Undergraduate degree
A three- or four-year Physics degree (BSc or MPhys in the UK). An MPhys is usually expected for PhD entry in the UK.
PhysicsUK Careers
Research routes and next steps
Research and academia careers
Becoming a professional physicist in a university usually means following a long but well-defined pathway. It is rewarding if you love research, but it is also competitive. This page explains the route honestly and shows alternatives if academia is not for you.
The typical academic pathway
Most academic physicists progress through these stages. Each step usually takes three to four years, and not everyone moves from one stage to the next.
BSc / MPhys
PhD
Postdoc
Fellowship
Lectureship
Professor
PhD
Three to four years of original research supervised by an expert. You write a thesis and defend it in a viva. Funding is usually a studentship.
Postdoctoral researcher
Fixed-term research contracts, often two to three years each. You build publications, apply for fellowships and develop independence.
Fellowship
Competitive awards that give you salary and research budget to build your own group. A stepping stone to a permanent lectureship.
Lectureship
A permanent university job combining research, teaching and administration. You supervise PhD students and lead projects.
Professor
Senior academic leading a research group, securing large grants and helping shape the direction of a department.
Competition and realities
The academic route is intellectually exciting, but it is important to go in with realistic expectations.
- Competition is intense. There are far more PhD graduates than permanent academic jobs, especially in popular fields such as astrophysics and theoretical physics.
- Fixed-term contracts are common. Many postdocs move between countries and institutions several times before landing a permanent role.
- Funding matters. Your research depends on winning grants, which means writing proposals and managing budgets.
- Teaching is a growing part of the job. Lecturers spend significant time on teaching, marking, pastoral support and administration.
- Salaries start modestly. A PhD stipend is usually around £18,000 to £20,000 tax-free; postdoc salaries rise through university pay scales.
Honest take: If you love doing research, a PhD is worth it even if you do not stay in academia. The skills you gain are highly valued in industry, government and finance.
Alternative research careers
Most physics PhD holders work outside universities. There are many ways to keep doing research without following the professorial path.
Government labs
NPL, Dstl, UKAEA, STFC laboratories and the Met Office all employ research scientists on applied problems.
Industry R&D
Technology, pharmaceutical, energy, aerospace and semiconductor companies run large research divisions.
Science policy
Government departments, UKRI and learned societies need people who can translate scientific evidence into policy advice.
Science publishing
Journal editors and commissioning editors at publishers such as Nature, Springer and IOP Publishing often have PhDs.
Patent law
Patent attorneys with technical backgrounds help protect inventions in physics, engineering and technology.
Data science and quantitative roles
Research-trained physicists move into data science, quantitative finance, software engineering and consultancy.
Funding bodies
UK physics research is funded by a mix of research councils, charities, learned societies and international programmes.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
The main public funder of UK research, including EPSRC for engineering and physical sciences and STFC for particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics.
The Royal Society
Funds fellowships for early-career and established researchers, including University Research Fellowships.
Leverhulme Trust
Supports research across disciplines, including early-career fellowships and doctoral scholarships.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
EU-funded fellowships and doctoral networks supporting researcher mobility across Europe.
Wellcome Trust
Funds research at the intersection of physics, biology and medicine, including imaging and neuroscience.
University and industry partnerships
CDTs (Centres for Doctoral Training) and CASE studentships combine academic research with industrial placements.
If you are still at school
You do not need to decide on a PhD now. Focus on building strong foundations and finding out what motivates you.
- Choose Physics and Maths at A-level; Further Maths is helpful but not always essential.
- Do extra reading through PhysicsUK, New Scientist, IOP member magazines or university taster lectures.
- Try a summer school or work experience in a university lab if you can.
- Keep your options open: a physics degree leads to research, industry, finance, teaching and many other paths.