The Physics Department of the University of Cagliari carries out several research activities in fundamental and applied physics: Elementary Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics, Theoretical Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Solid State Physics, Medical Physics, History of Physics, Applied Physics, Teaching and Educational.

The research groups collaborate with several research institutes, as INFN, CNR, CRS4, Sardegna Ricerche. The INFN Unit of Cagliari is located in the Physics Department. It gained knowledge and experience over the years in the design and construction of detectors for high energy and nuclear physics experiments, as well as in the data analysis.

The research activities of the INFN unit are carried out in five scientific fields: fundamental interactions with accelerators, fundamental interactions without accelerators, nuclear physics, theoretical physics and technological research. These activities are developed in collaboration with the most important physics laboratories in the world, in particular CERN in Geneva.

The local INFN site hosts a series of initiatives of exchange with students from American universities (INFN-DOE exchange program) and has been chosen by several non-Italian INFN fellows as a preferred location to carry on their research.

In Cagliari a three-years-long undergraduate course (laurea) is available in Physics. In addition a specialised two-years-long course (laurea magistrale) is also available, with several curricula according to the research areas present in the department. The postgraduate courses include PhD in high energy physics, solid state physics, astrophysics and medical physics.