4.0.3 Physics beyond school
Where to next?
This page explores the different and often surprising ways in which you can continue to study Physics after you graduate from school, at university or college. There is a collection of useful links to continue your research.
Some of the following definitions might be useful when you are researching further education and career pathways in Physics:
Bachelor's degree - a university qualification providing a broad based study of a subject, usually studied over three or four years.
Undergraduate - in the English-speaking world, either: any degree programme studied at university / college level leading to a Bachelor's degree qualification. Undergraduate degrees are generally three- or four-years' duration; or the term for somebody who is studying such a course. A bachelor's degree in Physics usually gives you the title BSc (Bachelor of Science) or, at some universities, BA (Bachelor of Arts) - there is no real difference in the content of degrees with either title. In the UK and other countries with a UK-style university system, you will study the subject you choose from day one of your undergraduate degree. In the USA and other countries with similar university systems, you will begin with a 'freshman' year of a wide range of subjects to provide you with a broad base of skills and understanding, and then you will select a 'major' focus or specialism for the remaining years of your degree.
Postgraduate - in the English-speaking world, either: any course of study pursued after graduation with a bachelor's degree, such as a master's or PhD, usually in a specific area of the subject; or the term for somebody who is studying such a course. A master's degree in Physics would usually give you the title MSc (Master of Science) or sometimes MA (Master of Arts) and takes one or two years to complete. If you study for a PhD you will usually carry out a major research project (practical, or theoretical) and you will be given the title of 'doctor' (Dr.) before your name - in some places, people add 'PhD' at the end of their names also. A PhD can take 3 to 5 years to complete.
STEM - any course of study in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics
Transferable skills - skills that you learn in one context or subject and which can be applied in other subjects or contexts. 'Communications skills' or 'mathematical analytical skills' are examples of transferable skills.
After school, you may wish to continue to study Physics or another STEM subject. There are many, many ways to do this, at different levels of specialism, and here are just a few examples to start your thinking:
An undergraduate degree in Physics (BSc, BA) will usually provide you with all of the essential thinking skills and mathematical tools as well as study of the major branches (or 'fields') within Physics - from the very small (quantum and particle physics) through to the very large (astrophysics, cosmology), with understanding of the most important concepts of physics such as energy, forces, matter and waves. This will equip you with the transferable skills to access many careers after you graduate, or to continue to study Physics at postgraduate level.
Alternatively, you might want to specialise in a particular field of Physics. There are many but here are some examples:
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Biophysics
Geophysics
Materials Physics
Medical Physics
Nuclear Physics
Optics / Photonics
Perhaps your school has careers guidance as part of its homeroom / advisory / personal and social education programme? You could take action to organise a careers event where students could find out about careers options in Physics, or with a qualification such as a Physics degree.
Start your exploration with these sites:
The Institute of Physics (IoP) is a UK-based professional organisation for people who are qualified in, or work with Physics in some way.
The American Physical Society (APS) is a US-based organisation for Physicists with lots of career ideas.
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is another such US-based professional association.
Prospects is an online directory of careers, including many here for Physics - including some you may never have thought of.
UCAS is the UK university applications portal, but which also offers some ideas for study of Physics (both undergraduate and postgraduate) and some career pathways.
Consider inviting guest speakers to talk about their careers with a Physics qualification - these could be parents, parents' contacts, or alumni from your school.