Nuclear Physics research includes both theory and experimental activities. 

The Theory Group studies few-body models of nuclear structure and reactions with special emphasis on the quantitative descriptions of 3- and 4-body dynamics, the effects of deformation, and spin-dependent forces.  The Experimental Group have interests that include gamma ray spectroscopy, charged particle spectroscopy, and radioactive ion beams.

Radiation and Medical Physics research explores the fundamental properties and interactions of radiation in a range of medical and industrial applications. The activity also covers fundamental detector physics research which aims to develop detector materials and technologies. Research topics are grouped as medical physics, radiation detectors and environmental radioactivity.

The department also maintains close links with the microbeam facilities at Surrey's Ion Beam Centre. The Ion Beam Centre provides the UK's academic ion beam implantation facilities and has recently been upgraded with a new 2MV Tandetron accelerator and a nanobeam facility.