Choosing a Course

Some universities offer courses (generally the four-year version) where you can incorporate industrial or laboratory-based placements and other work experience into your studies, or study abroad. Investigate whether this is a possibility, since it's a great opportunity for you to try out your chosen career and see if you like it or not.

Most universities specialise within certain areas of physics. While their undergraduates will study across a broad spectrum, you will find that the researchers work in only four or five regions, so you can select an institution where world-class researchers are working at the frontline of scientific discovery that interests you. But remember to check if they are still actively involved in teaching - it may be that they have "better" things to do. Also, different universities will offer varying options within their physics courses, so if you have a special interest - for example medical physics - then find out which universities offer that particular option.

A high number of universities have a physics society that organises events in addition to your academic course, such as inviting guest speakers, arranging tours of research facilities and industrial sites and holding social functions that provide an excellent opportunity to meet the more senior physicists at your department. Events for students are also organised by Nexus, the student wing of the IoP; these include an annual conference (with a hefty social pro-gramme). This is the sort of thing that can provide an extra dimension to your course and occasionally restore your faith on those wet Tuesdays when you're wondering what on earth you're doing there.

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