2015 Physics Applicants

Original post by DanRigg96#

This thread might help :
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1636828

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Oh thanks, it's very helpful!

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Reply 42

WishingChaff

Hi, as someone who has been through the undergraduate system and now completing a PhD I would recommend that you look into the fields of research done at the respective universities. Do not get sucked in by tables ranking universities as these are normally constructed from the number of citations papers get at that respective university. I know it is really difficult to pick a field that you are particularly interested in at 18, but it will really help you if you know roughly what type of physics you wish to pursue. I say this as you may find that some universities do not offer courses in later years for research you want to do. Alternatively, what can happen is the quality of teaching drops as someone who is not so confident with the subject will teach it. For example, if you are interested in String Theory say, then very few universities in the country really research this field. It is a good idea to see if at least 4 people are working on the field at the university you apply for. Otherwise, if you wish to continue your studies beyond undergraduate you will find it difficult to get a PhD position in that field given your lack of experience. Also, I would note that it is much harder to get a position in theoretical research due to the fact that there is less funding in this field. Hopefully some of this will help you guys and I will be happy to answer questions if you have any. I also would be happy to recommend books at a suitable level that you could start reading in preparation for your physics degree.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 43

OP

Original post by WishingChaff

Hi, as someone who has been through the undergraduate system and now completing a PhD I would recommend that you look into the fields of research done at the respective universities. Do not get sucked in by tables ranking universities as these are normally constructed from the number of citations papers get at that respective university. I know it is really difficult to pick a field that you are particularly interested in at 18, but it will really help you if you know roughly what type of physics you wish to pursue. I say this as you may find that some universities do not offer courses in later years for research you want to do. Alternatively, what can happen is the quality of teaching drops as someone who is not so confident with the subject will teach it. For example, if you are interested in String Theory say, then very few universities in the country really research this field. It is a good idea to see if at least 4 people are working on the field at the university you apply for. Otherwise, if you wish to continue your studies beyond undergraduate you will find it difficult to get a PhD position in that field given your lack of experience. Also, I would note that it is much harder to get a position in theoretical research due to the fact that there is less funding in this field. Hopefully some of this will help you guys and I will be happy to answer questions if you have any. I also would be happy to recommend books at a suitable level that you could start reading in preparation for your physics degree.

Very good advice! A researcher at Bristol said the same thing to me, for example Bath is very highly ranked but it's astro and particle research is virtually non existent
Any universities you would recommend for astro and particle?

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Reply 44

WishingChaff

The astro side I do not know so well but again it helps to be specific. e.g. star formation is a big research field and my be all a astro group pursues.

For particle physics I know a lot more about. Are you interested in particle theory or experiment? Particle theory tends to be one of the most popular fields of physics in which people apply for and sometimes quantum gravity falls under this name (which is my research). The big particle theory universities that I know (in UK) are:

Oxford
Cambridge
Imperial
Kings
Queen Mary
Edinburgh
Nottingham
Durham (I believe this is the biggest group)
York (This one is rather small but still exists also, I believe it is York university who are working on the fusion reactor. So if you are interested in nuclear fusion research this is a good place)
Liverpool

For particle experimental research you tend to want to go to the places that are paired up with CERN. The ones I know of are (including the ones above):

Manchester
Bristol
Birmingham
Sussex
Warwick

Of the top of my head that is the best I can do. I may have missed some so I apologise in that case. Again, in the theory list I included quantum gravity as well which also contains string theory.

Original post by DanRigg96#

Very good advice! A researcher at Bristol said the same thing to me, for example Bath is very highly ranked but it's astro and particle research is virtually non existent
Any universities you would recommend for astro and particle?

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Reply 45

OP

Thanks! Really fancying Bristol at the moment, seems like they research everything interesting

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Reply 46

JackRowbotham

Original post by DanRigg96#

Eventually doing a PHD and going into research is looking a likely outcome of the degree at the moment and the MSci suits that, many unis say if you're not sure whether to do bachelor's or masters take the masters so I'm gonna go for a 4 year slog
\(￣< ￣)>

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Any idea what you want your PhD to be related to?

Reply 47

OP

Original post by JackRowbotham

Any idea what you want your PhD to be related to?

Now that's a tough question!
Ask me after my 3rd year haha
I've always liked Astrophysics but some of the research looks a bit boring, just like surveying etc.
Particle Physics is another option but experimental or theoretical who knows!
Would love to work on trying to find out about dark matter.
There's just a part of me that doubts whether I'm a good enough mathematician to go into theoretical research...
Time will tell!

What are you thinking of doing?

Reply 48

username1060297

21

Hertfordshire

Physics, Maths, [Biology (D) - did it last year] and Business - I predict:
MathsA BusA PhysB/C at AS and a2 hopefully A* A A*

Interested in everything? Specifically cosmology and fusion.

Nottingham
Liverpool
Surrey
Qmul (Unsure)
Don't know where else?

Straight Physics/Theoretical Msci.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 49

OP

Original post by Ki Yung Na

Hertfordshire

Physics, Maths, [Biology (D) - did it last year] and Business - I predict:
MathsA BusA PhysB/C at AS and a2 hopefully A* A A*

Interested in everything? Specifically cosmology and fusion.

Nottingham
Liverpool
Surrey
Qmul
Cambridge

Straight Physics/Theoretical Msci.

Fusion really interests me too!
Shame it's not a very common research field in Universities

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Reply 50

username1060297

21

Original post by DanRigg96#

Fusion really interests me too!
Shame it's not a very common research field in Universities

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Awesome! Is it not? I think it is but it's so specialised/technical that it's based outside of universities in special labs like JET (I think York are planning their own one) and it's a field with a lot of collaboration between institutes. Don't forget a lot of research that benefits fusion gets done under other categories - like solar or plasma research? But then that's prevalent for much of science.

Reply 51

OP

Original post by Ki Yung Na

Awesome! Is it not? I think it is but it's so specialised/technical that it's based outside of universities in special labs like JET (I think York are planning their own one) and it's a field with a lot of collaboration between institutes. Don't forget a lot of research that benefits fusion gets done under other categories - like solar or plasma research? But then that's prevalent for much of science.

That's true! I'll have to look out for opportunities during the my degree and try and do the plasma modules

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Reply 52

fatherdougal

1

-Sheffield, South Yorkshire
-physics (of course) xD maths chemistry AS biology and AS further maths. Predicted A* A* A A A
-particle physics and relatively and quantum
-oxford Durham Surrey Lancaster and Edinburgh
-PURE PHYSICS <3

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Reply 53

OP

Original post by fatherdougal

-Sheffield, South Yorkshire
-physics (of course) xD maths chemistry AS biology and AS further maths. Predicted A* A* A A A
-particle physics and relatively and quantum
-oxford Durham Surrey Lancaster and Edinburgh
-PURE PHYSICS <3

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Hey!
Why Surrey University? Just curious, they were a very friendly department but wasn't impressed by their research areas, shame :frown:

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Reply 54

fatherdougal

1

Original post by DanRigg96#

Hey!
Why Surrey University? Just curious, they were a very friendly department but wasn't impressed by their research areas, shame :frown:

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I'm impressed with their course structure and the career prospects appeal to me. But I know what you mean. I must say my options aren't my final choices planning to still do some refinement to it

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Reply 55

OP

Original post by fatherdougal

I'm impressed with their course structure and the career prospects appeal to me. But I know what you mean. I must say my options aren't my final choices planning to still do some refinement to it

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You're basically guaranteed a job if you go there, career prospects are that good!

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Reply 56

Infinity_4652

16

hi people

applying for a deferred entry this september

- from london
- AS levels maths, further maths, physics and french (grades A*AAB?)
-quantum physics, fusion, fission, solar physics :gah:

- birmingham, lancaster, southampton and royal holloway :love:

- particle physics :tongue:

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 57

OP