Physics helps us understand the world, ourselves and the universe in which we live.
Physicists have a very solid knowledge of the physical universe and use this knowledge to explore new ideas that will advance humanity.
Their skills can also help us better understand and predict the behaviour of complex systems.
All UOW physics degrees are fully accredited by the Australian Institute of Physics, while our strong ties with labs such as ANSTO and CSIRO ensure you receive industry exposure throughout your degree.
Be at the forefront of technology:
The latest QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey ranked UOW number one in NSW and the ACT, with overall satisfaction of graduates at 89.6 per cent.
At UOW, you'll develop real-world practical skills and content, not just theory. The latest QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey ranked employers’ overall satisfaction with UOW graduates at 89.6%, placing UOW 1st among NSW universities.
UOW is consistently rated in the top 200 universities in the world for the quality of our graduates (QS 2020).
My degrees at UOW have me many opportunities to gain insight into the world of research. I had opportunities to be involved in local and international collaborations, conduct research at state-of-the-art international facilities, and attend conferences to present my research and network with professionals in the field.
Women in STEMReceive strong support from the Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Student Society and mentors.
Be extraordinaryUOWx recognises the valuable knowledge and skills our students gain when they participate in the wide range of co-curricular activities offered outside of their academic coursework.
UOW lecturer and international researcher Associate Professor Susanna Guatelli, and Medical and Radiation Physics graduate Sarah Vogel speak to us about what drives their interest in physics—and where a physics degree can take you.
I was interested in physics since I was young. I loved astronomy mainly. And I think that travelled through mine enjoyment of science through high school. My favourite subjects throughout HSC was probably maths and I thought that I wanted to still do something that helped people.
Physics is the study of nature, and it is very thrilling.
It always inspired my curiosity to try to understand how our world, but also the universe at work. Physics is very different at university than it is in high school, and high school physics is very narrow. And the actual world of physics is far more broader and way more interesting.
I loved the challenge to develop with the technology of tomorrow to solve problems which should go from human missions to Mars to fight against cancer down to climate change.
A lot of the lecturers that we have have been into the industry or worked as part of medical physics or even just in the physics field before coming in and teaching.
They have the opportunity to work with the top researchers at UOW, but also to use the ongoing fruitful collaboration with the industry. Hospitals in Wollongong, in Sydney, we the ANSTO and CISRO.
My research has enabled me to go to a lot of different places and do different things. And one of those places is the synchrotron in Melbourne. And I really enjoy the research that we're able to do down there.
Students can use our international collaboration. So for example, I collaborate with CERN in the United States. We have a collaboration so with the Massachusetts General Hospital. So the students can use a very international cutting edge research environment.
I come back every day because I know that or I believe that what I'm doing will be useful and will change the lives of people. Maybe not next year or five years, but I do believe that in 10 years we should be able to see a better and more effective treatment. The really difficult to treat cancers. And that's something that I'm really proud of to be a part of.
Admissions
UOW has a range of admissions options available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. We are here to support your choices and open doors, so you can graduate ready for your future career.
Scholarships
More than 200 scholarships are on offer to UOW students each year, rewarding academic or sporting excellence or community contributions.
Moving to Wollongong
From a hike in the mountains, to a swim in the ocean and all the food, shopping and culture nestled in between, there’s always something happening in Wollongong.