To re-start my physics degree?

[Givenup2026]

I mean it’s technically not re-starting but more like starting from scratch… but ever since I was 6 I dreamt of becoming an astronomer. I did everything right, top of class, mathlete, etc…

but when I went to uni I made the unfortunate decision of studying engineering physics as opposed to pure physics. I also didn’t like my class/crowd I was too “bohemian/alternative” and they were too nerdy. I abandoned it and went on and studied sociology and even got an MSc eventually.

Not finishing my degree is my only regret in life, so AIBU in considering going back and finish it this time? I really want to honour that 6yo who dreamt of the stars.

How will you support yourself financially? Do you have a family? Lots of things to consider but on the face of it, always good to follow your dreams. But practicality has to be considered too.

Go for it, but there might be some ethics here.

If the State helped pay for you to be a sociologist, would they be paying again for you to be an astronomer ? And would you be depriving someone else with the same dream off their chance ?

I doubt if a pure physics class would be any less nerdy. Unless you have a lot of financial support or close to retirement (so unlikely to ever repay your loans) you should do a degree that will help your career. How would a physics degree help you?

I would do it as part time as possible, so I could keep my job.

I work remotely so I can claw back the commuting times. I saw I need 16 hours which is a bit more than 2 per day… I think I could do that.

the state hasn’t given me a penny to study, and I earn enough to pay my studies (which is why I would do it via the OU so I can keep my job)

Believe me knowing the “spin” of a neutrino is as useless as it comes to my day job.

Go for it if you can make it work alongside real life.

One possibility might be to look at the Open University physics, earth sciences and/or astronomy options and do a p/t distance learning degree that way.

Also, if you already have completed credits from an unfinished engineering physics degree, I wonder if there might be the possibility of credit transfer thus reducing the number of credits needed to complete your new degree. I think the OU still do credit transfer and other universities may well do too.

Edited to add: I've just cross-posted with you mentioning OU.

Fair enough. That's why I said might be.

If you are self-funding then I don't see what the issue is. Just do it :-)

It was 22 years ago! So doubt it? Realistically I think I would only be able to transfer 1 maths, 1 physics, and one programming /computing (if it’s part of the syllabus). The thing is I don’t remember a thing. Ironically the programming module has helped me in my career and still semi use it in a daily basis (I work in tech).

That probably is too long ago. I've just checked and they say 16 yrs max, It might be quite good though to start afresh because at least some of the subject matter will be familiar so it will feel like revision and will help to ease you back in to studying. I think the idea sounds exciting.

I think learning to live with nostalgic regret and what if is healthy. It's a normal part of the human experience. It is impossible to avoid experiencing regret - it doesn't mean you made the wrong decision or should spend the rest of your life chasing a do over.

Spending the best part of £30k and giving up any other hobby for six years for no reason other than avoiding th discomfort of regret seems daft to me. What are you going to do afterwards? What about all the new regrets you will gather along the way?

Don't underestimate how lonely OU study is either. You're basically just sitting alone reading and writing for hours every week for years. It would be more than 16 hours per week when preparing for assessments too.

6-year-old you didn't have the capacity to imagine how you would use those skills. You are honouring 6-year-old you already.

Thank you! I feel I’m mature enough this time. I’m aware I’m not the next Stephen Hawking nor Eleanor Arroway (the protagonist from Contact), but I feel that with the right support (my parents always thought it was a bit odd I was so much into STEM) I can fulfill my lifelong dream. And who knows? Maybe I’ll end up being the scientist I was always meant to be.

I don’t have many other hobbies (apart from working out by myself). I already WFH so I know what it’s like to get on with things without human interaction.

Yes , £30k is not a small amount but I just spent above 10% of that on what many people think is a glorified shopping bag.

In many ways £30k feels like small change to fulfill my dreams. If anything I can question if I can do it.

Plus, I already have 2 undergraduate degrees, why would I want a third one? But I did spend more than 25% of my life dreaming about this, so why not?

What is your biggest nearest university? I don’t think you want a physics degree - your local physics university - engineering physics is enough do a masters in astrophysics or work in the field?

My first boyfriend did a maths degree and then a PhD in astrophysics - they said his 1 st proved he was clever enough to do the masters - that was Warwick.

Look at something like this https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/courses/course/astrophysics-msc

the best astronomers I know and I know 3 people with PhD in astrophysics and one that post doc for 2 years at Warwick after, he couldn’t get a job and ended up working for the bbc - but the best astronomer I know as in the person that knows as much if not more that professors of astronomy he actually has no degrees - he built his own telescope and does it as a hobby. He runs a local astronomy and telescope club.

are you a member of a club ? Do you have your own telescope?
You can study the stars without a degree?

You can’t get a loan again for a qualification you already have. HTH.

Please do it. How wonderful. Good luck!

Have you asked the OU? Of all universities they must be good about allowing credit transfers.

My closest university is the hybrid Falmouth/Exeter campus who doesn’t offer anything close to it. Maybe Exeter does but that’s too far away.

My main interest is Cosmology (and nuclear physics) which are highly theoretical, and IME very different from the telescope / star gazing crowd.

Don't get me wrong I had a telescope (and would love to own one again), but my pleasure always came from reading and theorising, not looking through the telescope.

Looking at the Pleiades was the gateway drug if you like, but knowing about black holes, worm holes, neutrino stars, the genesis of matter as we know it that’s where my heart is.

From a very tangential POV I’m also fascinated by the effects of radiation on the body, and the effects of a nuclear winter (thanks to Carl Sagan).

Thank you, that’s very kind of you!

Have you kept up the mathematical side of physics in the intervening years? If not, you might want to start at a lower level before starting the degree. I tried to take a Maths degree about 15 years after my A level Maths, and I couldn't remember enough of what I had learnt at school to keep up with the degree level. If that wouldn't be an issue for you, then go for it!

Brian May went back to finish his PhD in astronomy after twenty years away being a member of one of the most successful rock groups of all time, Queen, so yes, absolutely you should 🙂

Not quite…. I can still help my 15yo with her maths coursework and can do basic algebra but that’s about it. All calculus has disappeared into the ether (and most of trigonometry!)

If you started your first degree 22 years ago, I guess you are in your early 40s. If so, you may well have another 25+ years worth of paid employment ahead of you after this next degree and that's plenty of time to establish yourself in a new field of work.

In terms of the money, there are plenty of people who choose to spend £5-6K a year on new car finance, beach holidays, clothes and/or entertaining etc. There is absolutely nothing wrong in putting your money into education and something that may give you lots of joy even if you choose to stick to your existing area of work. It's your money.

NB. Get hold of some A level maths text books and mug up on the calculus/trig from those before the autumn - there's still time!

Exactly! That’s the same coat of a Lady Dior bag. And even though I don’t own one (although I’ve spent stupid money on a different bag), I would rather spend it on my education, even if it’s “pointless “ education.