Most students make this decision in Year 10 or 11, before they know what degree they want, before they have any sense of what IB Physics HL actually involves, and before anyone has sat them down and shown them what the university entry requirements actually say.
So they guess. They take HL Physics because it sounds impressive. Or they don’t take it because they heard it was hard. Either way, the decision gets made without the information it deserves.
This post is that information.
I’ve gone through the actual entry requirements at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh, MIT, NUS, and dozens of courses in between. What I found is not what most students expect. Some of the answers are obvious. Some are genuinely surprising. All of them are specific.
The most important question isn’t whether IB Physics HL is hard. It’s whether the degree you want to study actually needs it.
Let me take you through it, degree by degree.
What is the difference between IB Physics SL and HL?
Before we get into university requirements, it is worth being clear on what you are actually choosing between. The SL and HL courses share a core. The difference is depth and additional content.
HL adds five significant areas that SL does not cover:
- A.4 Rigid Body Mechanics — rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, moment of inertia. Mathematically demanding and heavily tested.
- A.5 Galilean and Special Relativity — time dilation, length contraction, relativistic momentum. Abstract and unlike anything most students have encountered before.
- B.4 Thermodynamics — entropy, internal energy, thermodynamic processes, Carnot cycle. More rigorous than the B.1 thermal content at SL.
- D.4 Induction — Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law, generators, transformers. The maths is manageable but the concepts are genuinely tricky.
- E.2 Quantum Physics — the photoelectric effect in detail, de Broglie wavelength, wave-particle duality, Heisenberg uncertainty, Schrodinger’s model. This is the content that separates IB Physics HL from almost every other pre-university physics course in the world.
Beyond these five topics, HL also goes deeper into content that both levels share. The HL extensions within C.1, C.3, C.5, D.1, D.2, E.1, and E.3 add mathematical rigour and conceptual depth that doesn’t appear at SL.
HL also requires 240 teaching hours versus 150 for SL. That is 90 extra hours of class time across two years, before independent study.
The jump is real. But so is what you get from it. If you are struggling with the difficulty gap, the free GradePod tutorials cover every topic in the current IB Physics syllabus, including all five HL-only topics.
Does Engineering Require IB Physics HL?
Yes. Across every serious engineering programme in the world, IB Physics HL is a hard requirement. There are no workarounds and no alternative subjects that substitute for it.
Oxford Engineering Science
Oxford requires IB 39 points overall, with 766 at Higher Level. Physics HL and Maths HL are both required. There are no exceptions. If you are applying to Oxford Engineering without Physics HL, your application will not be competitive regardless of your overall score.
Oxford Engineering also requires the ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test), with Physics as one of the required modules. This test assumes HL-level Physics knowledge. SL preparation is not sufficient.
Cambridge Engineering
Cambridge requires 41 to 42 points, with 776 at HL. Maths HL and Physics HL are both required. Cambridge Engineering is among the most competitive undergraduate courses in the UK, and the typical admitted student achieves 43 or above with 777 at HL. The minimum is the floor, not the target.
Imperial College London
Imperial’s engineering requirements depend on the specific course but the Physics HL requirement is consistent.
| Course | Points required | Physics HL grade |
|---|---|---|
| Aeronautical Engineering | 40 | 7 (required) |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 39-40 | 6 (required) |
| Mechanical Engineering | 40 | 6 (required) |
| Design Engineering | 40 | Physics not listed as required, but expected |
Imperial also uses the ESAT for engineering admissions, again requiring Physics-level preparation at HL.
UCL Engineering
UCL requires 38 points overall with 766 at HL. Physics HL is required. The specific HL grade expectation varies by programme but a 6 is the minimum for most courses.
University of Edinburgh Engineering
Edinburgh asks for Physics HL as a preferred subject. For a competitive application to any engineering programme at Edinburgh, Physics HL is the expected choice. The points range is 38 to 40 with HL grades of 666 to 766 depending on the specific programme.
If engineering is your goal, IB Physics HL is not negotiable. Dropping to SL closes the door on every serious engineering programme in the UK, and most internationally.
This applies to: Mechanical, Electrical, Aeronautical, Civil, Structural, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, and Engineering Science degrees. The pattern is consistent across the Russell Group and beyond.
Does Medicine Require IB Physics HL?
No. This is the answer that surprises most students, and it is one of the most consequential misconceptions about IB Physics HL.
The standard UK medical school requirement is Chemistry HL and Biology HL. Physics does not appear in the requirements at the vast majority of UK medical schools.
| University | Chemistry HL | Biology HL | Physics HL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Medicine | Required (7) | Required (7) | Not required |
| Oxford Medicine | Required (6) | Required, or Physics HL as substitute | Optional only |
| Imperial Medicine | Required (6) | Required (6) | Not required |
| UCL Medicine | Required (6) | Required (6) | Not required |
| King’s College London Medicine | Required (6) | Required (6) | Not required |
| Edinburgh Medicine | Required (6) | Required (6) | Not required |
Oxford is the notable exception: it accepts Physics HL as an alternative to Biology HL. Even here, most successful applicants take Chemistry and Biology rather than Chemistry and Physics.
The implication is significant. If you are taking IB Physics HL because you want to study medicine and someone told you it was necessary: it is not. The sciences that matter for medicine are Chemistry and Biology. Physics HL adds no formal advantage and, for a student finding it difficult, may actively reduce the overall points score that medicine applications depend on.
Does Computer Science Require IB Physics HL?
No. The critical subject for Computer Science is Maths HL. Physics HL is not a formal requirement anywhere.
Oxford Computer Science: Requires Maths HL at 7. Physics HL is not required and not listed as preferred. Most successful applicants have taken either Physics or another science at HL alongside Maths, but this is a pattern among applicants rather than a formal requirement.
Cambridge Computer Science: Maths HL is the core requirement. Strong Maths HL performance is the primary signal universities look for.
Imperial Computer Science: Requires 41 points with Maths HL at 7. Physics HL is not required.
NUS Singapore Computer Science programmes: Accept HL Maths or HL Computer Science or HL Physics as the science requirement. Physics HL is one of several acceptable routes, not the only one.
Physics HL develops exactly the kind of mathematical problem-solving and abstract reasoning that strong computer scientists need. Many CS applicants take it, and it makes for an impressive application profile. But if you are choosing between Physics HL and Maths HL for a CS application, Maths HL is the more strategically important choice.
For Computer Science: take Maths HL. Physics HL is a bonus, not a requirement.
Does Architecture Require IB Physics HL?
No. Architecture is another degree where Physics HL is commonly assumed to be essential. It is not required anywhere.
UCL Architecture, one of the most competitive architecture programmes in the UK, has no Physics HL requirement. Cambridge Architecture similarly does not list Physics HL as a requirement. Most UK architecture programmes ask for a portfolio of creative work above all else.
Where Physics becomes relevant in architecture is practical rather than academic: understanding structures, loads, and environmental physics all draw on physical principles. Students who have taken Physics HL often find they have a stronger intuitive grasp of these ideas in their first year. But this is a preparation advantage, not an entry requirement.
Do Dentistry or Veterinary Science Require IB Physics HL?
No, for UK universities. Both dentistry and veterinary science follow the same pattern as medicine: Chemistry HL and Biology HL are the standard requirements. Physics HL does not appear as a requirement at UK dental or veterinary schools.
NUS Singapore dentistry is an exception: it accepts Physics HL or Biology HL alongside the required Chemistry HL, giving students a choice.
Do Economics, Law, PPE, or Psychology Require IB Physics HL?
None of these degrees require Physics HL, at any university.
Economics and PPE: The important subject is Maths HL. LSE increasingly expects it, and Oxford PPE expects strong mathematical reasoning. Physics HL adds nothing specific to an economics application.
Law: No specified subjects anywhere. Physics HL has no role in law admissions.
Psychology: No Physics HL requirement. Biology or a social science HL is more relevant.
History, Languages, English, Philosophy: No science requirements at all for these degrees.
The honest truth: outside of engineering and the physical sciences, IB Physics HL is essentially invisible to university admissions.
Does Physics Degree Require IB Physics HL?
Yes, obviously. But it is worth stating the specific requirements.
Oxford Physics: 39 points, 766 at HL, with Physics and Maths both required at HL. The 7 should be in either Physics or Maths.
Cambridge Natural Sciences (Physical route): 41 to 42 points, 776 at HL. Maths HL plus two other sciences at HL are required. Physics HL is effectively expected for the Physical route.
Astrophysics, Geophysics, Materials Science: All follow the same pattern. Physics HL and Maths HL are the standard requirements at every research university.
If you are heading towards any of these, the most important IB Physics topics guide is a useful read for understanding what the HL content looks like and what universities will assume you know from day one.
What About Universities Outside the UK?
The UK has the most prescriptive subject requirements of any country. Other systems are worth understanding too.
United States
US universities do not publish formal subject requirements in the way UK universities do. Admissions is holistic. However, for competitive STEM programmes, the expectation is clear.
MIT expects 7s in Maths HL and Physics HL for engineering applicants. Caltech has similar expectations. These are not formal published requirements, but they are the standards of successful applicants. A student applying to MIT Engineering with Physics SL is at a significant disadvantage compared to one with Physics HL.
For non-STEM programmes at US universities, IB Physics HL carries no particular weight. The breadth of the IB Diploma is valued overall, but the specific science HL matters only for science-adjacent applications.
Singapore (NUS)
NUS publishes specific IB subject prerequisites, making it one of the most transparent systems outside the UK. The requirements for Physics HL specifically show an interesting picture.
| Degree | Physics HL required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | No: Maths HL is the core requirement | Physics HL is accepted but not required |
| Computer Engineering | One of: Physics HL, Chemistry HL, or CS HL | Physics is one of three acceptable sciences |
| Computer Science | No: accepts Maths HL or CS HL or Physics HL | Physics is one of three routes |
| Dentistry | Chemistry HL plus Biology HL or Physics HL | Physics is an alternative to Biology |
| Architecture | Minimal requirements | SL Physics or Maths or Economics acceptable |
NUS shows that even in a highly prescriptive system, Physics HL is rarely the only route. The common requirement is Maths HL, with Physics HL appearing as one of several acceptable science companions.
The Complete Summary: Which Degrees Actually Require IB Physics HL?
| Degree area | Physics HL required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering (all types) | Yes | Non-negotiable at research universities worldwide |
| Physics degree | Yes | Required everywhere |
| Natural Sciences (Physical route) | Yes | Cambridge and equivalent |
| Astrophysics, Geophysics | Yes | Required everywhere |
| Computer Science | No | Maths HL is the critical choice |
| Architecture | No | Portfolio matters more than subjects |
| Medicine | No | Chemistry and Biology HL is the standard |
| Dentistry | No (UK) / Sometimes (elsewhere) | Chemistry and Biology at most UK schools |
| Veterinary Science | No | Chemistry and Biology required |
| Economics, PPE | No | Maths HL matters far more |
| Law | No | No subject requirements anywhere |
| Psychology | No | Biology HL sometimes useful |
| History, Languages, English | No | No science requirements |
| Nursing, Physiotherapy | No | Biology preferred |
So Should You Drop to SL?
That question gets its own post (coming soon). But based on the data above, here is the framework.
Staying at HL is the right call if:
- Engineering, Physics, Astrophysics, or Geophysics is a realistic pathway for you
- You are applying to a US STEM university at the MIT/Caltech/Stanford level
- You genuinely enjoy physics and are performing reasonably well
- You are unsure of your degree direction and want to keep STEM doors open
Dropping to SL is worth considering if:
- Your confirmed pathway is medicine, dentistry, law, economics, psychology, or humanities
- You are performing significantly better in your other subjects and the overall points impact matters
- Physics HL is occupying revision time that your actual required subjects need
The thing most students get wrong is treating Physics HL as a general signal of academic seriousness. It is not. Universities only care about your Physics HL grade in the context of courses that specifically need it.
A 7 in Physics HL helps your engineering application enormously. A 5 in Physics HL helps your law application not at all.
And if you are keeping Physics HL and want to know where to focus your effort, start with the most heavily weighted topics. The grade boundary for a 7 is around 68% for HL. You do not need perfection. You need a system.
Get the GradePod Exam Pack for £39 →
Written by Sally Weatherly — Fellow of the Institute of Physics, author of 4 IB Physics books (two hit number 1 on Amazon), IB Physics teacher since 2004, and founder of GradePod. Entry requirements sourced directly from university admissions pages and verified in May 2026. Requirements change: always verify on the official university website before making subject decisions.