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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.
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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.

University of the Year 2026 tagline

A graphic showing an on-campus scene of students walking past the modern, glass-sided library building with the University's Physics and Astronomy Top 100 ranking emblazoned on it

Find out more about us
1st We are The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2026 and ranked third overall in its Good University Guide.
2nd in the Guardian University Guide 2024
96%
96% of our research outputs are world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
3rd for Physics and Astronomy in the Complete University Guide 2024
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We look forward to welcoming you to Physics. Find out what to do next below.

Before you arrive Welcome and Induction

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Global recognition for innovative teaching

The quality of teaching and learning that our students enjoy at Durham has been recognised at a global awards ceremony.

Durham news
Three people holding an awards certificate

Professor Adekunle Adeyeye made a Fellow of the IEEE in the USA

Professor Adekunle Adeyeye, Professor in Physics and Principal of Trevelyan College, has been awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers of the USA for his “contributions to synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanostructures for low-power magnonic information processing applications”.
Durham news
Professor Adekunle Adeyeye in a CMP lab

Impactful Durham researchers recognised in global highly cited list

Six Durham researchers have earned a place on one of the world’s most respected research rankings.
Research news
Headshots of six male academics with the central man holding a telescope on a coloured background

Prof. Leah Morabito will deliver the 2025 Christmas Lecture, titled 'The Radio Universe'

Visible light is only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. What does the Universe look like at radio wavelengths? This lecture will explore the surprising and fascinating history of radio astronomy, and take a look at what we have learned about super-massive black holes using radio telescopes.
Durham news
Christmas Lecture 2025 The Radio Universe

Durham scientists supporting NASA mission to find Earth-like worlds

Our scientists are investigating how a UK-led team could design and build a core instrument for a flagship NASA mission to search for life on distant planets.
Global research
An Earth-like planet in the foreground with a nearby star in the distance.

New telescope captures first light in Chile

A major milestone in a global telescope collaboration involving astronomers from our Department of Physics has been achieved.
Research news
Images showing 4MOST first light observations, showing typical sky area covered by one 4MOST pointing (image to the left), together with one example spectrum, out of the 2,400 simultaneously measured spectra acquired by 4MOST (image to the right).

Scientists discover unexpected twist in cosmic wind speeds

An international team of scientists, led by Professor Chris Done of our Physics Department, has made a surprising discovery about powerful winds blasting from around a neutron star.
Global research
A generated image of a swirling cosmic wind with a sun
More news

Impactful Durham researchers recognised in global highly cited list

Six Durham researchers have earned a place on one of the world’s most respected research rankings.

Headshots of six male academics with the central man holding a telescope on a coloured background

New telescope captures first light in Chile

A major milestone in a global telescope collaboration involving astronomers from our Department of Physics has been achieved.
Images showing 4MOST first light observations, showing typical sky area covered by one 4MOST pointing (image to the left), together with one example spectrum, out of the 2,400 simultaneously measured spectra acquired by 4MOST (image to the right).

IPPP marks 25 years of world-leading particle physics research

Our Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP) will celebrate its 25th anniversary on 24-25 September, recognising a quarter-century of innovative research, global collaboration, and academic excellence.
IPPP group photo

  • Global recognition for innovative teaching

    The quality of teaching and learning that our students enjoy at Durham has been recognised at a global awards ceremony.
    Durham news
    Three people holding an awards certificate

  • Professor Adekunle Adeyeye made a Fellow of the IEEE in the USA

    Professor Adekunle Adeyeye, Professor in Physics and Principal of Trevelyan College, has been awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers of the USA for his “contributions to synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanostructures for low-power magnonic information processing applications”.
    Durham news
    Professor Adekunle Adeyeye in a CMP lab

  • Prof. Leah Morabito will deliver the 2025 Christmas Lecture, titled 'The Radio Universe'

    Visible light is only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. What does the Universe look like at radio wavelengths? This lecture will explore the surprising and fascinating history of radio astronomy, and take a look at what we have learned about super-massive black holes using radio telescopes.
    Durham news
    Christmas Lecture 2025 The Radio Universe

Global recognition for innovative teaching

The quality of teaching and learning that our students enjoy at Durham has been recognised at a global awards ceremony.

Three people holding an awards certificate

Professor Adekunle Adeyeye made a Fellow of the IEEE in the USA

Professor Adekunle Adeyeye, Professor in Physics and Principal of Trevelyan College, has been awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers of the USA for his “contributions to synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanostructures for low-power magnonic information processing applications”.
Professor Adekunle Adeyeye in a CMP lab

Prof. Leah Morabito will deliver the 2025 Christmas Lecture, titled 'The Radio Universe'

Visible light is only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. What does the Universe look like at radio wavelengths? This lecture will explore the surprising and fascinating history of radio astronomy, and take a look at what we have learned about super-massive black holes using radio telescopes.
Christmas Lecture 2025 The Radio Universe

Durham scientists supporting NASA mission to find Earth-like worlds

Our scientists are investigating how a UK-led team could design and build a core instrument for a flagship NASA mission to search for life on distant planets.

An Earth-like planet in the foreground with a nearby star in the distance.

Scientists discover unexpected twist in cosmic wind speeds

An international team of scientists, led by Professor Chris Done of our Physics Department, has made a surprising discovery about powerful winds blasting from around a neutron star.
A generated image of a swirling cosmic wind with a sun

Simulations solve centuries-old cosmic puzzle – and reveal new class of ancient star systems

Astronomers have solved a centuries-old puzzle surrounding one of the Universe’s oldest and densest star systems.
A strip of stars runs from top to bottom of the picture against a black background and shrouded by purple clouds

Government Minister visits Ukraine summer camp

The UK’s Higher Education Minister has visited our campus to show her support for an education and recreation summer camp for Ukrainian young people.

Two women and a man standing behind a science desk, watching two young women point tuning forks at plastic tubes on a table

Condensed Matter Physics Research Section came together for an Away Day

The whole Condensed Matter Physics research section (CMP) in Physics at Durham came together for an Away Day at Ushaw House for training and development activities to strengthen our research capabilities and support career progression.
Images of CMP Away Day

Celebrating the next generation of North East Physicists

Physics students’ success from across the region has been celebrated at the recent School Physicist of the Year (SPotY) awards.
Student receiving a school's physicist of the year award

 

Study with us

Undergraduate study

Find out more about our BSc and MPhys courses.

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Postgraduate study

Discover more about our taught courses and research degrees.

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Our research

We are one of the top Physics Departments in the UK for research, as recognised in repeated assessments and league tables.

According to REF2014, 100% of our research impact and 94.2% of our research outputs were judged to be internationally excellent.
Find out more
Cosmic Ray Cosmo Simulation

Our history

2024 marked 100 years of the Department of Science in Durham University, years that have seen the service of thirteen different Heads of Physics, hundreds of staff and thousands of students. To celebrate this milestone, you can now discover the history of Physics at Durham through the centuries.

From Temple Chevallier to the researchers of today, scroll through our timeline and meet some of the key figures from our history. Watch as some of our most influential academics from past and present talk about their experiences of Durham through the years. Learn about the buildings that have shaped our history, from the creation of the Observatory in the 1800s to the first dedicated building for Physics in the late 1950s, to our major investment in Astronomy going forward.

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Look Closer at the Faculty of Science

Whether it’s our world-leading research that seeks to empower and inspire, our commitment to educational excellence across eight academic departments, or our focus on the next generation of scientists through our ground breaking science outreach and engagement. We push forward, break down barriers, asking the big questions and getting answers. Watch our short video to find out why there’s more to science at Durham than meets the eye.

Find out about the Faculty of Science

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Open Days & Visits

We can offer personal tours of the Physics Department by arrangement, in addition to the University’s standard open day offerings. to discuss a department tour, please see ‘Arrange a personal tour’ below.

Undergraduate open days Postgraduate open days

Experience Durham by arranging a personal tour

Arrange to have a personal tour of our department buildings and facilities, meet departmental staff and get a feel for what it would be like to study here.

Arrange a personal tour

Arrange a personal tour

Find us on social media

Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages

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Instagram
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Student updates

What it's been like studying Physics

3rd year Physics student Jack reflects on his studies during the pandemic

Physics Rochester Building

Day in the life of a 3rd year Physics student: My Industrial Project

Physics student Gabriel tells us about his Team Project module at Durham

Student pouring liquid nitrogen

Get in touch

Contact us to find out more about our department.

Department of Physics
Durham University
Lower Mountjoy
South Road
Durham
DH1 3LE
United Kingdom

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

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