School of Physics

The School of Physics is a leader in the areas of medical radiation physics, condensed matter physics, terahertz science and technology, superconductivity, quantum technologies and photonics. The school has vibrant partnerships with top research institutions and universities from around the world in these areas.

Our degrees are taught by academics at the forefront of their disciplines and fields of research, and are accredited by the Australian Institute of Physics. Additionally, our medical and radiation physics programs hold accreditation from ACPSEM and CAMPEP. We will make sure you get more than a theoretical education. Through our strong connections with industry leaders like ANSTO and CSIRO, you'll benefit from practical industry experience integrated into your academic journey.

Find out where a physics degree can take you

UOW lecturer and international researcher 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.

Study physics

I was interested in physics since I was young. I loved astronomy mainly. And I think that travelled through my enjoyment of science throughout high school.

My favourite subject throughout the HSC was probably maths, and I still wanted to do something that helped people.

Physics is the study of nature, and it's thrilling. It has always inspired my curiosity to try to understand how the world or the universe works.

Physics is very different at university than it is in high school, where it's very narrow. The actual world of physics is far more broader and way more interesting.

I love the challenge of developing technology for tomorrow. To solve problems, ranging from sending human missions to Mars, to fighting against cancer and climate change.

A lot of our lecturers have been in industry or worked as part of medical physics been active in the field of physics before coming to teach.

Students have the opportunity to work with top researchers at UOW and also use our ongoing fruitful collaborations with industry, hospitals in Wollongong or Sydney, ANSTO, CSIRO.

My research has enabled me to go to many places and do different things such as work at the Synchrotron in Melbourne.

And I really enjoyed the research that we were able to do down there.

Students can access our international collaborations. For example, I collaborate with CERN in Switzerland or in the US with the Massachusetts General Hospital.

So students can be part of a very international cutting-edge research environment.

I come back every day because I know what I'm doing is useful and will change the lives of people. Maybe not next year or in five years.

But I do believe in ten years we will be able to see better and more effective treatments for really difficult-to-treat cancers.

And that's something I'm really proud to be part of.