The third year of the Bachelor's degree in Physics at the Faculty of Sciences of Paris Saclay University (L3 Physics) is a generalist course, ranging from fundamental physics to applications in many fields. It provides the broadest possible access to various Master's degrees in Physics and admission on the basis of qualifications to the first year of many engineering schools.
The content of this programme is balanced between:
- compulsory courses enabling students to acquire knowledge in fundamental and applied physics
- optional courses partly shared with other courses in the Physics Bachelor's degree, offering an introduction to or in-depth study of topics in fundamental or applied physics or cross-disciplinary subjects
- cross-disciplinary courses : mathematical and computer tools, study of one or more foreign languages.
Information
Skills
All students who have completed a bachelor's degree in physics acquire skills specific to the discipline as well as cross-disciplinary skills. The skills and abilities targeted by the degree are:
- Mastering the formal and practical knowledge of the discipline
- Proposing analogies, making estimates of orders of magnitude
- Knowing how to choose the theoretical, numerical or experimental tools to use
- Analysing, modelling and solving simple problems
- Mastering the mathematics used in problem modelling
- Knowing how to process numerical data and acquiring digital programming skills
- Writing a summary report and giving an oral presentation in French and English
- Carrying out a team project
- Being aware of the interactions between scientific knowledge and society
- Building and establishing a career plan
Objectives
The L3 Physics programme enables students to acquire a solid general scientific background in the various fields of physics (mechanics, optics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum and statistical physics, etc.), as well as in mathematics and computer programming.
Optional courses offered in both semesters allow students to explore more specific areas and help them to refine their focus for master's programmes and engineering schools.
Career Opportunities
Career prospects
After a Master’s degree: Engineer (financial analyst, economist, statistician)
After Master and PhD : reseacher or assistant professor or professor
After a Master's + PhD: researcher or lecturer
After a Master's or Master's + PhD: researcher or lecturer
After a Master's or Master's + PhD: engineer (R&D, control, production, etc.)
After a Master's or Master's + PhD: engineer (research and development, control, production, etc.) in the fields of health, pharmaceuticals, agri-food, biotechnologies, instruments and reagents, cosmetics, pollution control and the environment.
After a Master's or Master's + PhD: engineer (Research & Development, control, production, etc.)
Further Study Opportunities
Engineering school
Master’s Degree in Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
Master of applied physics
Master of Education and Teaching Professions
Calendar
Admission Route
Capacity
Available Places
Target Audience and Entry Requirements
Second-year degree in Physics or equivalent
Application Period(s)
From 01/05/2026 to 08/07/2026
| Subjects | ECTS | Semester | Lecture | directed study | practical class | Lecture/directed study | Lecture/practical class | directed study/practical class | distance-learning course | Project | Supervised studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 UE au choix | |||||||||||
| Thermodynamique appliquée : dispositifs et machines thermiques | 4 | Semestre 1 | 16 | 16 | 8 | ||||||
| Comportement des matériaux solides et liquides | 4 | Semestre 1 | 16 | 16 | 8 | ||||||
| Instrumentation - électronique | 4 | Semestre 1 | 10 | 30 | |||||||
| Concours professorat I écrits | 4 | Semestre 1 | 18 | 19 | |||||||
| Projet en physique numérique | |||||||||||
| Projet en physique numérique | 2.5 | Semestre 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | ||||||
| Anglais - FSO - L3 S5 - 2 ECTS - 1 UE parmi 6 | |||||||||||
| Anglais - FSO - L3 S5 - 2 ECTS | 2 | Semestre 1 | 24 | ||||||||
| Theater workshop - FSO - S1 - 2 ECTS | 2 | Semestre 1 | 24 | ||||||||
| Reading and creative writing workshop - FSO - S1 - 2 ECTS | 2 | Semestre 1 | 24 | ||||||||
| Intercultural Communication EUGLOH project - FSO - S1 - 2 ECTS | 2 | Semestre 1 | 24 | ||||||||
| Debate Club - FSO - S1 - 2 ECTS | 2 | Semestre 1 | 30 | ||||||||
| Writing worshop - FSO - S1 - 2 ECTS | 2 | Semestre 1 | 24 | ||||||||
| Subjects | ECTS | Semester | Lecture | directed study | practical class | Lecture/directed study | Lecture/practical class | directed study/practical class | distance-learning course | Project | Supervised studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathématiques pour la physique I | 3.5 | Semestre 1 | 18 | 18 | |||||||
| Physique quantique | 4 | Semestre 1 | 22 | 22 | |||||||
| Mécanique des fluides | 4 | Semestre 1 | 18 | 18 | 8 | ||||||
| Electromagnétisme III | 3.5 | Semestre 1 | 18 | 18 | |||||||
| Optique appliquée | 4 | Semestre 1 | 20 | 20 | |||||||
| Calculus en mathématiques et en physique | 2 | Semestre 1 | 20 | ||||||||
| Subjects | ECTS | Semester | Lecture | directed study | practical class | Lecture/directed study | Lecture/practical class | directed study/practical class | distance-learning course | Project | Supervised studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enseignements expérimentaux | 4 | Semestre 2 | 8 | 32 | |||||||
| Mathématiques pour la physique II | 4 | Semestre 2 | 20 | 20 | |||||||
| Physique statistique | 4 | Semestre 2 | 22 | 22 | |||||||
| Electromagnétisme IV | 3.5 | Semestre 2 | 18 | 18 | |||||||
| Mécanique III | 4 | Semestre 2 | 22 | 22 | |||||||