Studying Physics
In Scotland:
A Gateway To Success
Physics is the most basic and
fundamental science. It tackles
problems at the frontiers of
knowledge, addressing the
most fundamental questions
on what makes the world
around, inside and beyond
us. Physics also deals with
practical issues, leading to
discoveries and inventions
that change our lives, like
medical scanners, computers,
lasers, mobile phones, and
the internet. Starting from
the observation of natural
phenomena, physicists unravel
the complexity of the world
by analysing each process
in terms of few fundamental
and universal quantities such
as energy and charge. This
approach works very well for
the largest possible object, the
Universe itself, for fantastically
small subatomic particles, and
for just about everything else in
between. Physics is the basis
for engineering and many other
sciences such as chemistry,
oceanography, and increasingly
molecular biology, biochemistry,
and biology itself. There is no
modern industry, commercial
activity, medical treatment,
communication system, or form
of entertainment that does not
depend on the application of
physical principles.
One of the main factors at
the base of the remarkable
progress of physics is the way
in which ideas and techniques
flow from the must fundamental
branches to the most applied
ones and vice-versa, so that
a breakthrough in one sector
soon leads to advances in
others. To drive this constant
flow of new ideas and results,
physicists need to master
practical, numerical, and
analytical skills and, above all,
have an inquisitive mind and a
problem solving attitude. These
skills are easily transferable to
other fields; indeed no other
science degree gives wider
prospects for employment while
maintaining such fundamental
academic interest.
This is shown by the great variety
of different companies that
offer well-paid jobs to physics
graduates for their ability to “add
value” to products and services.
In fact, economic sectors whose
activities crucially depend on
modern physics and employ
a high number of physicists
are those with the strongest
economic growth and highest
productivity. These sectors
– such as telecommunications,
instrument manufacturing, oil
extraction, and many others
– are strategic for technologically
advanced countries
concentrating on the production
of goods and services of a very
high technological level.
The economic performance
of physics-based sectors is
particularly good in Scotland.
According to a recent report of
the Institute of Physics, between
2000 and 2005, physics-based
companies in Scotland have
performed better than in the rest
of the UK, contributing more to
the national output than finance
and construction. This reflects
both the traditional outstanding
quality of physics in Scotland
and the recent evolution of the
Scottish industries.
Scientifically, Scotland hasoutstanding traditions:
Maxwell derived the equations
that connect electricity and
magnetism, opening the way to
inventions such as radios and
lasers; Watt designed the first
steam engines, the workhorse
of the industrial revolution;
Kelvin laid the foundations
of thermodynamics and had
hundreds of patents on almost
everything of use in his time;
Logie Baird invented television;
Watson-Watt designed and
developed the first radar. This
scientific and technological
excellence had an industrial
counterpart: most of the ships
– which were the lifeblood of the
British Empire – were built on
the River Clyde in Glasgow.
During the last 30 years, the
Scottish economic landscape
has changed dramatically
with the once dominant heavy
industries being replaced by
new high-tech research-led
activities such as electronics,
biotechnology, semiconductors,
photonics, and many others.
As during the industrial
revolution, these changes
have been supported by the
quality of the physics research
in the Scottish universities
and by the flexibility of the
physics degrees in adapting
to the needs of a constantly
evolving world. Virtually all
the new high-tech industries
in Scotland have strong links
with universities, many are
spin-off companies founded
by university researchers and
former students.
Typically, Scottish degrees are
of two types: BSc lasting forfour years and MSci lasting for
five years. In some universities,
MSci degrees are directly linked
to cutting-edge research with a
wide variety of classes and final
year projects to get experience
with advanced research topics.
Most universities have careerservice
departments helping students to find how they can
use their training and provide
them with opportunities to
network with people already
working in private companies
or in other universities.
Students whose first language
is not English find that a major
advantage of getting a degree
in Scotland is that they become
fluent in written and spoken
English.
All these factors contribute
to make graduates from
Scottish universities very
successful in finding well-paid
jobs. Furthermore, the Fresh
Talent Initiative of the Scottish
Government may enable
international students who
graduate in Scotland to work
two years in Scotland after
achieving their degree. With a
thriving high-tech sector, there
are plenty of opportunities
in Scotland for clever and
determined people, no matter
where they come from.
Last but not least, student
unions provide a friendly and
safe environment managed by
students for students to relax
and socialise. So studying
physics in Scotland is a great
fun and allows you to get
interesting and well-paid jobs: should you not consider it very
carefully?
Science / Engineering courses / colleges
