Schools Any good open universities around?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around an individual who has transitioned from a career in physics to space systems engineering but now feels unfulfilled and regrets the switch. Despite having a successful job and personal life, they express a desire to return to studying theoretical physics, seeking advice on online courses from open universities. Participants in the thread highlight the contradiction in feeling both bored with engineering and yet not disliking it, prompting a deeper inquiry into the individual's motivations. Suggestions include self-study and exploring resources like Gerard ’t Hooft's site, with a mention of limited accredited online postgraduate options, particularly an MSc in mathematics from the Open University as a potential pathway related to theoretical physics.
miou@mitsou
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Hello,
forum its been some time since I posted something on this site, feels good to be back :)

well I am facing a problem and have thought about it and think I will be needing some help from you guys... the story goes as such..

well, I finished a four year degree in the field of physics (where i come from the BSc is 4 yrs and not 3) i worked for a couple of years on modeling neutron star collisions... etc. After that, I decided to become a space systems engineer and hence returned back to studying where I obtained myself a second BSc and a MSc in space systems engineering. Everythig has turned out nicely so far and have found a job under my MSc title, have a gf and soon planning to have kids...

Though I feel empty and sad inside, because I have regretted my decision become an engineer, its not that I don't like it; its just that after understanding what engineering is, I find it boring and not very intellectual at all. I feel this urge and passion inside me to study physics again on the side next to my day job. I know this will be a tedious task but I know that this will make me happy. And hence I want to peruse it.

What I need from you guys/girls is some advice on any open universities that you may know that provide online courses regarding theoretical physics.

Cheers :)
 
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miou@mitsou said:
its not that I don't like it;

I find it boring and not very intellectual at all.

These two seem contradictory. Can you expand a bit?
 
Thank you for your replay,

Though i am happy that you have shown intetest in my enquiery, i do not find any correlation between my question and the exploration of my subconscious feelings.

But since you have asked, let me answer in a nut shell, in case some other reader has a diffuculty in choosing between these two fields of science: i am more interested to answer the question why(?) rather than how(?).
 
miou@mitsou said:
... some advice on any open universities that you may know that provide online courses regarding theoretical physics.

How about following the advice on Gerard ’t Hooft's site? Self-study seems to me to be the way to go at this point.
 
miou@mitsou said:
What I need from you guys/girls is some advice on any open universities that you may know that provide online courses regarding theoretical physics.

There are very few options on the postgraduate level. In fact, an MSc in mathematics from the Open University seems to be the option closest to theoretical physics as far as accredited online programs go: http://www.find-online-courses.com/online-programs-in-mathematics (click: "postgraduate")
 
Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...
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