Particle and Nuclear Physics MSc Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Physics and Astronomy Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School School of Physics and Astronomy College College of Science and Engineering Programme website MSc in Particle and Nuclear Physics Study location King's Buildings campus Accreditation Not available Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme The study of Particle and Nuclear Physics brings together advanced experimental techniques, computational techniques, and theoretical understanding.The experiments are typically large collaborations working at international laboratories using highly sophisticated detectors. These detector technologies also find applications in medical physics and other forms of position sensing.The computational aspects deal with large data sets and use machine learning and other advanced techniques in data science.Theoretical nuclear and particle physics aims to interpret the experimental results in terms of mathematical models of the structure and evolution of the physical world. Programme rankings Ranked top 20 for Physics in the Guardian University Guide 2025 by subject I was looking for an interdisciplinary taught Masters with an emphasis on programming. I found that combination in the Particle and Nuclear Physics MSc programme, where I was able to take a wide variety of courses from Data Analysis and Machine Learning to Astrophysics to Detectors in Particle Physics. The courses were engaging and challenging, and I learned essential concepts and skills that are helping me now in my PhD. Nisha MSc Particle and Nuclear Physics, graduated 2020 Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time MSc Particle and Nuclear Physics (1 year) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Deposit You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme. Costs Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Higgs scholarships We are offering twelve scholarships to applicants who have applied to study full-time on any taught programme in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Value: £10,000 Eligibility: Applicants must have applied to study full-time on a taught Physics and Astronomy programme. View details: Higgs scholarships Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in physics or a related subject with sufficient physics content. In particular we expect that you will have completed a quantum mechanics course. University level mathematics and basic programming skills are essential. During your degree you should have gained experience in at least one of the following: C/C++, Java, Python, R, Matlab, Haskell, ML and you should state this information on your application. If you are in doubt on this point please contact the Programme Director. We may also consider your application if you have relevant experience; please contact us to check before you apply. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study The programme includes three compulsory skill courses and a minimum of three specialist courses which will bring you to an advanced level in the required subject material. You will also have the opportunity to select courses from a range of options depending on your interests and career ambitions. Compulsory courses During the MSc programme you will take three compulsory skill courses:Research Skills in Particle and Nuclear PhysicsData Analysis and Machine LearningDissertation in Particle and Nuclear Physics Option courses You will select a number of Core Courses. Your Academic Advisor will guide you through choices. Core options include:Detectors in Particle and Nuclear PhysicsMedical PhysicsParticle PhysicsNuclear PhysicsNuclear AstrophysicsCurrent Topics in Particle PhysicsIn addition, you will select a number of optional courses. Topics include, among others:Lasers and ApplicationsQuantum TheoryBiological PhysicsGeneral RelativityData Acquisition and HandlingCosmologyStatistical PhysicsQuantum Field TheoryQuantum PhysicsLangrangian DynamicsQuantum ComputingQuantum Cyber Computing Find courses for this programme Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed. The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme. Full-time MSc Particle and Nuclear Physics (1 year) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Teaching You will learn through a combination of lectures, practical work, literature study, oral presentations and group projects. Assessment DissertationFollowing the taught component of the programme, you will undertake a three-month research project leading to a dissertation. You will be based within one of the projects of the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics as part of an international collaboration, and may have the opportunity to visit a leading research laboratory.Recent dissertation projects have included:precision studies of the Higgs boson, and matter-antimatter asymmetries at LHCneutron signals for dark matter searchesphoton detectors and HV-CMOS pixel detector R&Dneutrino interactionstotal-body PET imagingfuture collider R&Dradioactive modulessearches for exotic physics using anomaly detection Learning outcomes By engaging with and completing the MSc in Particle and Nuclear Physics, you will acquire core knowledge of current experiments in nuclear and particle physics and gain a theoretical understanding of nuclear and particle physics.The programme aims to develop research and problem solving skills. You will gain the skills to apply advanced data analysis techniques to large data sets, critically assess research activities and design future experiments. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Our academic staff Our academic staff will teach you and supervise you in your dissertation projects. They are world experts in current and future colliders, exotic and dark-matter searches, flavour/neutrino/nuclear physics, detector R&D, and medical imaging.Prof Christos LeonidopoulosCheryl PatrickMatt NeedhamYanyan GaoCarlo BrunoMoritz Pascal ReiterSilvia GambettaMark WilliamsStephan Eidenhardt Where you will study Study location Teaching will take place on the King’s Buildings campus. Some courses might be taught at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh.Physics and Astronomy MSc students will have access to a dedicated common room, which can be used to study or socialise. The common room is located in the James Clerk Maxwell Building, King’s Buildings Campus. Careers and further study Career opportunities This programme provides an exposure to frontier activities in experimental nuclear and particle physics and develops general transferable skills related to data analysis, research and communication.This provides a platform for employment in research, science-based industry, medical physics, education and a wide spectrum of professions that call for numeracy and data analysis skills. Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Graduate profiles Lucas Degree: MSc Particle and Nuclear Physics Year of graduation: 2022 Current work: Graduate Nuclear Radiation Analyst I gained a lot of knowledge from studying the MSc in Particle and Nuclear Physics. The programme strengthened my passion for the subject: the degree went really well, the research was stimulating, and the lecturers enthusiastic. This reinforced my desire to work in science and, specifically in nuclear physics. Lucas' graduate profile Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin. If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 3 applications from the same applicant. When to apply Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.We may make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis. However, the majority of applications will be held until the advertised deadline.We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you knowyour application is still being considered, it will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline, and we will be in touch once a decision is madeThe final deadline may be extended if any places remain on the programme.If the final deadline is extended, we encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.Selection deadlinesRoundApplication deadlineDecisions made or applications rolled to the next deadline115 December1 March231 March31 May331 May31 July When to submit your supporting documentsYou must submit all supporting documents by the application deadline, or we will be unable to consider your application. Regardless of when you apply, you have 28 days from submitting your application to supply any supporting documents through the Application Hub, after which we will automatically reject your application. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. ReferencesYou must submit two references with your application. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -MSc Particle and Nuclear Physics (1 year) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Academic Technology Approval Scheme If you need to apply for a student visa, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme. Academic Technology Approval Scheme Life at Edinburgh What our students say Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Marketing and Recruitment Coordinator, Lara CaddeoSchool of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of EdinburghJames Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait RoadThe King's Buildings CampusEdinburghEH9 3FD futurestudents@ed.ac.uk Phone:+44 (0)131 650 5254 Academic contact Christos Leonidopoulos Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 650 6769 Email: Christos.Leonidopoulos@ed.ac.uk
