Physics is the foundation of all natural sciences. It seeks to understand the fundamental principles that govern the universe—from the tiniest particles to the vastness of space and time. Studying physics develops critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep curiosity about how the world works.

At its core, physics challenges us to ask big questions: Why does gravity work the way it does? How does energy move through a system? What are the building blocks of matter? These questions don’t just inspire—they lead to breakthroughs in technology, medicine, energy, and engineering.

A physics degree opens doors to a wide range of careers. Whether you're interested in research, data science, finance, teaching, or cutting-edge tech industries, the analytical and quantitative skills you gain are highly valued across sectors.

Join us to explore the laws of nature, push the boundaries of human knowledge, and prepare for a future where you can shape the world in meaningful ways.

Physicists end up in all sorts of interesting jobs and are virtually never unemployed, because of their broad training and adaptability. In particular they are needed at the start of new technologies and machines, or in particularly challenging projects such as space missions, remote explorations, and failure assessment.

As a working physicist you may find yourself: trying to predict the stock market on Wall Street, testing satellites for space missions, developing new materials for industry, developing new electronic devices and components, doing medical physics in a hospital, teaching the next generation of physicists in a high school, trying to predict the next major earthquakes to hit San Francisco or Japan, developing flight simulation software, optimizing industrial manufacturing or transformation processes, developing a new measurement instrument, performing materials testing and characterization for special applications, launching a new software company or product, performing urban planning and optimization, etc.

Graduates from the University of Ottawa over recent years have gone into various industrial and government laboratories such as Bell-Northern Research and the National Research Council, Mitel, Communications Research Center and the National Optics Institute; have gained employment with specialized companies working in the space industry such as Spar Aerospace; have started their own consulting companies; and have become physics teachers from the high-school to the university level.