The Department of Physics was established in 1966 as one of the departments of the College of Science, which together with the College of Arts, formed Kuwait University at that time. Today, the Department offers courses to more than 6000 students across the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. In addition to serving Physics majors, the Department offers several courses for students in the College of Science, the College of Engineering and Petroleum, the College of Education, and the College of Allied Health Sciences.

The Department of Physics aspires to achieve high standards of excellence in all aspects of teaching, research, and service. Accordingly, the Department, in collaboration with the College of Science, is committed to the periodic evaluation of its programs, with the aim of enhancing and developing them considering new international trends in the field of physics.

The mission of the Department of Physics is to serve the citizens of Kuwait, the Arab world, and the wider international community by promoting the advancement, dissemination, and application of knowledge in physics, as well as a deeper understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. This mission is accomplished through research and teaching in an excellent learning environment, and through activities in which the Department shares its skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm with the community at large.