Understanding
The Bigger Picture
Physics And Mathematics
We’re all born with an urge to understand the world around us. This leads us to ask questions
such as “How does a mobile phone work?” “How does the Sun keep on shining?” “What is dark
matter?” “What are the ultimate constituents of matter?” “How did the Universe begin?” If you find
that the more answers you discover, the more questions you want to ask, then you’re on the road to
becoming a physicist, and should be considering taking a physics course through higher education.
As well as being concerned with
deep fundamental questions,
physics forms the basis of most
present and future technology.
Without an understanding of
the basic physics of a problem,
we’d be shooting in the dark.
One of the key ideas in physics
is that behind the complexity
of the world around us, there
is an underlying simplicity and
unity in nature. This is often
expressed through all-embracing
fundamental concepts, such as
the principle of conservation of
energy. Such concepts, when
put to work using mathematics,
provide explanations for how
things happen. Research at the
frontiers of physics leads to a
deeper understanding of the
way things work and how matter
behaves in difficult circumstances,
and from this understanding
follow the many practical
applications of physics.
Most UK Universities offer
two types of undergraduate
degree - a Bachelors degree
(BSc) typically of three years
duration or a Masters degree
(MSci or MPhys) of around
four years. The courses also
cover a wide variety of topics,
with many institutions offering
modules in medical physics,
astronomy, space science,
applied physics and other
related topics. The modular
course structure at many
universities means that you
can tailor your course to fit
your interests and career
aspirations.
Some universities also
offer courses where you
can incorporate industrial
placements and other work
experience into your studies.
This is a great opportunity for
you to try out your chosen
career. Most universities
specialize within certain
areas of physics. Whilst their
undergraduates will study
across a broad spectrum, you
will find that the researchers
work in only four or five regions. This means that you
can select an institution where
world-leading researchers
are working at the front line
of scientific discovery that
interests you.
Employment opportunities are
good for those with physics
qualifications. Most enjoy good
salaries and work in diverse
areas, from finance to research.
Once you have a physics
degree, you have set yourself
up for a successful career, no
matter what field you eventually
work in.
The Institute of Physics:
www.iop.org
Maths is a subject that has
always appeared in various
curricula, and always will. There
will therefore be a permanent
demand for Mathematics
graduates, and nowadays, they
are employed in every type of
industry and profession.
These days, mathematics
is such a vast subject that
the traditional divisions into
Pure Mathematics, Applied
Mathematics and Statistics are
becoming less clearly defined.
In particular, the traditional close
association between Applied
Mathematics and Physics is less
prevalent, with applications in
fields as diverse as Biology and
Finance becoming common. Statistics is increasingly
important in all sciences, pure
and social, not only in the
analysis and interpretation of
data, but also in the design of
studies and experiments.
One of the fascinating
attractions of Mathematics
is that as soon as parts of it
separate (like Pure Mathematics
and Statistics) so they come
together again, and the study
of experimental design involves
Pure Mathematics at a high
level. Cryptology and the study
of devising codes is increasingly
important in the age of technology and is a subject
that uses and brings together
Pure Mathematics thought,
appreciation of uncertainty as in
Statistics and throws up problems
that call on the methods of
Applied Mathematics for their
solution. Who knows what the
next age will bring?
With over 200 Higher Education
courses to choose from in Britain,
selecting the course that is right
for you may be rather daunting.
Courses vary from HND and
ordinary degrees right through
to the most recent Master of
Mathematics qualification, which
is the gateway to carrying out
research in Mathematics. The
ordinary degree is a respected
qualification showing the ability to
think and operate in a methodical
way and offers many career
opportunities. The three-year
BSc or BA courses remain the
most popular with the option
of a broad based course of
study across all of Mathematics,
specialisation in just one or two
areas, and also of combining
Mathematics with another subject
in a Joint Honours scheme.
You can combine Mathematics
with almost anything, including
Physics, Chemistry, Biology,
Geography, Geology, Economics,
Accountancy, Social Science,
Languages, History, Music, Art,
etc.
There are also opportunities for
further study with specialist MSc
courses, Industrial Mathematics
and Medical Statistics being two
examples. Many Universities
offer the possibility of taking
an industrial placement year
within their course, giving an
opportunity to gain extended
experience of mathematics in
the workplace after first learning
considerably about the subject.
Mathematics graduates
are widely in demand in
accountancy, finance, production
and manufacturing industries as
well management and education.
A Mathematics degree can
mean exemption from many
professional examinations, particularly in the accounting
and actuarial fields. Degrees
with a significant Statistics
component can set you on
the path to achieving the
professional status of Graduate
or Chartered Statistician
recognised by the Royal
Statistical Society.
It is very important that you
choose a place to study that
is right for you. This means
that you must be settled there,
so that you can work to your
full potential, and also that the
course(s) offered match your
interests. Change is inevitable
as study develops, so it may
be worthwhile to ensure that
some amount of flexibility and
choice exists. This way if your
interests change, so can your
areas of study. If you have the
opportunity, visit the university
or college before you commit
yourself to study there, and in
any event ask the questions that
are important to you.
Institute of Mathematics and Its
applications: www.ima.org.uk
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