Maths-Physics

Is a math degree compactible with going onto a masters into theotetical physics or astrophysics??

Would uni's find it acceptable?

Reply 1

James

That will almost certainly be okay, provided that you choose the right options in your undergraduate degree. However, you should of course consider physics as a more natural choice; maths is very abstract at uni.

Reply 2

ArsenalTFX

So as long as I choose Physics sorta modules for the Math degree then it should be ok? Stuff like fluid dynamics n mechanics stuff etc. Regarding astrophysics, are there any modules for a math degree that directly link to astrophyiscs?

Reply 3

James

That will depend on university, but generally I think that relevant options are likely to be available in the third year. Still, I should reiterate that if you are very interested in a particular branch of physics, then it makes much more sense to do a physics degree. There are applied courses in maths, but much of it is abstract and rigorous; this might not particularly suit you.

Reply 4

ArsenalTFX

I would like to do a Physics degree, though I dont do the A-level. I done the AS but the teacher didnt schedule properly and so I ended up learning units 2 and 3 in a month. I ended up with an E. I'm good at Maths though, and I do enjoy it. So I figured that doing a Maths degree would be the best option in going into further study in Physics. Would this be correct?

Reply 5

James

In my opinion, that's a really bad idea. It's essential that you *love* your course at uni, and while I love maths it's definitely not for everybody. There is a core syllabus which you have to complete for at least the first year, and a lot of that involves analysis, algebra, probability, geometry and other topics completely different to physics. It would be better to take the physics A-level (even if that means a lot of extra studying!), and then go in to do a degree you will really enjoy.

The advice I always give people is to do what they enjoy. In my opinion,

GCSEs you enjoy lead to AS levels you enjoy, which lead to A-levels you enjoy, which leads to a degree you enjoy, which leads to a career you enjoy... You get the picture!

You need to have a serious think about this.

Reply 6

ArsenalTFX

I already have my gap year sorted. And I really really do love maths! A math degree as people say can lead to absolutely anything. Physics is basically applied math anyway. They are interchangable. As I said before, my teacher made abit of a mess with my physics, and so the past cannot be changed.

If doing a math degree enables me to go into physics at further study then I would grasp the opportunity. This could go into my advantage, as I would have picked up many new skills along the way.

Reply 7

James

Then go for it! :biggrin:

Maths is great; you'll love it.

Reply 8

Abra

How come you didn't continue with Physics to A level, and re-sat as many AS modules as possible to get your grades up, if you love Physics so much and that you're *thinking* about doing it at University?

By the way, what are your other subjects?

Reply 9

ArsenalTFX

My other subjects are Chemistry and Economics. My school have a policy of not allowing students to continue onto A2 with a grade E as they think its unlikely my grade will improve. So they dont want to risk it. I contested it at first, but I have to just deal with it.

Reply 10

henryt

The impression I've always got from really good a few really good Particle and Theoretical Physicts that I've spoken to is that the Maths is much much much harder than the Physics, and so that Graduate Mathematicians rather than Graduate Physicists/NatScis are dominating the pioneering research. But that's only the opinion of someone I know at CERN, which may or may not be completely biased! But yes, I'm sure that doing a Maths degree will enable you to carry on with Physics, provided you choose the correct options when you start to specialise.

Reply 11

Cexy

I know a lot of theoretical physicists, and with only one or two exceptions they all studied maths as an undergraduate degree. Unless you're exceptionally talented and quick to learn, a physics degree simply won't instill enough mathematical rigour for you to be able to follow current research.

However, that said you probably shouldn't be thinking about your postgraduate degree at this stage! There's no guarantee that you'll still be interested in the same things in three years (in fact you almost certainly won't be) and you might not even be good enough to get onto a postgrad course!

I'd go with whatever you think you'll enjoy the most for the next three years, and try not to plan ahead too much.

Reply 12

Nichrome

Ahhh crap, does this mean I'm screwed if I want to do postgrad research in theoretical Physics? I've applied and got in at some good unis for undergrad Theoretical Physics, Maths and Physics, and Phys NatSci, but will these degrees just not cut it for postgrad research? I didn't realise otherwise I would have applied for undergrad Maths.

Reply 13

AlphaNumeric

I did maths and now do a theoretical physics PhD. Two of the people in my department and who are in their first year PhD too did Part III Physics at Cambridge while I did Part III maths. I'm going straight into research while they are spending a year doing taught courses on stuff I did in Part III. They are (very) bright guys and know most of it anyway from reading around so I suspect they are more just kicking their heels back for a year of dossing with funding :tongue:

However, that's because they put in extra work, not because their physics degree provided them with the knowledge. Another guy did physics at Durham, did their 4 year course then their masters or MPhys or whatever it is, so he's in his 6th year compared to my 5th and we're at a comparible level.

As said, if you want to do theoretical physics, doing the applied maths route is the best way at most top unis (particularly if you get into Cambridge, though I only say that from experience). Partly because you can ignore crap like experimentation and also because a HUGE amount of particle physics now revolves around pure maths and physics courses just don't do enough! You need TONS of linear algebra knowledge and I wish I hadn't skimmed so much of it as an undergrad.

Plus there's the obvious fact that maths students are just so much cooler than physics ones :p:

As Cexy says though, it's a long time till you need to be thinking about these things properly, so don't worry too much. If you're on a physics course, you haven't cut yourself off. I'd suggest making sure you do a bit of group theory along the way, but otherwise just enjoy your time at uni. You might discover you hate maths/physics with a passion, I know a few people who ended up like that.

Reply 14

martika

I'm doing Maths&Phys at Warwick Uni.

I'm in my 1st year and am doing the following maths modules this year: differential equations, analysis I&II, linear algebra, geometry, foundations (introd. to nbr&set theory), use of matlab as well as options to take probability I&II and java programming.

On the physics side we do E&M, thermal physics, introd. to particle physics, introd. to astronomy, waves and mechanics.

We don't do a single lab and we have worksheets that cover things such as multiple integrals and vector calculus.

In a nutshell, we do everything that the maths students do and everything that the physics students do (excluding the terrible labs).

In the 3rd and 4th year we can opt for any maths modules that a pure maths student can, including topology, number theory, lie groups and Riemann surfaces.

Do you guys still think I will be at disadvantage should I want to do a PhD in theoretical physics?

AlphaNumeric, have you read Lee Smolin's book "THE TROUBLE WITH PHYSICS "? I wanted to do string theory prior to reading that, but now I am very doubtful.