Physics Summer School
Join our Physics Undergraduate Summer School, gaining confidence and core skills while improving your academic prospects.
Summer School Programme 2025
Applications are now closed for summer 2025.
Register your interest for our Summer School 2026 Programme or contact summer@sussex.ac.uk if you have any questions.
About the school
The Physics Undergraduate Summer School has been running for over 20 years.
It's an intensive programme that uses small group sizes, dedicated laboratory classes, interactive engagement and concept focused learning to develop confidence and problem-solving skills at undergraduate level.
The Summer School Physics programme
- Video transcript
[Intro MUSIC: Fast paced pop rock]
[Video footage of ºìÐÓÊÓƵ campus from the air]
Hannah: I decided to study physics abroad here at the ºìÐÓÊÓƵ because we can get the full year of learning Physics completely immersed without worrying about other classes.
Ramneet: The ºìÐÓÊÓƵ has a great Physics programme, and I was really excited to learn in a place that has such renowned professors and research going on.
Alex: It's really hard to find the time to study abroad and be able to travel. So, this program just was very ideal for me because I was able to do all of Physics in eight weeks.
Sandeep: Doing physics in eight weeks is really challenging, but the ATs and professors here have been really supportive, and it really helps you develop your own study strategies to succeed. In the labs, you learn a lot of practical skills, and you get to use a lot of cool equipment as well. And even when I was traveling abroad during my breaks, you look around and you see physics everywhere.
Esmerelda: Our classes are really small, so it's easier to get more one-on-one attention. And I don't get as nervous when I ask a question because there's not 400 people in a class.
Alex: I've really enjoyed this campus. It's just very, very beautiful out here, and I've been going on runs, I've been going on hikes.
Ramneet: I've never had my own bathroom before, so I love my ensuite. I love living in the flat-style accommodations. My flatmates are amazing, and it gives me a lot of privacy being in my own room.
Sandeep: What's fantastic about being at Sussex is that you're literally at a prime location. You're super close to the pier, and you're less than an hour train ride away from London.
Student 1: The ºìÐÓÊÓƵ offers a lot of opportunities for trips and travel, so it's really cool that they have it organised for you already. You're traveling with a group; you're not gonna get lost.
Sandeep: I just came back from a trip from Spain and the Netherlands.
Hannah: I've been to Amsterdam. I've also been to Barcelona.
Philmon: I've been to France for three days, and I went to Iceland for two days.
Student 1: I would definitely recommend the physics program here. It is difficult, it is fast-paced, but in the end, it'll be worth it. If you just study for the short amount of time, then you can adventure, travel, and do whatever you want later on.
Esmerelda: Sussex is very quiet. There's cows outside my window. It's very cute, and I just love it.
[Outro MUSIC: Fast paced pop rock]
[Video footage of ºìÐÓÊÓƵ campus from the air]
Browse our modules
There are two modules: Introductory Physics 1 and Introductory Physics 2. Each module is a self-contained, credit-bearing unit of study. You will have a set of learning outcomes and assessments throughout.
Each module carries 15 credits and lasts for four weeks (one session). You take one module per session.
Session One
- Introductory Physics 1
Module code: ISP01
This calculus-based module will provide a firm foundation in physical concepts and principles, covering kinematics and dynamics, fluids, elasticity, wave motion, sound, ideal gases, heat and thermodynamics. Applications of physical concepts will be stressed, particularly those related to biological and medical phenomena as well as those forming the basis of much of modern technology. You gain further insight into the physics taught by carrying out a series of laboratory experiments and learning how to analyse and interpret the data.
Recommendation: This is an intensive module, requiring good mathematical skills, including algebra and trigonometry and a knowledge of vectors and of differential and integral calculus. We also recommend that you view our Maths preparation and . Please check with your home institution that your mathematics is at an appropriate level.
Note: This is an intensive academic module. For a 15-credit module taken over four weeks you need to do about 85 hours of self-study over and above the scheduled 65 contact hours. This means that you should be working for about 20-25 hours per week, on average, in addition to attending classes. You need to bear this in mind when planning trips and travel and outside class.
Learning outcomes:
- Have a basic knowledge of the physics topics covered in the course.
- Be able to solve physics problems at the appropriate level which requires use of this knowledge.
- Be able to demonstrate familiarity with simple scientific equipment, make accurate measurements, keep records of observations, analyse and interpret data and write scientific reports on experiments.
Teaching method: Laboratory, lectures and workshops
Assessment: 65% Exams, 25% Practical Laboratory Reports, 10% In-class tests
Contact hours: 82 hours, with 28 hours additional support, totalling 110 hours
Credits: 15 Sussex Credits
Level: 4
Labatory Fees: £300
Session Two
- Introductory Physics 2
Module code: ISP02
Note: You can only take Introductory Physics 2 if you have completed Introductory Physics 1.
This calculus-based module will provide a firm foundation in physical concepts and principles, covering electric forces and electric fields, continuous charge distributions, Gauss’s Law, electric potential, capacitance and dielectrics, current and resistance, DC circuits, magnetic fields, force on a charge moving in a magnetic field, charged p