RENZO DIAZ — Reference library
IB Requirements for Physics Degrees: UK and European Universities (2027 Entry)
2 min readBy Renzo DiazLast reviewed October 7, 2026
A physics degree asks for Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level, and Mathematics is where the course choice bites: Warwick and Edinburgh take Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) only, Cambridge expects AA for Natural Sciences (Physical), and Imperial prefers it, while Oxford and UCL accept Applications and Interpretation (AI) at HL. Cambridge asks for 41–42 points with 776 at HL, Oxford 39 with 766, Imperial a minimum of 40 with 7s in HL Mathematics and Physics. In continental Europe, ETH, EPFL and TUM teach physics in German or French, and TU Delft's Applied Physics, taught in Dutch, requires AA and Physics at HL.
This page gathers what six UK physics programmes and five continental universities ask of an IB Diploma student entering in 2027, from each university's own pages. With computer science, physics is the subject in this series where AA is asked for most often.
Each row is a starting point. Read the page of your own programme and year before choosing subjects.
For a physics degree, the Mathematics course is a condition as often as the Physics grade.
Key takeaways
- Both sciences at HL: every UK physics programme checked requires Mathematics at HL, and all but Cambridge require Physics at HL as well.
- AA matters most here: 3 of 6 UK programmes require or expect AA, 1 prefers it, 2 accept AI.
- Tests are fewer: the ESAT at Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial; UCL, Warwick and Edinburgh set none.
- In Europe, language first: physics bachelors at ETH, EPFL, TUM and TU Delft are taught in German, French or Dutch.
Six UK physics programmes, side by side
The IB requirement, the Mathematics and Physics conditions, the A-level offer for comparison, and the admissions test of each programme, as the course page states them for 2027 entry. At Cambridge, physics is studied within Natural Sciences.
| University | Programme | IB requirement | Mathematics | Physics | A-level offer | Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Natural Sciences (Physical) | 41–42 points, 776 at HL; most IB entrants had at least 43 | AA expected, at HL | Not required; advised | A*A*A, Maths and two sciences | ESAT |
| Oxford | Physics | 39 with core, 766 at HL, the 7 in Physics or Maths | AA or AI at HL | At HL | A*AA, Maths and Physics | ESAT and interview |
| Imperial | Physics | Minimum 40, with 6 in a third HL subject; typical 42 | AA preferred, 7 at HL | 7 at HL | A*A*A, A* in Maths and Physics | ESAT |
| UCL | Physics | 39; 19 at HL | AA or AI; 7 and 6 in Maths and Physics, either order | At HL, with Maths | A*AA, A*A in Maths and Physics | None |
| Warwick | Physics | 38 | AA only, 6 at HL | 6 at HL | A*AA, Maths and Physics | None |
| Edinburgh | Physics | Recent offers 37 (666) to 32 (655) | AA only, 6 at HL | 5 at HL | AAA to ABB | None |
Sources: each university's course page for 2027 entry, read 7 October 2026 (Oxford's AA/AI rule from its international qualifications page). Imperial's typical offer is based on its 2025 entrants; Edinburgh publishes the range of recent offers. Contextual offers are left out.
What the UK offers have in common
Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level are the base of every offer. Cambridge is the exception on Physics: Natural Sciences asks for Mathematics and two other sciences or mathematics subjects, and advises that Physical Sciences is best for students who have studied Physics and Mathematics.
The Mathematics course matters as much here as in computer science, and more than in engineering or economics. Warwick and Edinburgh accept AA only; Cambridge expects AA for the Physical route; Imperial accepts AI but prefers AA; Oxford and UCL accept either. A student with AI HL who wants to study physics keeps Oxford, UCL and Imperial, and closes the other three.
The ESAT is set by Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial, with Mathematics 1 and 2 and Physics at Oxford and Imperial; UCL, Warwick and Edinburgh set no test for physics. What the ESAT covers beyond the IB is in ESAT for IB students.
Minimum and typical
Imperial and Cambridge report the gap
Imperial's Physics sets a minimum of 40 points and reports a typical offer of 42. Cambridge's minimum for Natural Sciences is 41–42, and most of its IB entrants achieved at least 43 points or 777 at Higher Level.
Physics in continental Europe
The continental universities checked teach their physics bachelors in German, French, Dutch or Italian, so the language comes before the grades. Their IB conditions apply to the whole university.
| University | Programme | IB condition | Teaching language | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETH Zurich | Physics | 38 of 42 without bonus; Maths (AA or AI), a science and a Language A at HL | German; English lectures may start from the second or third year | Admission on the IB rule; otherwise a reduced entrance exam |
| EPFL | Physics | 38 of 42; Maths and Physics at HL with at least 6; chemistry, biology or computer science at HL | French, B2 required | Places capped, ranked by IB points |
| TUM | Physics | German IB rule: Maths at HL for science, at least 4 in every subject | German | Open admission, no selection |
| TU Delft | Applied Physics | AA at HL and Physics at HL | Dutch | Regular admission |
| Politecnico di Milano | Physics Engineering | Italian rule: the Diploma with 24 points, 12 at HL | Italian only at bachelor level | Admission test |
Sources: ETH's country list for 2026/27 and its Physics programme page, EPFL's current admission criteria, the German agreement on the IB Diploma (KMK, 2023) and TUM's programme page, TU Delft's diploma requirements and bachelor list, Politecnico di Milano's programme page; read 7 October 2026.
How to plan the IB for a physics degree
Three decisions, in order
Take Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level
Every UK programme here and the continental rules need HL Mathematics; all but Cambridge name HL Physics.
Take AA unless your list is only Oxford, UCL and Imperial
Warwick, Edinburgh, Cambridge's Physical route and TU Delft ask for AA; AI keeps three of the six UK programmes open.
Plan for the ESAT if Cambridge, Oxford or Imperial is on the list
It is sat in the final year, and its Mathematics 2 and Physics modules go beyond parts of the IB syllabus.
Terms used in this article
- AA and AI
- The two IB Mathematics courses: Analysis and Approaches, built around algebra, calculus and proof, and Applications and Interpretation, built around modelling and statistics.
- Natural Sciences
- Cambridge's degree for the sciences, in which physics is studied; applicants choose a Physical or Biological route.
- 766 and 776 at HL
- Grades of 7, 6 and 6, or 7, 7 and 6, in the three Higher Level subjects.
- ESAT
- The Engineering and Science Admissions Test, used by Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and UCL for some science and engineering courses.
Questions about IB requirements for physics degrees
What IB score do you need for physics at Oxford?
39 points including core, with 766 at Higher Level and the 7 in Physics or Mathematics. Oxford expects Physics and Mathematics at HL, accepts either Mathematics course at HL, and sets the ESAT.
Can I study physics with IB Math AI?
At Oxford, UCL and Imperial. Oxford and UCL accept AI at HL with no preference and Imperial prefers AA; Warwick, Edinburgh and TU Delft take AA only, and Cambridge expects AA for Natural Sciences (Physical).
Do I need IB Physics HL for a physics degree?
At almost every university checked. Oxford, Imperial, UCL, Warwick, Edinburgh, EPFL and TU Delft require it at HL; Cambridge's Natural Sciences does not strictly require Physics but advises it for the Physical route.
Can I study physics in English in continental Europe?
Not at the universities checked, at bachelor level. ETH teaches in German, with English lectures possible from the second or third year, EPFL in French, TUM in German, TU Delft's Applied Physics in Dutch and Politecnico di Milano's Physics Engineering in Italian.
Written by
Teaching IB since 2016. Seven years of IB reviews you can check on Google — and named results with the documents behind them.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Sources
Every requirement comes from the university's own course or admissions page, or from the national body named, read on 7 October 2026 for entry in 2027 (ETH and EPFL: their current rules). Check the page for your programme and year before relying on it.
- University of Cambridge — Natural Sciences, entry requirements
- University of Oxford — Physics
- University of Oxford — International qualifications (IB)
- Imperial College London — Physics BSc
- UCL — Physics BSc
- University of Warwick — BSc Physics
- University of Edinburgh — Physics, entry requirements
- ETH Zurich — Physics bachelor programme
- EPFL — Bachelor admission criteria
- TUM — Physics BSc
- TU Delft — Specific diploma requirements