is predominantly made up of compulsory modules, covering more in-depth topics such as Astronomy and Cosmology, and Quantum Mechanics.

Your third year also comprises of compulsory modules, building on your existing knowledge with modules covering a range of topics including Stellar Astrophysics, Electromagnetism and Thermal and Statistical Physics.

The fourth and final year compounds your existing knowledge with a range of specialist modules, covering Galactic Dynamics, Frontiers of Nucleic Physics and Advanced Astronomical Techniques.

Throughout the programme, you will be assessed through a range of diverse assessments, from reports and scientific posters to exams and presentations, allowing you to showcase your skills in communication, teamwork, research and more.