Department of Physics

We are one of the UK's top Physics departments and have a reputation for high-quality teaching, driven by outstanding research, performed in an inclusive and welcoming community.

Welcome to the Department of Physics at Durham

The Physics Department is a thriving centre for research and education.

We are proud that our Department closely aligns the teaching and learning experience for its students with the research-intensive values and practices of the University. Research-led teaching is embedded at all levels from first year laboratory reports to our final year MSci flagship individual research projects.

The Department incorporates the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, is home to the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology and the Institute for Computational Cosmology. The Ogden Centre is also the base for our innovative outreach programme for school children and their teachers.

Find out more about us

2nd in the Guardian University Guide 2024

3rd for Physics and Astronomy in the Complete University Guide 2024

96% of our research outputs are world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)

3rd in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

Just got your grades?

We look forward to welcoming you to Physics. Find out what to do next below.

Before you arrive Welcome and Induction

News

Department commemorates Alan Lotts' five decades in Physics

A retirement party was held for Alan Lotts on Friday 19th November to celebrate 5 decades of outstanding technical support to the astronomy group.

Muons found to be faithful probes of exotic superconductors

Researchers in the Centre for Materials Physics have demonstrated that spontaneous magnetic fields, detected by implanting sub-atomic muons in superconducting materials, are likely to be intrinsic to an exotic, time-reversal symmetry broken, superconducting state.

Prof Tom Lancaster co-writes new textbook, 'Muon Spectroscopy: An Introduction', published by Oxford University Press

Durham Physics Department's Prof Tom Lancaster is one of the authors of a new textbook on Muon Spectroscopy, which has just been published by Oxford University Press.

2nd year Physics student wins Axiom Space award

Iyngkarran Kumaraguruparan has been awarded a STARS scholarship for his Microgravity Printed Circuit Board, one of only 3 winning entries (and the only one produced by a single individual) in this year's prestigious international competition.

Image of satellite hovering above planet's atmosphere

'The price is right' for undergraduate project

In a tremendous final-year project, two Durham undergraduates apply data-analysis techniques taught as part of their Physics degree to another real world data set - house prices.

Joseph Bullock interviewed on BBC Radio Tees

Joseph Bullock, a Postdoctoral Researcher within the Physics Department here at Durham, who is also a United Nations Global Pulse Industry Research Associate, gave an interview to BBC Radio Tees recently on the important COVID-19 modelling work he has been undertaking.

Image manipulation of the coronavirus inside the globe

Centre for space research celebrates 20th anniversary

Our Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Planets are projected on to the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics

Scything course update

We had a fantastic time scything the physics meadow last Saturday with our scything tutor Danny. As both an experienced scyther and conservationist, he was able to advise us on both the meadow management to promote diversity and the technique of scything! The department kindly supported this eco-venture by paying half of the course fee, for which we are extremely grateful.

Pastoral meadows meet fundamental physics

Famous name in space exploration drops into Durham

The man whose father was one of the first to set foot on the moon visited Durham city and the department on Monday. Dr Andy Aldrin is Director of the Aldrin Space Institute and president of the non-profit foundation dedicated to inspiring children’s passions for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths).

A step towards quantum computation with ultracold molecules

Researchers in the Quantum light and matter group led by Prof. Simon Cornish have demonstrated robust quantum storage with ultracold RbCs molecules in recent work published in Nature Physics.

IPPP develop new model that helps guide COVID-19 planning

Experts in the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology within the Department of Physics have developed a new model for simulating epidemics – and it’s already being used to inform the UK’s response to COVID-19.

Physics Department honours staff excellence with Department Awards

The annual Physics Department Awards for Excellence took place at 2pm on Tuesday 14 September. Held virtually on Zoom this year, there were a series of science talks aimed at all members of the department, followed by the presentation of awards. The awards recognise staff who carry out exceptional work, and go that extra mile.