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Research & Development Degree plus

Research Scientist (Physics)

Plan and carry out experiments or theoretical work to discover new physics and turn it into applications.

A day in the life

Set up experiments, analyse data, collaborate with international teams, publish findings and apply for funding.

Typical route

Helpful A-levels

Physics + Maths + Further Maths

Typical qualification and training

  • Physics degree
  • PhD and postdoctoral research positions

These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.

Indicative UK salary

Starter
£26,000-£33,000
Experienced
£38,000-£55,000
Senior
£60,000+

Academic salaries vary; industry R&D can pay more.

Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Research Scientist (Physical Sciences).

UK employers

  • UK Research and Innovation
  • STFC
  • University labs
  • AstraZeneca

Worldwide employers

  • CERN
  • MIT
  • Max Planck Institutes
  • IBM Research

Useful route links

These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.

UCAS course search: physics Compare degree prospectuses, entry requirements, open days and course structures. ucas.com UKRI studentships and research funding Explore UK research councils and postgraduate research funding routes. ukri.org UCAS Physics and astronomy courses Search UK undergraduate physics, astrophysics and related degree options. ucas.com Prospects: what can I do with a physics degree? Independent overview of careers that physics graduates enter. prospects.ac.uk Find an apprenticeship on GOV.UK Search current apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship vacancies in England. gov.uk

Key skills

Materials Scientist

Investigate and develop new materials for everything from batteries and aircraft to medical implants.

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Medical Physicist

Use physics to develop and assure safe, effective medical imaging and radiotherapy treatments.

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Spacecraft Engineer

Design, build and test satellites, probes and spacecraft systems that operate in extreme environments.

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Sources and further reading

External links open in a new tab.

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