Physics at durham - applicants and discussion

Morgan141

Then you'll be absolutely fine here :smile:

. What takes most people by surprise is that for most courses the 1st year is essentially 'A-level done properly' so it's a doss, or so I was told before I came here anyway. Physics here goes quite a bit beyond A-level and takes an entirely different approach to it (generally meaning with lots of calculus), making it harder certainly but by no means impossible. As you say you've got to be prepared to put in work (more work than you've ever done for A-level, GCSE etc) and you'll be fine..

Ah, I think that would explain a lot for me. Calculus, eh? Bring it on. :proud:

Reply 122

Hopping Mad Kangaroo

15

Morgan141

Then you'll be absolutely fine here :smile:

. What takes most people by surprise is that for most courses the 1st year is essentially 'A-level done properly' so it's a doss, or so I was told before I came here anyway. Physics here goes quite a bit beyond A-level and takes an entirely different approach to it (generally meaning with lots of calculus), making it harder certainly but by no means impossible. As you say you've got to be prepared to put in work (more work than you've ever done for A-level, GCSE etc) and you'll be fine.

Oh and there is definitely still plenty of time for socialising, just be prepared to have quite busy terms :p:

.

Its just the first term unfortunately, Algebra and Probability are totally new and B1 is new to begin with (just happens to be extremely easy to boot)

Reply 123

Morgan141

2

Hopping Mad Kangaroo

Its just the first term unfortunately, Algebra and Probability are totally new and B1 is new to begin with (just happens to be extremely easy to boot)

Hmm, I could have guessed algebra wasn't going to be solving quadratics :p:

, we'll have to see what it's like. I can't say I'm looking forward to what B1 has to offer though.

What I meant really though was that before uni quite a few people will tell you that 1st year is a doss (or at least I was told this anyway). Don't listen to a word of it, these people aren't doing a physics degree at durham!

Reply 124

Hopping Mad Kangaroo

15

Morgan141

Hmm, I could have guessed algebra wasn't going to be solving quadratics :p:

, we'll have to see what it's like. I can't say I'm looking forward to what B1 has to offer though.

What I meant really though was that before uni quite a few people will tell you that 1st year is a doss (or at least I was told this anyway). Don't listen to a word of it, these people aren't doing a physics degree at durham!

Its basically abstract algebra. Physics sadly isn't a doss, which is why I stopped doing it...

Reply 125

So what's B1, then?

HMK - it sounds like you're saying you only want to do a doss subject. :wink:

Reply 126

Morgan141

2

Awoodrow2

So what's B1, then?

HMK - it sounds like you're saying you only want to do a doss subject. :wink:

Ok, I'll give you a brief outline of how the physics course in the first year works. If you're doing any of the full physics courses (including theoretical physics, physics with astronomy etc). The following modules are compulsory:

Foundations in Physics 1 - this is essentially a double module with all the physics theory you will learn in the first year. This is the module HMK thinks is too hard/poorly taught.

Discovery Skills in physics - An almost entirely experimentally based single module. The vast majority of your marks for this module come from labs and lab reports. There are a couple of lectures for it but they don't cover physics, just experimental methods such as error calculations (it's almost as exciting as it sounds) and report writing. There is also a small presentation you have to give on a group problem solving session thing you have to do too.

You also then have to do at least 2 modules of maths. You're choices are:

Single A and single B - these are essentially aimed almost entirely at physicists so are designed around the foundations course. You learn everything you need for physics and nothing more (in theory).

Core A - this is a double module that the mathematicians do. It covers roughly the same material plus a bit more 'pure maths' stuff.

If you take the core A option then it gives you the ability to switch to the natural sciences course (if you do well enough) for the second year and do a mixture of maths and physics.

You then have an optional module. This can be literally anything from any department (assuming you meet their prerequisites for that course, it's be a single module and it's a first year module). In reality nearly everyone either takes astronomy (I think the name suggests whats in it :p:

) or something called core B1. B1 can only be taken if you're doing core A and it's an analysis course. It's basically glorified sequences and series done in such an anal way that it makes you want to kill yourself.

The advice I was given was if you definitely don't want to do pure maths do single, if there is any slim hope that you may want to be a mathematician then do core. My advice would be think very carefully about it, even if you see yourself becoming a theoretical physicist it doesn't mean core maths is for you. I unfortunately fell into this trap and regret doing B1.

Hmm, that's an incredibly long answer for a simple question :p:

, I hope it was informative though. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

Reply 127

dring

I'd like to add that although most people do Single A/B maths, you can do Core A (with or without B1) regardless of what degree course you want to end up doing. You learn essentially the same stuff as in Single maths but in a more mathematical way, if that makes sense. There's nothing to stop physicists with an interest in maths doing the Core A course just out of interest.

Reply 128

Thanks, Morgan/Tom (I don't know how you should address people on forums). It sounds relatively simple - and I think I'll avoid too much maths. And astronomy sounds a lot more interesting than sequences and series...

Unrelated question: how's the male/female divide for Durham Physics? I assume it tends towards the former...

Reply 129

Rite

Awoodrow2

Thanks, Morgan/Tom (I don't know how you should address people on forums). It sounds relatively simple - and I think I'll avoid too much maths. And astronomy sounds a lot more interesting than sequences and series...

Unrelated question: how's the male/female divide for Durham Physics? I assume it tends towards the former...

It's physics. The male:female ratio is always gonna be towards the left.

Anyway, I'm definitely going to choose Imperial as my firm rather than durham if I get an offer (interview soon, weee). Imperial just seems... better.

Reply 130

Reblet

C'est un fest de saucissons...

Reply 131

Rite

Reblet

C'est un fest de saucissons...

Une chance sur cinq de tomber sur une fille, ça pourrait être pire. Besides Durham is exactly the same. Anyway, it shouldn't change much. virgin speaking, and not by choice :frown:

Reply 132

Reblet

Engineering and Physics are so Male-centric that sometimes they do joint socials with English apparently (because it's er... full of bloody women!). But apparently Physics students get more action than Maths students so... Yaaay? haha.

Reply 133

shortcake_x

I'm applying to do physics at Durham :smile:

How many people have got offers?
My aes track thing still says my application hasn't reached the department :frown:

Oh, and to any current physics students, how much of the course is practicals and are they difficult? :p:

Reply 134

bloodlust

OP

6

shortcake_x

I'm applying to do physics at Durham :smile:

How many people have got offers?
My aes track thing still says my application hasn't reached the department :frown:

Oh, and to any current physics students, how much of the course is practicals and are they difficult? :p:

My offer came through on friday
That must be well annoying to see that your app hasnt even reached department :s-smilie:

Good luck thoug.h Might be AES bugging out or something. Im sure youll hear soon :smile:

Maybe see you and everyone else at durham next year :yep:

Reply 135

Well I knew it was going to be towards the left, but are there just a couple of girls in every year, or a vaguely decent proportion?

Hey ShortCake. Well I got an offer... last week, was it? It feels like longer now. Don't worry about that - I've heard of some people who have got offers via UCAS Track before the AES has been updated at all. :yep:

It's only a rough guideline, not definitive.

Do you get to use the inflatable planetarium for astronomy introductions, or is that only to show off to school students? :p:

Reply 136

shortcake_x

bloodlust

My offer came through on friday
That must be well annoying to see that your app hasnt even reached department :s-smilie:

Good luck thoug.h Might be AES bugging out or something. Im sure youll hear soon :smile:

Maybe see you and everyone else at durham next year :yep:

Congrats

When did you apply?
Thanks, I hope so :smile:

!
I think i might give them a phone soon if it doesn't change just incase though.. :erm:

Awoodrow2

Hey ShortCake. Well I got an offer... last week, was it? It feels like longer now. Don't worry about that - I've heard of some people who have got offers via UCAS Track before the AES has been updated at all. :yep:

It's only a rough guideline, not definitive.

congrats to you also!
did you apply early..? I only applied there on 27th of Dec
hope you're right about AES :smile:

Reply 137

dring

shortcake_x

I'm applying to do physics at Durham :smile:

How many people have got offers?
My aes track thing still says my application hasn't reached the department :frown:

Oh, and to any current physics students, how much of the course is practicals and are they difficult? :p:

Don't worry about AES, it's only really there because all the cool unis do them nowadays :wink:

. Track is almost always more up to date and reliable, just keep an eye on that.

For the first year, you have 1*3 hour practical per week. They're not too much of a drag, can even be enjoyable. You'll mostly go through experiments designed to get you used to the equipment and to get used to proper experimental technique (error propagation etc.) that doesn't appear much in A-levels. It can be a bit boring at times, but it has to be done, and it's far from diffiicult!

In later years you'll spend more and more time in the labs, though (from my second year experience) the experiments are more interesting. There's also more choice, and to some extent the opportunity to choose things other than labwork.

Reply 138

dring