Physics

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Physics

About the Program

The domain of physics ranges from its origins in natural philosophy to the investigations of complex biological systems. Combining the power of mathematics with the art of precision experiments, Physics discovers the mechanisms that interconnect many different aspects of nature. A physics background with its emphasis on quantitative problem solving enhances future employment opportunities in scientific research and teaching, biomedical professions, biotech and environmental organizations, industrial research and development, electronics and engineering companies, informatics and computer-related enterprises, or financial institutions.

Degree

Honours Bachelor of Science

Program Options

Major, Minor

After completing your first year, you'll be asked to confirm what program(s) you wish to study – your Programs of Study. They can be integrated in unique ways to obtain your U of T degree, but must be one of the following three combinations: one Specialist; or two Majors; or one Major and two Minors. You don't need to worry about that now, but if you'd like to learn more about this process, watch our handy video (7 min).

Admission Requirements

You apply to an admission category, which is a collection of similar programs. Once you've accepted an offer of admission to our campus, we go into greater detail about specific program and course selection options.

At the end of your first year, you will choose your program(s), which means that your first year is an excellent opportunity to explore the full breadth of offerings.

Regardless of what you study, remember that you will receive a prestigious University of Toronto degree when you graduate that tells everyone that you are ranked among the best in the world!

OUAC Application Code
TMW
Program Course Prerequisites
English, Calculus, Advanced Functions, Physics
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Approximate Competitive Average
Mid to High 70s

The admission average is calculated with English (ENG4U) plus the next best five Grade 12 U or M courses. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee you admission to the University. Admission is subject to space availability and competition.

The content in this section is based on requirements in the Ontario curriculum.

Find requirements to other common curricula:

Please visit the Admissions section of our site for full requirements.

Discover Your Potential

Mount Everest

On the afternoon of April 15, 2015, an earthquake rocked the Himalayas, causing widespread death and damage across Nepal, India and Tibet. The magnitude 7.8 quake—the strongest ever recorded in the region—rattled glaciers and ice falls along a ridge just to the west of Mount Everest.

Polar Bear

A major shift in western Arctic wind patterns occurred throughout the winter of 2017 and the resulting changes in sea ice movement are possible indicators of a changing climate, says Kent Moore, a professor of physics at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Tianyi Ma

A new study from the University of Toronto aims to a unravel the mystery of why some tuberculosis cases fail to respond to medical treatment.

Student Experience

Courses You Would Love

Sonometer

The analysis of vibrating systems and wave motion, introducing mathematical techniques such as complex numbers, eigenvalue problems, and Fourier series. Topics include: travelling waves; propagation of electromagnetic waves in materials.

Thermometer

An introduction to equilibrium thermodynamics with application to ideal and non-ideal systems: covering the concepts of work and heat, the laws of thermodynamics, internal energy, enthalpy and entropy, the chemical potential, and states of matter.

A-B Testing

A modular practical course that develops the experimental and computational skills necessary to get deeper insight in physical phenomena. Selected physics experiments and modeling that illustrate important principles of physics are applied.

Planning Ahead

Whether you want to land your dream job, conduct groundbreaking research, or start your own business, we can get you there. Here are resources to help you explore your career options.

Career Options

Created by our Career Centre, the Careers by Major database identifies some potential career fields, how to gain related skills and experience, and useful resources and job samples. But always remember, your program of study doesn't have to determine your career!

Program Plans

Program Plans are quick and accessible overviews of the many academic and co-curricular opportunities available to help you get the most out of your UTM experience.

Tip Sheets

The Career Centre offers dozens of tip sheets with helpful information about topics related to searching for work, planning your career, and pursuing further education.

View to the U: An eye on UTM research

View to the U is a podcast that features U of T Mississauga faculty members from a range of disciplines who will illuminate some of the inner-workings of the science labs and enlighten the social sciences and humanities hubs at UTM.

Lindsay Schoenbohm

On this episode, Professor Lindsay Schoenbohm talks about her work that uses the landscape to read tectonics, with tectonics being the process that affect the properties and the structure of the Earth’s crust and its evolution over time. We also cover some of the faraway locales she has travelled to in order to conduct her fieldwork – venturing most commonly to ‘seismically active parts of the world,’ where earthquakes can occur – as well as some of the more exciting and memorable trips that have occurred over the course of her academic career.

Other Programs to Consider

Astronomical Sciences

Astronomical Sciences

Astronomical Sciences studies the vast universe beyond Earth, discovering objects and phenomena that do not exist on Earth or in the solar system, such as planets orbiting other stars, black holes and forms of mass and energy that cannot be seen even though they form 95% of the universe. To study these objects, astronomical sciences integrates the methods and knowledge of all the other sciences.

Earth Science

Earth Science

Earth Science is the discipline that studies our planet and all of its natural environments. Our program offers training in both critical streams of Earth Science: Resources & Tectonics and Earth, Climate & Life. Through our program, students become well equipped to understand the causes and consequences of radical shifts already underway in Earth’s climate system.