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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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Just got your grades?

We look forward to welcoming you to Physics. Find out what to do next below.

Before you arrive Welcome and Induction

What's new?

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Spotlight on: Professor Leah Morabito - uncovering the Universe's hidden black holes

Welcome to another instalment of our Spotlight On feature, where we celebrate the work of our world-leading academics. Professor Leah Morabito from our Department of Physics is revealing a hidden population of supermassive black holes and reshaping our understanding of cosmic evolution.

Research news
Professor Leah Morabito smiling to camera with bookshelves behind her

Physicists help devise new instrument to probe evolution of stars

We’re a major partner in a new telescope instrument that will help us see massive stars in the Milky Way and view the distant Universe.
Global research
The concept for one of the BlueMUSE spectrographs. The image from the telescope is split into 16 separate slices and enters the spectrograph at the top left.

Revealing dark matter’s influence on the Universe

Research jointly led by our astronomers has created the highest resolution map of the dark matter that threads through our Universe.
Global research
A contoured map of dark matter, seen in blue, against a black background.

Looking further into space and time than ever before

Durham researchers are pushing the boundaries of physics research, contributing to major advances in our understanding of the Universe.
Research news
A bright yellow core with smaller lights shooting out from it on a purple background.

The 2026 Icy Durham Practical Course (CDT in Fusion Power)

Shortly after the 2026 New Year's festivities had finished, thirty 1st year fusion PhD students braved the ice and snow to come to the Physics Department at Durham University for three days to make some critical current (IC) measurements on high temperature superconductors (HTS).
Research news
Group Photo of the participants of the 2026 ICY Durham Practical Course

Astronomers discover mysterious shock wave around dead star

Astronomers from our Physics department have discovered a striking and unexplained shock wave surrounding a dead star.
Global research
Image of a dead star creating a shock wave as it moves through space

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
More news

Spotlight on: Professor Leah Morabito - uncovering the Universe's hidden black holes

Welcome to another instalment of our Spotlight On feature, where we celebrate the work of our world-leading academics. Professor Leah Morabito from our Department of Physics is revealing a hidden population of supermassive black holes and reshaping our understanding of cosmic evolution.

Professor Leah Morabito smiling to camera with bookshelves behind her

Looking further into space and time than ever before

Durham researchers are pushing the boundaries of physics research, contributing to major advances in our understanding of the Universe.
A bright yellow core with smaller lights shooting out from it on a purple background.

The 2026 Icy Durham Practical Course (CDT in Fusion Power)

Shortly after the 2026 New Year's festivities had finished, thirty 1st year fusion PhD students braved the ice and snow to come to the Physics Department at Durham University for three days to make some critical current (IC) measurements on high temperature superconductors (HTS).
Group Photo of the participants of the 2026 ICY Durham Practical Course

  • Developing Talent Award Winners 2025-2026

    We are pleased to announce the winners of the Developing Talent Award for 2026: James Gill-Fleming (CfAI) , Aurelie Magniez (CfAI), Omer Rathore (CMP) and Max von Wietersheim-Kramsta (ICC & CEA) Summaries of their projects can be found below. Congratulations to all awardees and best of luck with your projects. We'd like to thank everyone who applied for their excellent proposals. There were 13 submissions this year. The competition was tight, and the panel had their work cut out for them.
    Durham news
    Images of the winners of Developing Talent Award Winners 2025-2026

  • Dr Daniel Ruttley Awarded Entanglement Prize at Quantum Talents Symposium in Munich

    Dr Daniel Ruttley, a researcher from the Quantum Light and Matter (QLM) group, has been awarded the prestigious Entanglement Prize, sponsored by the QuantumLeaks Foundation, at the Quantum Talents Symposium in Munich.
    Durham news
    Dan Ruttley holding clenched fists aloft in an 'I won!' pose

  • 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

Developing Talent Award Winners 2025-2026

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Developing Talent Award for 2026: James Gill-Fleming (CfAI) , Aurelie Magniez (CfAI), Omer Rathore (CMP) and Max von Wietersheim-Kramsta (ICC & CEA) Summaries of their projects can be found below. Congratulations to all awardees and best of luck with your projects. We'd like to thank everyone who applied for their excellent proposals. There were 13 submissions this year. The competition was tight, and the panel had their work cut out for them.

Images of the winners of Developing Talent Award Winners 2025-2026

Dr Daniel Ruttley Awarded Entanglement Prize at Quantum Talents Symposium in Munich

Dr Daniel Ruttley, a researcher from the Quantum Light and Matter (QLM) group, has been awarded the prestigious Entanglement Prize, sponsored by the QuantumLeaks Foundation, at the Quantum Talents Symposium in Munich.
Dan Ruttley holding clenched fists aloft in an 'I won!' pose

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

Physicists help devise new instrument to probe evolution of stars

We’re a major partner in a new telescope instrument that will help us see massive stars in the Milky Way and view the distant Universe.

The concept for one of the BlueMUSE spectrographs. The image from the telescope is split into 16 separate slices and enters the spectrograph at the top left.

Revealing dark matter’s influence on the Universe

Research jointly led by our astronomers has created the highest resolution map of the dark matter that threads through our Universe.
A contoured map of dark matter, seen in blue, against a black background.

Astronomers discover mysterious shock wave around dead star

Astronomers from our Physics department have discovered a striking and unexplained shock wave surrounding a dead star.
Image of a dead star creating a shock wave as it moves through space

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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Find out more

 

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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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