Bachelor of Science majoring in Theoretical Physics

Undergraduate

Degree hero banner
Mode icon
Mode
On campus
Duration icon
Duration
3 year(s) full-time
Program code icon
Program code
BSCIE
Study as icon
Study as
Full time or part time
Fees
Indicative annual fees
SATAC code icon
SATAC code
Prerequisites icon
Prerequisite
None
Assumed knowledge icon
Assumed knowledge
None
Entry scores icon
Entry scores
2025 CUT-OFFS Guaranteed entry score (Grades-based):B,B,B Guaranteed entry score (ATAR-based):70

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.

Secondary education (Year 12)

  • Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

  • Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.

Higher education study

  • Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.

Work and life experience

  • Completion of an Adelaide University approved enabling, pathway or bridging program; OR
  • A competitive result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); OR
  • Qualify for special entry.
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Note:

Please note that entry requirements for this degree are provisional and subject to change.

Additional Enrolment Information – FAQs | Adelaide University

Degree Structure: Bachelor of Science majoring in Theoretical Physics

Program code: BSCIE

Complete 144 units comprising:

  • 42 to 54 units for Core Courses, and
  • Either:
  • 30 to 90 units for one Major from Majors, or
  • 48 units from Discipline courses, and
  • 6 to 18 units for Work integrated learning, and
  • 0 to 48 units for Electives

Enrolment information

Find details about the rules and notes that apply to your program, along with other essential information required for successful enrolment. Supplementary supporting resources may also be provided where applicable.

Courses

Listed here are all the courses that contribute to your program, including elective options that can be chosen. These courses come together to form your study plan. Courses fall into different categories, each of which have specific unit values that need to be met under the program rules.

What courses you'll study

Complete 144 units comprising:

  • 42 to 54 units for Core Courses, and
  • Either:
  • 30 to 90 units for one Major from Majors, or
  • 48 units from Discipline courses, and
  • 6 to 18 units for Work integrated learning, and
  • 0 to 48 units for Electives

Complete 42 to 54 units comprising:

  • 6 to 12 units for all Program Core, and
  • 12 to 18 units from Common Core, and
  • 6 to 30 units from Core Selective

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Science of People, Society and the Future Planet
Course code
SCIE1001
Units
6
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Course name
Data Skills for Scientists
Course code
STAT1000
Units
6

Common core description

Common core courses are interdisciplinary courses that build key graduate capabilities.

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
Course code
COREX001
Units
6
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Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
Course code
COREX002
Units
6
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Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
Course code
COREX003
Units
6
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Course name
Transforming Learning through First Nations Knowledges
Course code
COREX004
Units
6
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Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
Course code
COREX005
Units
6
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Course name
Building Belonging: Navigating Cultural Complexities
Course code
COREX006
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Biology 1A: Molecules, Genes and Cells
Course code
BIOL1003
Units
6
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Course name
Biology 1B: Evolution and Diversity of Organisms
Course code
BIOL1004
Units
6
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Course name
Foundations in Chemistry
Course code
CHEM1000
Units
6
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Course name
Chemistry 1A
Course code
CHEM1002
Units
6
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Course name
Chemistry 1B
Course code
CHEM1003
Units
6
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Course name
Planet Earth
Course code
EART1000
Units
6
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Course name
Earth, Climate and Life Systems
Course code
EART1012
Units
6
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Course name
Foundations in Mathematics
Course code
MATH1000
Units
6
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Course name
Calculus 1
Course code
MATH1004
Units
6
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Course name
Calculus 2
Course code
MATH1005
Units
6
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Course name
Foundations in Physics
Course code
PHYS1000
Units
6
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Course name
Physics 1A
Course code
PHYS1001
Units
6
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Course name
Physics 1B
Course code
PHYS1002
Units
6
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Course name
Linear Algebra
Course code
MATHX104
Units
6
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Course name
Differential Equations
Course code
MATHX202
Units
6

Notes

  • Program Core - Students in the following Majors will not enrol in STAT1000 Data Skills for Scientists:

    Computational Physics, Experimental Physics, Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Physics and Geophysics, Space Science and Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics

Complete exactly 54 units from the following:

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Linear Algebra
Course code
MATHX104
Units
6
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Course name
Calculus 2
Course code
MATH1005
Units
6
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Course name
Physics 1B
Course code
PHYS1002
Units
6
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Course name
Quantum Mechanics and Experimental Physics 2
Course code
PHYS2001
Units
6
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Course name
Multivariable Calculus
Course code
MATHX203
Units
6
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Course name
Electromagnetism 2
Course code
PHYS2002
Units
6
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Course name
Classical Physics 2
Course code
PHYS2004
Units
6
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Course name
Electromagnetism, Quantum and Statistical Mechanics
Course code
PHYS3002
Units
12

Notes

  • The courses PHYS1001 Physics 1A, PHYS1002 Physics 1B, MATH1004 Calculus 1, MATH1005 Calculus 2 and MATHX104 Linear Algebra all require students to have passed certain SACE Stage 2 subjects, or equivalent subjects, to be eligible to enrol. Please see the course information webpages for prerequisite and/or assumed knowledge details. Foundational pathways are available to students without this background, which may increase the duration of the program beyond 3 years. Please contact the Science Program Director to discuss specific enrolment advice based on your previous study.

Work Integrated Learning description

WIL courses give you real‑world experience as part of your degree.

Complete 6 to 18 units comprising:

  • One of the following:
  • 12 units from Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry and Pure and Applied Chemistry work integrated learning, or
  • 12 units for all Animal Behaviour work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Animal Science work integrated learning, or
  • 18 units for all Biochemistry and Biotechnology work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Computational Physics work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Ecology and Marine and Wildlife Conservation work integrated learning, or
  • 12 units for all Environmental and Geospatial Science and Environmental Science work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Evolutionary Biology work integrated learning, or
  • 12 units for all Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Experimental Physics work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Food Science and Technology work integrated learning, or
  • 18 units from Genetics work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Geology and Geology and Earth Resources work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Geology and Palaeontology work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Geophysics work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Medicinal and Biological Chemistry work integrated learning, or
  • 18 units for all Microbiology and Immunology work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units from Nuclear and Radiation Physics and Theoretical Physics work integrated learning, or
  • 12 units for all Physics and Geophysics work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Plant Biology work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Soil Science work integrated learning, or
  • 6 units for all Space Science and Astrophysics work integrated learning, and
  • 0 to 6 units from Additional work integrated learning - Optional

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Organic Chemistry 3
Course code
CHEM3001
Units
6
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Course name
Inorganic Chemistry 3
Course code
CHEM3002
Units
6
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Course name
Physical Chemistry 3
Course code
CHEM3003
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
Course code
ANIM3900
Units
12

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Professional Skills in Animal Science
Course code
ANIM3005
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
Course code
BIOL2900
Units
6
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Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
Course code
BIOL3007
Units
6
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Course name
Biochemistry 3: Practical
Course code
BIOL3011
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Computational Physics
Course code
PHYSX300
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Research Methods: Ecology, Marine and Wildlife 3
Course code
BIOL3013
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Environmental and Geospatial Field Project
Course code
ENVI3014
Units
12

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Evolutionary Biology 3 Practical
Course code
BIOL3036
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Field Palaeontology 3
Course code
EART3002
Units
6
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Course name
Evolutionary Biology 3 Practical
Course code
BIOL3036
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Experimental Physics
Course code
PHYSX301
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Science Professional Placement
Course code
SCIE3900
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Genetics Practical 3B
Course code
BIOL2016
Units
6
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Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
Course code
BIOL2900
Units
6
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Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
Course code
BIOL3007
Units
6
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Course name
Genetics Practical 3A
Course code
BIOL3900
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Field Geoscience Program 3
Course code
EART3003
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Field Palaeontology 3
Course code
EART3002
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation
Course code
EART3004
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Organic Chemistry 3
Course code
CHEM3001
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
course icon
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
Course code
BIOL2900
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
Course code
BIOL3007
Units
6
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Course name
Microbiology and Immunology Practical 3
Course code
BIOL3012
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Computational Physics
Course code
PHYSX300
Units
6
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Course name
Experimental Physics
Course code
PHYSX301
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation
Course code
EART3004
Units
6
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Course name
Experimental Physics
Course code
PHYSX301
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Science Professional Placement
Course code
SCIE3900
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Landscape Evolution 3
Course code
EART3006
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Experimental Physics
Course code
PHYSX301
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Science Professional Placement
Course code
SCIE3900
Units
6

Electives description

A flexible course choice within your degree.

Complete 0 to 48 units comprising:

  • 0 to 48 units from Free Electives, and
  • 0 to 6 units from Program electives - Animal Science major

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Science Experience 3
Course code
SCIE3011
Units
6

Complete exactly 6 units from the following:

Course name Course code Units
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Course name
Advanced Dynamics and Relativity
Course code
PHYS3005
Units
6
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Course name
Solid State Physics 3
Course code
PHYS3006
Units
6
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Course name
Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Course code
PHYS3007
Units
6

Your program team

Dr Lorena Del Castillo

Program Director

College of Science

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

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