Physics at uni | Mumsnet

dearydeary · 2025-10-02T18:24:28+00:00

Hi everyone My son wants to study physics at uni and he is predicted two A stars and an A. Anyone care to share their DC experience? Any good tips? We have looked Durham/Warwick and he is also thinking Edinburgh/St Andrews/Lancaster/Exeter. Still debating between them and also considering accommodation costs. Thank you 😊

murasaki · 02/10/2025 19:26

I'd report your post and ask mumsnet hq to move it to the higher education forum, you'll get lots of good advice.

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 19:28

murasaki · 02/10/2025 19:26

I'd report your post and ask mumsnet hq to move it to the higher education forum, you'll get lots of good advice.

Thanks

I have just asked for this thread to move 😊

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Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 19:44

Now I am on the right topic, please share 🙏

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tabbycat70 · 02/10/2025 20:02

My son went to Durham. He started doing physics but swapped later. What sort of thing do you want to know?

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:08

Thanks tabbycat70

Why did he switch and what to?

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timoteigirl · 02/10/2025 20:10

Durham is nice because of the college system. Expensive to rent. Train to Newcastle 20 min. Warwick has a good reputation, perhaps better gor maths than physics. Edinburgh is a year longer due to a different system. Physics is not at the main campus but south from the centre.

tabbycat70 · 02/10/2025 20:14

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:08

Thanks tabbycat70

Why did he switch and what to?

He switched to maths, but he was doing theoretical physics anyway because he doesn't like lab work, and there is a lot of physics in maths. He wasn't unhappy with physics, but decided maths was better for him. He works in finance now so maybe it was.
He loved Durham anyway, he made lots of friends easily and had a great time.

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:14

timoteigirl · 02/10/2025 20:10

Durham is nice because of the college system. Expensive to rent. Train to Newcastle 20 min. Warwick has a good reputation, perhaps better gor maths than physics. Edinburgh is a year longer due to a different system. Physics is not at the main campus but south from the centre.

Thanks for the tips.

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titchy · 02/10/2025 20:15

Are their degrees very different? Ds did physics at somewhere not on your list (lower grades!) but felt the content was pretty similar everywhere.

Theyre all good solid options though, he needs to visit and get a feel.

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:16

tabbycat70 · 02/10/2025 20:14

He switched to maths, but he was doing theoretical physics anyway because he doesn't like lab work, and there is a lot of physics in maths. He wasn't unhappy with physics, but decided maths was better for him. He works in finance now so maybe it was.
He loved Durham anyway, he made lots of friends easily and had a great time.

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Thanks

My son was thinking physics to keep it broad initially but keeps erring towards theoretical.

He likes Durham

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Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:18

titchy · 02/10/2025 20:15

Are their degrees very different? Ds did physics at somewhere not on your list (lower grades!) but felt the content was pretty similar everywhere.

Theyre all good solid options though, he needs to visit and get a feel.

He has visited York (did not like it), Durham and Warwick

Current thinking is Scotland (Edinburgh/St Andrews)

Any experience of either of these or Exeter?

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CautiousLurker01 · 02/10/2025 20:21

My DS is the same. What I have learned so far is that no two physics degrees are the same. And it is a vast subject. So, for instance, my DS is realy interested in particle physics but, whilst every degree is required to cover it in at least one module, you need to chose unis with a specialism/research pedigree in order to be able to focus on it in 3rd and 4th year projects. So, whilst DS though Exeter was an amazing campus, their focus was on other areas of physics so it’s been excluded.

Additionally, he may need to explore the difference between BSc’s and 4 year courses that include MSc/ MSci/ Mphys which all offer different strengths and weaknesses depending on whether he wants to leave the door open to a PhD/industry related career or go into finance and banking!

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:24

CautiousLurker01 · 02/10/2025 20:21

My DS is the same. What I have learned so far is that no two physics degrees are the same. And it is a vast subject. So, for instance, my DS is realy interested in particle physics but, whilst every degree is required to cover it in at least one module, you need to chose unis with a specialism/research pedigree in order to be able to focus on it in 3rd and 4th year projects. So, whilst DS though Exeter was an amazing campus, their focus was on other areas of physics so it’s been excluded.

Additionally, he may need to explore the difference between BSc’s and 4 year courses that include MSc/ MSci/ Mphys which all offer different strengths and weaknesses depending on whether he wants to leave the door open to a PhD/industry related career or go into finance and banking!

My DS is thinking of the integrated Master’s too but is not sure of specialisms at the moment 😩

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tabbycat70 · 02/10/2025 20:25

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:18

He has visited York (did not like it), Durham and Warwick

Current thinking is Scotland (Edinburgh/St Andrews)

Any experience of either of these or Exeter?

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What did he think of Warwick? Going to visit later this month with my youngest. He had it on his list, then said he wasn't keen (based on friend's thoughts, not his own!) now we're going anyway just to see.

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:27

tabbycat70 · 02/10/2025 20:25

What did he think of Warwick? Going to visit later this month with my youngest. He had it on his list, then said he wasn't keen (based on friend's thoughts, not his own!) now we're going anyway just to see.

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He thought it was ok but is now liking St Andrews and Edinburgh and has thrown Lancaster in the mix 😂

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CautiousLurker01 · 02/10/2025 20:33

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:24

My DS is thinking of the integrated Master’s too but is not sure of specialisms at the moment 😩

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I feel you - DS is set on MPhys, but as it’s a 4 year courses we’re hoping we can fill his CV with internships so he doesn’t need to add the year abroad option [though many unis offer amazing years abroad in Canada and even in CERN]. KCL did kind of explain it and at the time it made sense but my brain has fried since. I THINK MPhys is very physics focused but MSci may be broader and have a higher mathematical content. It is really worth dropping Admissions in each uni an email to ask them to explain the difference in emphasis?

We are focusing on Warwick, Manchester and Imperial. Not got high hopes for Imperial tbh, but Manchester open days are this saturday and next saturday and they have seriously set their stall out with industry related talks by the female head engineer of mclarens giving a talk on careers for physics grads. (You can still book for both 4th and 11th Oct if you are interested?)

sorry for typos… suffering Ashoka series with both my science nerds…

tabbycat70 · 02/10/2025 20:33

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:27

He thought it was ok but is now liking St Andrews and Edinburgh and has thrown Lancaster in the mix 😂

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Oh haha. We talked about Lancaster this week, for his insurance choice. I'm not really sure he's got a proper insurance choice though! I don't think we will visit Lancaster as it's very far from home and we're going to Bath and it's on the same day.

FlyingOnion · 02/10/2025 20:35

DS is in his final year at Durham. He lives with five other physics students. All now on different routes due to the modules they have chosen. Some had a placement year, some are doing masters. The college system was great in the first year. DS was in catered accommodation and made friends at meal times with people he recognised from his lectures. Very safe and beautiful city. I’m secretly hoping DD will want to go to Durham too when her time comes.

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:37

tabbycat70 · 02/10/2025 20:33

Oh haha. We talked about Lancaster this week, for his insurance choice. I'm not really sure he's got a proper insurance choice though! I don't think we will visit Lancaster as it's very far from home and we're going to Bath and it's on the same day.

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I think it is impossible to visit them all- costs a fortune.

Will have to do a cost-benefit analysis after he visits Birmingham (forgot about this one!) Feeling addled and suffering whiplash as he keeps changing his mind 😉

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Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:38

FlyingOnion · 02/10/2025 20:35

DS is in his final year at Durham. He lives with five other physics students. All now on different routes due to the modules they have chosen. Some had a placement year, some are doing masters. The college system was great in the first year. DS was in catered accommodation and made friends at meal times with people he recognised from his lectures. Very safe and beautiful city. I’m secretly hoping DD will want to go to Durham too when her time comes.

Thanks

It is beautiful, currently DD there (I studied there too) This will be one choice- definitely 😊

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Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:41

FlyingOnion · 02/10/2025 20:35

DS is in his final year at Durham. He lives with five other physics students. All now on different routes due to the modules they have chosen. Some had a placement year, some are doing masters. The college system was great in the first year. DS was in catered accommodation and made friends at meal times with people he recognised from his lectures. Very safe and beautiful city. I’m secretly hoping DD will want to go to Durham too when her time comes.

He likes the flexibility of the course and the college system which adds community 😊

It sounds like your son likes it too 😉

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clary · 02/10/2025 20:44

As. pp said, extra year in Scotland. St Andrews is very beautiful but not a big city experience by any means. But then none of his choices are.

You mention accommodation costs – is that a concern? If so (and I do bang on about this) be aware that they can vary from uni to uni and within the uni as well.

On another thread a poster mentioned someone they knew who was offered a place in a SC hall in Bristol (admittedly insurance or clearing tbf) at £12k which is breathtaking. And not in a good way.

So if you are worried about high rents and how you/he will cover it – Warwick and Lancaster have a good range of prices for halls, but Exeter, Durham, St A and Edinburgh are all known for being ££.

Maybe have a look at some cities like Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Leicester, Newcastle? They offer some cheaper accomm and also the cities have a range of reasonable options. Or is he set on a smaller place?

ETA: sorry I took so long to type that I missed your updates. I see Brum is there and you know all about Durham so feel free to ignore my witterings.

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:46

clary · 02/10/2025 20:44

As. pp said, extra year in Scotland. St Andrews is very beautiful but not a big city experience by any means. But then none of his choices are.

You mention accommodation costs – is that a concern? If so (and I do bang on about this) be aware that they can vary from uni to uni and within the uni as well.

On another thread a poster mentioned someone they knew who was offered a place in a SC hall in Bristol (admittedly insurance or clearing tbf) at £12k which is breathtaking. And not in a good way.

So if you are worried about high rents and how you/he will cover it – Warwick and Lancaster have a good range of prices for halls, but Exeter, Durham, St A and Edinburgh are all known for being ££.

Maybe have a look at some cities like Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Leicester, Newcastle? They offer some cheaper accomm and also the cities have a range of reasonable options. Or is he set on a smaller place?

ETA: sorry I took so long to type that I missed your updates. I see Brum is there and you know all about Durham so feel free to ignore my witterings.

Edited

Thanks clary we have been adding these factors to the ‘cost-benefit’

Grades

Accommodation cost

Easy of reach

etc

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tabbycat70 · 02/10/2025 20:46

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:37

I think it is impossible to visit them all- costs a fortune.

Will have to do a cost-benefit analysis after he visits Birmingham (forgot about this one!) Feeling addled and suffering whiplash as he keeps changing his mind 😉

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My eldest didn't visit every place he applied for. He didn't even visit Durham until the offers day and I couldn't go so he had to go alone. It is a lot of money! We're having to get hotels at some of them and the costs are ramped up on those dates I've noticed!

Original poster

dearydeary · 02/10/2025 20:46

Sorry ease of reach

City/town etc

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