BSc or MPhy?

steerpike1985

Sorry didn't read your question properly. the MPhy is a 4 year course as opposed to the three year course that a BSc is. If you want to specifically use Physics in your career - such as going into research, then I would recommend going for an MPhy

Depends what you mean by research. If you want to go into industry, then an MPhys is great. If you want to go into accademic research then the traditional post-graduate masters is your best bet, unless you say go straight from BSc to PhD/D.Phil.

Reply 25

ChemistBoy

Wrong, most of the top research institutions in the UK are now requiring undergraduate or postgraduate masters in order to a PhD in the physical sciences. My advice is go for the MPhys, its' a better degree, if the going gets tough you can drop down to the BSc.

Wrong! Most top research institutions do not! Also if you want to do a PhD/D.Phil after a master qualification, a post-graduate masters carries more weight than an undergrad masters.

MPhys/MChem etc are fab if you want to go off into industry - in fact that is what they were designed for - giving you the edge over a BSc candidate. For academia, however, things are still entrenched in the good old post-grad system.

Princess Ana

So... It's better to go for the MPhys?

paperwork wise it's better to apply for an MPhys and then drop down if you want to (or offer to drop down to the BSc if you don't get the offers/grades). Money wise it's easier to drop down than to switch up so if in doubt always apply for a longer course with the option to change to a shorter one.

Reply 27

Fluffy

Wrong! Most top research institutions do not! Also if you want to do a PhD/D.Phil after a master qualification, a post-graduate masters carries more weight than an undergrad masters.

In Chemistry the following institutions currently require MChem at 2:1 or above (or postgraduate qualification) for entry into PhD programmes:

UCL, Imperial, Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Nottingham, Durham, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh (ones I am aware of)

For Chemistry, these are most of the top research institutions.

MPhys/MChem etc are fab if you want to go off into industry - in fact that is what they were designed for - giving you the edge over a BSc candidate. For academia, however, things are still entrenched in the good old post-grad system.

Whilst I agree that an MSc is going to give you better research experience it does not give you as higher level of learning as the undergrad masters, it is also much more difficult to get funding (and a supervisor) for an MSc in the Physical sciences.

MChem/MPhys was not created to give candidates an edge in industry. It was created at the behest of the learned societies (RSC and InstP in this case) as their members felt that the BSc no longer provided adequate training to continue in research for a PhD - they were specifically designed to become the standard level required to enter PhD programmes in the Physical sciences (which has been realised). Obviously the Bologna accord will render this pathway redundant and all master's degrees (which will still be the baseline requirement to enter PhD programmes) will then be taken after graduation from a batchelors (in a 3 + 2 system) so as to be in-line with the rest of Europe, there has been much grumbling in academia about this change.

Reply 28

ChemistBoy

In Chemistry the following institutions currently require MChem at 2:1 or above (or postgraduate qualification) for entry into PhD programmes:

UCL, Imperial, Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Nottingham, Durham, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh (ones I am aware of)

For Chemistry, these are most of the top research institutions.

Oxford DEFINITELY do not require a maters as an absolute for Chem!

Reply 29

For those interested int he history of the MChem and it's first 10 years:

http://www.chemsoc.org/networks/learnnet/mchem.htm

Will see if I can get hard copies tomorrow as I'm out at Burlington House.

Reply 30

Fluffy

Oxford DEFINITELY do not require a maters as an absolute for Chem!

Really? That's at odds with what I've been told (by Oxford academic staff). Of course oxford grads are allowed in without a masters, but outside grads are required to have MChem so I have been informed.

Reply 31

ChemistBoy

Really? That's at odds with what I've been told (by Oxford academic staff). Of course oxford grads are allowed in without a masters, but outside grads are required to have MChem so I have been informed.

I know plenty of D.Phil Chemists. Only one I know did a masters, and that was because he has a 2.2 (mitigating circumstances), and Oxford wanted a demonstration that he could cope with a D.Phil.

Reply 32

Fluffy

I know plenty of D.Phil Chemists. Only one I know did a masters, and that was because he has a 2.2 (mitigating circumstances), and Oxford wanted a demonstration that he could cope with a D.Phil.

Ones that started to study for their DPhil this year just gone? That's when most of the universities I have listed reportedly changed their entrance requirements.

Reply 33

ChemistBoy

Ones that started to study for their DPhil this year just gone? That's when most of the universities I have listed reportedly changed their entrance requirements.

Phil started in October 2003, so I guess. He came from Nottingham - put off from staying there 'cos he had to do a masters. All the others started from 1999 through to 2002.

I was my Colleges Common Room president for 2 years so got to know a lot of people and their backgrounds.

Reply 34

LH

Fluffy

Phil started in October 2003, so I guess. He came from Nottingham - put off from staying there 'cos he had to do a masters. All the others started from 1999 through to 2002.

Phil doing a DPhil?! :biggrin:

sorry...

Reply 35

Lord Huntroyde

Phil doing a DPhil?! :biggrin:

sorry...

LMAO! He'll be Dr Phil, D.Phil :biggrin:

Reply 36

shiny

12

Are there actually any postgrad masters physics courses? :confused:

Reply 37

shiny

Are there actually any postgrad masters physics courses? :confused:

I guess so, you can do imaging masters etc. You can also do radiation and dosimetry masters...

Reply 38