Switching degree/career from civil engineering to physics? Advice?

Hi guys,
I was wondering if anyone who currently does Physics or Maths at uni has any advice for me. I started studying a degree in Civil Engineering at Southampton uni last September but after a couple of months I began to get the feeling that the course wasn't for me. I'd never actually studied civil engineering before and I don't really think it's my passion i.e. I don't feel motivated to spend 3-4 years slaving away at it. I think I would prefer a course which is more science-oriented instead of engineering.
I was thinking I would switch to physics this September 2025 (still at Southampton) to a course called MPhys Physics with Maths. I’m definitely not changing uni since I have a house sorted for next academic year and I like Southampton uni in general.
This course is 75% physics modules with 25% of modules from the maths department.
Physics with Mathematics | MPhys | University of Southampton
I did Maths, Physics and Geography for A Levels and got A*A*A*.
Obviously uni level maths/physics is a different ball game to a level maths and physics but it should follow on from a levels but in more detail and more rigorously ???
I don’t really want to pick a new subject again (like civil engineering) in case I don’t enjoy it but I know I like maths and physics (at a level at least). I don’t feel I have an aptitude for maths or physics but I worked hard during a levels and got A*A*A* so they will definitely let me switch. I know a physics degree will be really difficult but if I enjoy it then I will be motivated to work hard in order to succeed.
Also I’m still going to be doing engineering till the summer so the maths module within engineering would help make up for my lack of further maths (since the 1^st year engineering maths module is basically similar content to further maths a level).
The thing I am not sure about is whether I would enjoy a physics degree. I originally didn’t pick physics because I wanted a more applied course (like engineering) but engineering doesn’t seem to be my kind of vibes. I definitely love physics/science and how it explains the world around me, but some parts of a level physics I didn’t really like as they seemed too abstract/irrelevant to me like particle physics/cosmology. It may be that I can get through a couple of modules that aren’t my favourite but overall I will enjoy the degree. Or will I end up in the same situation again where there are more modules I dislike than like ?
I know uni physics/maths is incredibly difficult and it will be 100x worse if you don't even enjoy it.
The way I have felt for the last 3 months at uni has been completely different to a levels. I found my a levels challenging but I really enjoyed the content and I don't regret my A-Level subject choices at all.
I would be grateful for any advice from anyone doing maths or physics at uni on what your experience of doing it is. Like how is it different to a level maths/physics? Do you regret your decision to pick physics? Why did you pick maths or physics?
Or just in general: anyone who did a year of a uni course then changed to a different degree at the end of their first year, how did you decide what to switch to? Any advice on doing this ?
I would be really grateful if anyone has any advice and sorry for the really long description but I wanted to set the scene properly.
Thanks!
(2 other options I was considering are:
-BSc Economics and Actuarial Science
-BSc Physical Geography or BSc Environmental Science)

Hi @Banana_99
I did MPhys Physics at Lancaster University and I’m now on a PhD course.
I think if you know that civil engineering is not for you at this point then you’re definitely doing the right thing by considering changing degrees. Any university degree is made much harder if you don’t enjoy the subject. Do you have an academic advisor/ tutor etc.? Like a staff member that you trust at the uni who would be able to talk through your options / how to swap courses?
I’m glad to hear that you’re enjoying Southampton in general.
Congratulations on your A Level results! It sounds like you’ll have an excellent basis to build from. You say you’d don’t have an aptitude for maths or physics but you definitely have a strong ability in the subjects to get top grades in your A Levels.
At Lancaster physics first year followed on quite nicely from A Levels and is designed to get everyone up to a common baseline to build on in later years of the degree. I didn’t study further maths at a level but the content required had been covered by the end of first year.
If you like physics and maths at a level then you should have a good chance at enjoying a similar degree course. Physics degrees are challenging but you’re right that if you enjoy the topic then your interest will tend to make it easier / worthwhile.
Everyone has their own favourite modules/ topics. We covered particle physics as a core module but if it’s not your thing then you didn’t have to take any further particle physics modules. Not sure about Southampton but generally in the degree you should be able to select optional modules that interest you.
Physics at uni is more difficult than a levels as you progress through the years but I found it very interesting. I don’t regret doing a physics degree and have used it to do a PhD in physics. I decided to study physics because it was the most interesting a level subject to me.
Hope that helps!
Tineke
Lancaster University Student Ambassador