What is the difference between theoretical and experimental physics?

The fundamental distinction between theoretical and experimental physics is that theoretical physics seeks to understand physical phenomena through the development of mathematical and computational theories, whereas experimental physics engages with experiments to test these theories.

What are some popular destinations for pursuing a degree in theoretical physics?

The popular countries to study theoretical physics are the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan, France, Israel, and the Netherlands.

Is theoretical physics a good career choice?

Yes, for those who are extremely talented in the field of physics and mathematics, theoretical physics is an excellent career choice.

Is it hard to get a job as a theoretical physicist?

Becoming a theoretical physicist requires a lot of research and dedication. Most employers prefer candidates with a P.h.D as well as multiple post-doctoral degrees.

Best Theoretical Physics Universities in 2022-2023

Top global colleges and universities offering Theoretical Physics programs

About Theoretical Physics

Physics is a fascinating subject, particularly theoretical physics, which develops our fundamental understanding of the universe and lays the foundations of future. Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that explains, predicts, and rationalizes theorized physical laws using mathematical models and computer protocols. Theoretical physicists or mathematical physicists are professionals in this discipline who develop these theories to explain the complicated interactions between matter and energy that make up this universe.

Theoretical physics, unlike other sciences, does not rely on experiments to collect data; instead, it develops theories based on observations and computations. This field is perfect for someone who enjoys physics in general, has considerable knowledge of physics and mathematics, and is willing to spend years learning and researching. The following content discusses the best colleges for theoretical physics in the world, the top programs offered by these colleges, and the salary and job outlook for theoretical physicists.

Duties of Theoretical Physicists

Theoretical physicists deal with the “thought experiments”, i.e., the situations created in one’s mind rather than conducting actual experiments. These experiments attempt to solve not readily experienced in everyday situations such as time dilation, gravitational waves, etc. Therefore their duties and responsibilities vary greatly. Some of the most common duties performed by theoretical physicists can be summarized as follows:

Conduct research to explain physical phenomena using mathematical and computational models
Devise theories based on the observations and calculations
Publish their research and findings
Study the currently accepted theories as well as challenge and refine them
Develop computer methods and software for the development of new theories
Collaborate with other theoretical physicists for the advancement of the field
Contribute to research in theoretical physics through peer-reviewed journals and articles
Teach advanced theories and research in the theoretical physics to fellow students
Design scientific equipment for advancement of research
Keep up with the latest research and developments in the field of physics

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Theoretical Physics

Students begin their journey to become theoretical physicists with a bachelor’s degree in physics or mathematics which provides a strong foundation for their education. To advance their knowledge, they must obtain a specialized master’s degree in appropriate fields such as astrophysics or computational physics. After completing their master’s degree, the majority of students pursue a Ph.D. in order to engage in research and academia. The last step is to obtain a post-doctoral research degree, which is required for full-time employment as a mathematician or applied physicist.

Bachelor’s programs

B.Sc. in Theoretical Physics
B.S. in Physics
B.S. in Mathematics

Master’s programs

M.S. in Theoretical Physics
M.Sc. in Physics
M.S. in Mathematics
M.S. in Physical and Chemical Sciences: Theoretical Physics
M.Sc. in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics
MS. in Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics
M.Sc. in Theoretical and Computational Physics
MS. in Technical Physics
M.Sc. in Physics and Computational Physics

Doctoral programs

Ph.D. in theoretical Physics
Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics
Ph.D. in Physics

Specializations in Theoretical Physics

The field of theoretical physics is vast, and there is always something new to discover. The goal of theoretical physics is to establish scientific hypotheses about the nature of time and the origin of the universe. Considering this, a prospective theoretical physicist can specialize in one of the following areas:

Quantum field theory
String theory
Dark matter
Relativity
Electrodynamics
Quantum mechanics
Thermodynamics
Nuclear physics
High-energy particle physics
Computational physics
Condensed matter physics

Duration of programs in Theoretical Physics

A theoretical physicist normally requires a doctorate in physics or mathematics, post-doctoral experience, and several years of learning and experience. A Ph.D. in theoretical physics can take four to seven years to complete. After earning a Ph.D., most people pursue post-doctoral research degrees for further training in the field that spans two to three years.

Country	Bachelor’s Degree	Master’s Degree	Doctoral Degree	Post-Doctoral Research Degree
USA and Canada	4 years	2 years	5-7 years	2-3 years
UK	3-4 years	1-2 years	4-7 years	2-3 years
Others	3-4 years	1-2 years	4-7 years	2-3 years

Career opportunities in Theoretical Physics

Theoretical physicists contribute significantly to the growth of our society by expanding our knowledge of nature and the complicated connection between matter and energy. Individuals working in this sector have the potential to provide useful expertise to a variety of industries. Some popular career options in theoretical physics are

Physicist
Theoretical physicist
Mathematical physicist
Scientific journalist
Consultant
Data analyst
Applications engineer
Professor

Average salaries for Theoretical Physicists

The job market for theoretical physicists appears to be promising, due to continuous advances in science and technology. They work for the government, the private sector, and universities. The following is a list of theoretical physicist salaries, broken down by entry-level, average, and experience levels.

Country	*Entry-level salary in USD/year**	*Average salary in USD/year**	*Senior-level salary in USD/year**
Canada	54,288 (Salary Expert)	76,894 (Salary Expert)	95,357 (Salary Expert)
Australia	53,838 (Salary Expert)	76,131 (Salary Expert)	94,565 (Salary Expert)
UK	44,488 (Salary Expert)	63,012 (Salary Expert)	78,143 (Salary Expert)
USA	66,500 (Salary Expert)	94,190 (Salary Expert)	116,807 (Salary Expert)
Germany	50,418 (Salary Expert)	71,410 (Salary Expert)	88,557 (Salary Expert)
Japan	46,000 (Salary Expert)	65,252 (Salary Expert)	80,799 (Salary Expert)

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Top 50 universities in the world for Theoretical Physics based on subject rankings

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
1	4	5	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
2	7	1	University of Oxford	UK	Click Here	Click Here
3	2	4	Stanford University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
3	3	5	University of Cambridge	UK	Click Here	Click Here
5	1	2	Harvard University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
6	9	2	California Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
7	25	12	Imperial College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
10	10	10	University of Chicago	USA	Click Here	Click Here
13	15	13	University of Pennsylvania	USA	Click Here	Click Here
14	11	9	Yale University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
19	8	11	Columbia University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
20	6	7	Princeton University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
21	12	22	Cornell University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
23	24	35	University of Tokyo	Japan	Click Here	Click Here
26	22	18	University of Toronto	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
27	67	44	McGill University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
27	76	54	Australian National University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
32	5	8	University of California – Berkeley	USA	Click Here	Click Here
33	37	61	Kyoto University	Japan	Click Here	Click Here
35	47	35	King’s College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
37	33	33	University of Melbourne	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
38	69	58	University of Sydney	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
40	14	20	University of California – Los Angeles	USA	Click Here	Click Here
42	27	26	New York University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
43	65	70	University of New South Wales	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
46	42	37	University of British Columbia	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
47	51	54	University of Queensland	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
63	57	42	Heidelberg University – Germany	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
64	48	32	University of Munich	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
67	41	47	University of Texas at Austin	USA	Click Here	Click Here
78	97	158	Moscow State University	Russia	Click Here	Click Here
82	55	48	University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign	USA	Click Here	Click Here
82	301-400	162	Durham University	UK	Click Here	Click Here
85	19	29	University of Washington – Seattle	USA	Click Here	Click Here
108	101-150	111	University of Adelaide	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
110	50	69	Utrecht University	Netherlands	Click Here	Click Here
117	201-300	117	Queen Mary University of London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
128	NA	74	Humboldt University of Berlin	Germany	Click Here	Click Here
130	38	301-350	École Normale Supérieure	France	Click Here	Click Here
146	57	68	University of California – Santa Barbara	USA	Click Here	Click Here
149	151-200	201-250	University of Waterloo	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
158	56	93	University of Maryland – College Park	USA	Click Here	Click Here
171	151-200	197	Sapienza University of Rome	Italy	Click Here	Click Here
207	101-150	201-250	Free University of Brussels	Belgium	Click Here	Click Here
255	151-200	201-250	Tel Aviv University	Israel	Click Here	Click Here
264	101-150	190	Rutgers University – New Brunswick	USA	Click Here	Click Here
290	201-300	201-250	Griffith University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
NA	801-900	NA	International School for Advanced Studies	Italy	Click Here	Click Here
NA	92	NA	Weizmann Institute of Science	Israel	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in the USA for Theoretical Physics

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for all physicists, including theoretical physicists, is projected to grow by 9% between 2020 and 2030. This is the best chance for international students to study in the USA. According to ranking agencies such as QS, Shanghai, and THE, institutions in the United States that offer theoretical physics courses are among the top ten universities in the world. They provide a variety of doctoral and graduate programs in theoretical physics. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Department of Defense are two of the country’s largest employers of theoretical physicists. They even hire candidates for assistant research and technical positions, even those with bachelor’s degrees in theoretical physics.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
1	4	5	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
3	2	4	Stanford University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
5	1	2	Harvard University	USA	Click Here	Click Here
6	9	2	California Institute of Technology	USA	Click Here	Click Here
10	10	10	University of Chicago	USA	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in the UK for Theoretical Physics

Studying in the UK is the next best option for international students as research in physics and astronomy-related subjects is at a high level in the UK. The top universities in the UK offer the following master’s courses in theoretical physics:

M.Sc. in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics (University of Oxford)
M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics (King’s College London)
M.Sc. in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces (Imperial College London)
M.Sci. in Physics with Theoretical Physics (Imperial College London)
M.Phys. in Theoretical Physics (Durham University)

These UK universities also offer bachelor’s courses in theoretical physics, like

B.Sc. in Physics with Theoretical Physics (Imperial College London)
B.Sc. in Physics (Durham University)

In addition to these courses, the top UK universities are famous for their research-oriented degrees like Ph.D. and post-doctoral degrees in theoretical physics.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
2	7	1	University of Oxford	UK	Click Here	Click Here
3	3	5	University of Cambridge	UK	Click Here	Click Here
7	25	12	Imperial College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
35	47	35	King’s College London	UK	Click Here	Click Here
82	301-400	162	Durham University	UK	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in Australia for Theoretical Physics

Many international students choose to study in Australia because of the country’s long history of welcoming overseas students. It also boasts one of the world’s highest immigrant rates. Doctoral and graduate studies in theoretical physics make up the majority of theoretical physics programs in Australia, with post-doctoral research jobs available at several universities. The following is a list of some of Australia’s top universities that offer master’s and bachelor’s degrees in theoretical physics.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
27	76	54	Australian National University	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
37	33	33	University of Melbourne	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
38	69	58	University of Sydney	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
43	65	70	University of New South Wales	Australia	Click Here	Click Here
47	51	54	University of Queensland	Australia	Click Here	Click Here

Top universities in Canada for Theoretical Physics

Because of its high level of life, economic freedom, and great educational programs, many international students opt to study in Canada. Conventional courses such as physics have broadened their scope in Canada. Doctoral and postgraduate degrees in theoretical physics are in more demand since they pay well. The following is a list of some of Canada’s best universities that offer master’s and bachelor’s degrees in theoretical physics.

QS Ranking	Shanghai Ranking	THE Ranking	University	Country	Bachelor’s Programs	Master’s Programs
26	22	18	University of Toronto	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
27	67	44	McGill University	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
46	42	37	University of British Columbia	Canada	Click Here	Click Here
149	151-200	201-250	University of Waterloo	Canada	Click Here	Click Here

Academic requirements for studying Theoretical Physics

Theoretical physicists attempt to invent and study theories to explain phenomena beyond current experiments using mathematical calculations and computational tools. Therefore, students interested in theoretical physics should have a broad understanding of physics, mathematics, and computational science. This will assist students in being accepted into the top universities in the world. Following is a list of academic requirements offered by some of the best universities offering courses in theoretical physics.

Bachelor’s level

A high school education with a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, including mathematics and physics, as core classes
Academic transcripts
Valid passport
ACT score (varies from university to university)
Statement of purpose
Recommendation letter
English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

Master’s level

A bachelor’s degree in theoretical physics, mathematics or a relevant field with a GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale)
Academic transcripts
Valid passport
GRE score (varies from university to university)
Statement of purpose
Recommendation letters
Work experience (highly recommended)
Research publications
English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

Doctoral level

Honours or master’s degree in theoretical physics, mathematics or a relevant field with a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
Academic transcripts
Valid passport
Statement of purpose
Recommendation letters
Work experience (highly recommended)
Research publications
Personal interview
English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.