Study physics to develop critical skills and apply logical reasoning to a wide range of careers and industries.
You will cultivate independent and analytical thinking, learning to understand the world through the study of matter, energy, and their interactions in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Pursuing a physics degree could be the beginning of a rewarding research career in physics or related fields including meteorology, informatics, or software engineering. Alternatively, you can leverage your advanced analytical and problem-solving skills in business, government, or education. Our graduates have gone onto a range of careers, including physicists, data scientists, astrophysicists, and quantum computing scientists and engineers.
Industry/market salary guide
$80,000
average salary of early career physicist with 1-4 years experience
Source: PayScale, 2024
Where do our graduates go?
Job titles include: Physicist, data scientist, researcher, teacher, lecturer or professor, materials scientist, patent examiner, securities analyst, quantitative risk manager, algorithmic trader, and astronomer.
Employers can include: State and federal government departments including the Bureau of Meteorology or Australian Bureau of Statistics, state treasuries, geopolitical and strategic policy institutes and Department of Defence, Deloitte, IBM, IRESS, Quantium, ANZ, NAB, higher education universities, public research institutions, CSIRO, research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, teaching hospitals, and medical research institutes.
The difference between undergrad and graduate study is enormous. There’s so much more work, but it’s also so much more enjoyable because it’s content that you’re passionate about and really want to get to know. The environment that you’re studying in is different as well. In undergrad there are lots of students and you sort of feel alone in a big crowd, but in masters there’s a smaller group and you can all collaborate. It’s a really nice environment to get to know your peers and work together on things. Kaih Mitchell
Get your career started
Whether you’re inspired by the beauty of the cosmos and want to reveal its mysteries or interested in examining the smallest particles ever observed using the world’s largest machines – physics is for you.
Studying physics at the University of Melbourne allows you to integrate knowledge and equips you with the tools to think critically about the world around you and how it works. Our industry-aligned curriculum and real-world application of learning from classroom to industry means our graduates are in-demand and prepared for employment from day one.
Study physics