What career paths can you pursue with a BSc in Physics?

  • Context: Physics 
  • Thread starter Thread starter SpeedBird
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bsc Careers Physics
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around potential career paths for individuals holding a Bachelor of Science in Physics. Participants share personal experiences and insights regarding various fields and opportunities available to physics graduates, including industry roles, further education, and alternative career options.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares that a peer from their school went into investment banking, developing hedging models after graduating with a BA in Physics.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that becoming a graduate student is a common path for physics graduates.
  • Several career options are proposed, including engineering, financial analysis, high school teaching (requiring additional training), lab technician roles, and entrepreneurship.
  • A participant questions whether a physics degree allows for a transition into engineering studies, indicating a desire for clarity on this pathway.
  • Concerns are raised about the applicability of skills learned during a physics degree, with a focus on whether practical skills like programming or electronics were part of the curriculum.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about continuing studies in pure physics versus electronics, seeking opinions on the better path forward.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that there are multiple career options available to physics graduates, but there is no consensus on the best path or the specific skills that are most valuable in the job market.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the importance of specific courses and skills, but there is no detailed discussion on the prerequisites or requirements for transitioning into fields like engineering or electronics.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for current physics students considering their career options, individuals contemplating further education, and those interested in the applicability of a physics degree in various industries.

SpeedBird
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
Hello there, i am a third year undergrad physics student in ireland
i have to give a talk on careers with a basic physics degree.
id like to hear from people that have gone straight into work after
getting their degree in physics. does anyone know what areas
people go into? is it mostly industry?

Cheers

Nik
 
Physics news on Phys.org
well the talk went excellently :-D

Nik
 
Well, now you mention it, a guy I went to school with graduated from Oxford with a BA in Physics (yeah, BA, I know...!) and he went into working in the city developing hedging models for some investment banking company!

What did you end up talking about?
 
I know the best answer to this: The career you may get into with BSc in Physics is:

Graduate Student


On a serious note - depending on which courses you took, you can get into 'engineering', financial analysis, High School teacher (need further training and certificates), lab technician, business entrepreneur. You should mention how physicists are good at finding solutions, optimizations, etc - this is an important skill in real world
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: DeBangis21
brewnog said:
Well, now you mention it, a guy I went to school with graduated from Oxford with a BA in Physics (yeah, BA, I know...!) and he went into working in the city developing hedging models for some investment banking company!

What did you end up talking about?

so if i ve finished my bachelor ddegree in pure physics i can contiune my studies in becoming an engineer ??
 
elabed haidar said:
so if i ve finished my bachelor ddegree in pure physics i can contiune my studies in becoming an engineer ??

Did you take any courses that taught you how to do anything worthwhile? Worthwhile in this sense meaning skills you can use at a job such as programming, electronics, etc.
 
well i have to elaborate i am from lebanon and i tend to coniune my studies in australlia and i can't decide whether to contiune with pure physics or electronics as my major what do you think
 
SpeedBird said:
Hello there, i am a third year undergrad physics student in ireland
i have to give a talk on careers with a basic physics degree.
id like to hear from people that have gone straight into work after
getting their degree in physics. does anyone know what areas
people go into? is it mostly industry?

Cheers

Nik

You've probably heard the usual options many times by now: finance, teaching, engineering, research, IT etc, and it's all true.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: DeBangis21

Similar threads

  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
6K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
493
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
6K
  • · Replies 62 ·
3
Replies
62
Views
11K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
5K