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Physics at Oxford vs. Natural Sciences (Physics Orientated) at Cambridge

I'm currently in year 12 Studying Maths, Futher Maths, Physics, Chemistry and French at AS Level. I am planning to continue all subjects at A2 except for Chemistry, which I will be dropping.

I want to study Physics at University, and I'm pretty set on that. However, I don't know if I should go for the MPhys course at Oxford, or do NatSci at Cambridge choosing all the 'Physicsy' modules.

I really enjoy Physics and want to do really focus on Physics (which obviously includes a lot of Mathematics) as much as possible at University. I particularly am interested in Quantum Mechanics and Particle Physics etc.

If you suggest Oxford, I guess it kind of ends there.

But if you think NatSci is best, which modules are best for me to choose in each year?

Also, I'm confused about how many options I can choose at Part II & III of the NatSci course. Do I pick only 1, even if I'm specialising? Is that 1 studied for both years 3 and 4, or do I pick 2, 1 per year? Or something else? (http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/natsci/part2.html)

Thanks a lot for your advice

:smile:
(edited 12 years ago)
I was similar to you and went for Oxford; I don't want to study biology or chemistry any further, and I do want to focus on physics, so why go for a more general degree?

If you're at all interested in other areas of science, by all means go for natsci, but it sounds like you're not; in that case Oxford is for you.
Reply 2
What about Imperial vs. Oxford?
I think it all depends on you. Cambridge is good if you want more choices in what you can study - so if you also have a strong interest in other areas. Oxford is good if you know what degree you want to do and go ahead and do it.

Imperial etc are just as good as Oxbridge, just less prestigious. Personally, I want to go to Imperial because I love London as a city. When you go to an open day, you get a feel for the place. I couldn't imagine myself at Oxford, and want to just do Physics.
Reply 4
If you have the chance of doing Oxford or Cambridge then go for it! I'm sure that all those other Universities are good and all that, but the fact is that if you have gone to Oxford or Cambridge then it opens up doors for you. I studied Physics at Oxford. The Oxford degree has worked for me on more than one occasion.

And if you are still sitting on the fence then remember what I was once told (when I initially turned down Oxford the day before I was meant to go for through their interview process) by one of my teachers...

"If you go to Oxford and don't like it you can always go off to another University but if you go elsewhere and turn down Oxford...you'll always wonder whether you could have made it!"
I do NatSci at Cambridge and it's great, but a lot of hard work!

You pick 4 modules in first year (part IA) of which one has to be a maths option, 3 modules in second year (part IB) and pick one subject in third year (part II) which you can then possibly continue into a fourth year (part III) if you get the grades. All physical sciences have a part III.

First thing; a lot of people here say they want to specialise in Physics but end up in Materials Science, Chemistry or Earth Sciences. Physics at degree level is very different, as are other subjects, which is one of the reasons Cambridge's course works so well - you get to experience a variety :smile:

If you drop Chemistry, you will be at a disadvantaged, but you could still do Physics, Materials, Earth Sciences or Computer Science as your three options. If you're dead set on Physics, you would then do the two Physics options and Maths (or possibly Materials or something else) as your third option - but Maths is advised.

I'm happy to answer any more questions :smile: I did Maths B, Physics, Materials and Chemistry in first year and am currently doing double Physics and Maths, planning on doing Theoretical Physics next year.
Reply 6
As has been said before, both have equal prestige - they're Oxbridge so that box is ticked. :P

Your interests are pure particles really, which to my knowledge the Oxford course caters better for. NatSci offers you variety and flexibility if you have mixed interests - but you don't! So... Oxford seems the way to go.

I'm going to apply for Natural Science at Cambridge, because I have a mixture of side interests on top of the astrophysics I want to do; for which Materials, Earth Sciences etc will satisfy. :smile:

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