sunny304 said:
Im looking to study theoretical physics at Glasgow University starting fall 2012, however I am confused over my choice of courses. Glasgow allows single and joint honours with several course choices. I am not entirely sure whether I should study theoretical physics as a single honour, or study either applied math / computer science with physics as joint honours.
I have quite a bit of experience with the University of Glasgow, so feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.
The University of Glasgow programme is designed such that you don't actually have to answer these questions just now. You have to apply to a specific course code, but it doesn't really mean much other than slightly narrowing the pool of classes you can take initially.
Any of the above options will mean ~the same thing in first and second year. So, say you apply to single honours physics. In first year, you need to take 3 subjects (which is the same for any subject at Glasgow, barring a few exceptions like law, medicine and engineering). Probably physics, mathematics and astronomy (or phyiscs, maths and some random subject, for instance you could choose history, if you wanted). In second year, you have a little bit more to think about.
You can take two of your first year subjects to the next level, and choose a random first year class again. Or, you can take all three to the next level. The final option (from a physics + maths point of view) is to take physics, then maths will allow you to make up double-credits, so you would only study physics + maths in second year.
At the end of your second year, you only then have to choose your degree subject - which can be one of any three subjects from your first year depending on what you did in your second. So, if you chose physics, astronomy and maths in year 1, the same in year 2, then for your degree you could either choose theoretical physics single, physics single, physics + astronomy combined, physics + astrophysics combined (there aren't enough astronomy credits at honours level to get a single degree that). Other than having the relevant courses completed, you're under no obligations from what you initially applied to to what you get your degree in up until this point.
The difference between theoretical physics + physics alone is almost nothing - there is something like 2 courses that will be switched out. The difference between physics + astronomy and physics + astrophysics is the same. Astrophysics here just means switching out an astronomy course for a physics course.
Theoretical physics is a bit of an unhelpful misnomer at undergraduate level. The basics are the same for both theory and experiment, I think universities only make the distinction at this level to try and attract people by fooling them into thinking theoretical physics is somehow more exotic than just single physics. The difference is usually always the fact that a lab class is switched out for a maths, or another physics, class. Other than that, everyone goes to the same physics classes.
