MSc by Research Nuclear Physics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Manchester is one of the largest and most active departments of physics in the UK.  We have a long tradition of excellence in both teaching and research, and have interests in most areas of contemporary research. 

The field of nuclear physics aims to understand the structure and dynamics of nuclear systems. The field is motivated to answer questions on how the Universe is evolving, how stars develop and how the basic constituents of matter interact. Our research also has applications that benefit society in diverse areas, from medicine and security to power production.

The atomic nucleus is a unique laboratory where the microscopic quantum world merges with the mesoscopic world. The structure, shape and lifetime of nuclei are driven by the interplay of the strong, weak, and electromagnetic forces between individual nucleons. Remarkably these complex many-body systems display regularities and simple patterns that arise from the underlying nature of the nuclear force. Through precise experimental measurement, these effects and their implications can be studied and address the challenge of understanding the atomic nucleus from first principles, as well as understanding the influence that the properties of atomic nuclei have on astrophysical processes, on other areas of physics and on applications.

Research conducted by the Manchester group contributes to this international effort and our students have played leading roles in recent scientific highlights.

The Manchester group collaborates with researchers across the world at international facilities such as CERN and Argonne National Laboratory. Our postgraduate MSc and PhD projects offer the opportunity to work at the frontier of the field providing training in state-of-the-art experimental techniques of transfer reactions, gamma-ray spectroscopy and measurements of hyperfine atomic effects using lasers.

You can also download our  Postgraduate Project Booklet (PDF document, 2.6MB) which contains details of research projects available within the department.

The postgraduate research environment is well funded and world-class as demonstrated by our ranking in REF2014. Supervision is provided by academic staff, who are leaders in their fields, with independent pastoral back-up. Transferable skills training is available and there are some department teaching opportunities.  

Note: Although the course requires 1 year full time study, students should expect the process of examination of the dissertation may take several months. MSc degrees are usually awarded several months after the end of the programme.

Visit our Faculty of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Research page to find out about our upcoming events and open days.

Before applying we strongly recommend that you:

1. Identify the research project, CDT or dual-award you'd like to apply for or determine your own research proposal (including research project title)
2. Find a supervisor and speak to them about supervising your research
3. Decide how you will be funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor

In your application you'll need to include; your chosen research project or the name of the project you are proposing (and your research proposal) , the name of your supervisor , how you plan on funding your research , details of your previous study , and names and contact details of your two referees .

Once you have all of this information, you’re all set to apply online:

Apply now

Before you start your application, you should have:

• Identified the specific research project, CDT or dual-ward you’d like to apply for, or, determined your own research proposal and project title and discussed this with a supervisor.
• Found a supervisor and spoken to them about supervising your research.
• Decided how you’re planning on funding your research and discussed this with your supervisor.
• The names and contact details of your two referees.

You’ll also need to make sure you have the following to hand:

• Certificates: Certificates and final transcripts of any completed university-level qualifications and interim transcripts for qualifications in progress. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must provide an official English translation.
• CV: Summarising your academic record and highlighting experience that demonstrates your potential to conduct research.
• Research proposal: If you are proposing your own project, your proposal should typically range between 1,000-1,500 words and should clearly outline your project title and supervisor. For information on how to write a research proposal, visit our research proposal page .
• English language proof: All applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English language so you'll need to include a certificate or evidence of your English language ability. Applications can be considered without this evidence but any offer would be conditional on meeting minimum requirements.

This information will be reviewed and used to shortlist you for a funding interview if appropriate; you should therefore ensure that you address all of the above requirements.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Manchester is one of the largest and most active departments of physics in the UK.  We have a long tradition of excellence in both teaching and research, and have interests in most areas of contemporary research. 

The field of nuclear physics aims to understand the structure and dynamics of nuclear systems. The field is motivated to answer questions on how the Universe is evolving, how stars develop and how the basic constituents of matter interact. Our research also has applications that benefit society in diverse areas, from medicine and security to power production.

The atomic nucleus is a unique laboratory where the microscopic quantum world merges with the mesoscopic world. The structure, shape and lifetime of nuclei are driven by the interplay of the strong, weak, and electromagnetic forces between individual nucleons. Remarkably these complex many-body systems display regularities and simple patterns that arise from the underlying nature of the nuclear force. Through precise experimental measurement, these effects and their implications can be studied and address the challenge of understanding the atomic nucleus from first principles, as well as understanding the influence that the properties of atomic nuclei have on astrophysical processes, on other areas of physics and on applications.

Research conducted by the Manchester group contributes to this international effort and our students have played leading roles in recent scientific highlights.

The Manchester group collaborates with researchers across the world at international facilities such as CERN and Argonne National Laboratory. Our postgraduate MSc and PhD projects offer the opportunity to work at the frontier of the field providing training in state-of-the-art experimental techniques of transfer reactions, gamma-ray spectroscopy and measurements of hyperfine atomic effects using lasers.

You can also download our  Postgraduate Project Booklet (PDF document, 2.6MB) which contains details of research projects available within the department.

The postgraduate research environment is well funded and world-class as demonstrated by our ranking in REF2014. Supervision is provided by academic staff, who are leaders in their fields, with independent pastoral back-up. Transferable skills training is available and there are some department teaching opportunities.  

Note: Although the course requires 1 year full time study, students should expect the process of examination of the dissertation may take several months. MSc degrees are usually awarded several months after the end of the programme.

A research project is undertaken under the supervision of a staff member throughout the year together with lectures. Full time is spent working on the project unless attending lectures. A dissertation will be submitted at the year-end. We provide a range of skills training which is particularly focussed on the needs of physics research. 

For further information about coursework and assessment please visit our  Course Handbook

A research degree in physics is highly regarded by employers as evidence of a thorough training in numerate problem-solving and opens a wide range of possible career choices.  In addition to continuing physics research in industry, an MSc provides the entry level training to undertake a PhD in physics.

Visit the Careers Service website for more information.