Physics at Uni, poss Oxbridge?

DS is leaving next weekend to start his Physics degree at Sheffield. He chose Physics as it is well respected and (hopefully!) opens doors. He would like to go into business, but who knows what the future holds.

When he vaguely contemplated Oxbridge - which was never a real possibility - he always favoured Cambridge.

His school felt that a strong and varied PS helped him get his offers, although I know many people think they're not considered.

Don't worry about the MSci vs BSc. Most people choose the Msci, but you always downgrade (but it's harder the upgrade).

I'd say its becoming less common for people to need a MSci in order to a PhD. Where I just got my PhD, a third of the current PhD students only had a BSc. Depends on the subject, in a lot of fields, the fourth year doesn't add much, also depends on the researcher.

The open days are great for getting a feel of the place. Each university has it owns character, so providing its a top 20 uni, go for the ones where he would feel the most comfortable.

As others have said, he can choose more than 1, so no need to make final decisions just yet.

I also thought I wanted to go into Astronomy. Once I got to uni found out I hated it (still enjoy but not in the detailed research), so now I'm in semiconductor physics (which I thought I hated). So going somewhere with lots of different research is a good idea.

Don't worry about interviews. If he wants to try for Oxbridge then there is no harm. It is not as if you only have to choose one department on the UCAS form.

Loads of physics graduates are completely and utterly tongue tied including me!

I did work in research for two and half years, but I absolutely hated it. Sometimes you can have ambitions to do a particular job, but it turns not to be as you expected.

I have a feeling that physics departments promote their MPhys as they want bums on seats. I would be surprised if you need an MPhys for a taught masters course or an MSc by Research. IMHO a taught masters course is a better preparation for a PHd and employement than an extra year of a general degree.

Despite what I said earlier, there's no harm in having a bash at Oxbridge, and there's no doubt that having it on his cv wouldn't do any harm in later life even if it's not the absolute best curriculum.

Oxbridge physics students are not exactly Brideshead Revisted types IME - so fitting in would be much less of a worry than for a PPE/History/English student - and the nice thing is that with 10,000+ students in each university and loads of societies it's pretty easy to find your own niche.

If he has trouble at interview, I'd think he should avoid Oxford (and probably Cambridge too). No matter how well he does on the test, he will be expected to talk at interview (about physics, obviously) as this is how he will be taught by his tutors should he get in.

I second the 'try other good universities' if this is a problem.

All the best to him - physics is great!

Well all the best for him; he should go for it and see what happens. He shouldn't worry about fitting in, Physics students IME are such an eclectic mix!

physics at Cambridge is taught as part of the Natural Sciences Tripos. You don't specialise in a particular science in your first two years, but take a number of courses in different sciences. You specialise in the 3rd year.

DH started off with the aim of specialising in chemistry, but ended up taking his finals in the history and philosphy of science.o

Three/Four years studying anything can put someone off a subject, it all comes down to whether you enjoy it or not.

There were 8 people in my MPhys class (70 ish in BSc). I am still in touch with all 8. 6 of us did postgrad, 1 became an accountant, 1 became a teacher. Out of the 6 that did postgrad, 1 went into Medical Physics, 3 into Defence, 1 stayed in Academia and 1 went into the City.
Anyway this isn't what you asked, I just don't want you and your DS to be put off by job prospects, who knows what job prospects fir any graduate are in today's climate. He should study something he loves in a University that suits him.

interesting data here on Physics courses

I did get a good job after doing an MSc in Computational Physics. I think a lot physics graduates end up doing Postgrad work.

I would recommend looking at course that is going to be fun as well as making him employable. Three years studying physics puts many people off a career in Physics even if they start all enthusasic.

The challenge is finding child friendly work that uses a Physics degree, that isn't teaching. Hence I work as an It technican in a school. Working term time only is very convienent. I am very bored and I am looking for a new challenge.

One point to make I graduated 11 years ago, so it might not be the same but...
We were advised to apply for MPhys (needed higher A Level grades at the time), I think it might have been the first year my university offered MPhys, we were told we could turn it into a BSc after second year if we didn't want to continue, or if they didn't want us to continue. But not vice versa!

My Physics degrees (MPhys and MSc) and my DHs (MPhys and PhD) have been very useful for us, I work as a Physicist, DH doesn't but his degrees are very relevant to his job. We both really enjoyed studying Physics and easily found good jobs (and well paid jobs) following our postgrad work, I think Physics graduates are still very desirable to employers, graduate training schemes etc...

We didn't go to Oxbridge, but we went to a Russel Group university. I would recommend Imperial, Cardiff, Exeter or Manchester. I see no reason though why he shouldn't have a stab at Oxbridge if that is what he wants. I wouldn't apply for the one he has more chance of getting into necessarily if I was him, but apply for the one I preferred.

Maybe he should look at Imperial or Manchester to study physics. There several good Physics departments in the UK. Many physics departments offer scholorships to strong applicants.

What does he want to do afterwards? Prehaps he needs to think about what courses would nuture his weak points as well as his strong points. Would he benefit from a year in industry? Does he want to do a year abroad?

One problem with a Physics degree is that its not as marketable as it once was. I did get a job working in mathematical physics, but it tends to be contract work and very competitive.

Many jobs that Physics graduates went into are now filled by more vocational degrees. A degree in Maths and Computer science would be good if he wants to financial modelling. It could also led to jobs in software engineering. Would he be better looking at engineering?

I am not sure whether its worth the increased debt doing an MPhys degree. However its been 15 years since I did my degree. [old cogder emoticon]

If he is very good he might be better doing a BSc degree and then a funded MSc. Or you can go direct to a PhD from a BSc.

It would be better for him to combine it with something that gives him a sellable skill like computing.

I have a Physics degree and frankly its pretty useless to me.

Imperial College London would be my first choice for physics tbh, if you think he's be OK in London.

TBH, I wouldn't go for Physics at Oxford/Cambridge - other Russell group unis are much better for physics based degrees. What area is he specifically interested in ? I'm a physicist who manages to work as one too