- #1
matthewh806
- 3
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Hey,
I'm looking for a bit of advice with regards to applying for a PhD program in Europe.
As a bit of background: I graduated from Durham University in 2013 with a 1st class MPhys in Theoretical Physics. My thesis (which contributed to half of the grading in the 4th, masters year) was focused on exploring physics beyond the standard model in the Higgs sector. I've been working in the software industry for the past 3.5 years since graduating, the past 1.5 being in Amsterdam. Now I'm hoping to return to theoretical physics and work towards a PhD in the Netherlands.From what I've been reading about the differences between the UK / European education systems. It seems that in the rest of Europe the MSc is much more specific (and possibly even more intensive) than the integrated masters (MPhys) that is common in the UK. Additionally the MPhys is just 1 year as opposed to 2.
Another place where higher education in the UK and the rest of Europe seem to differ, is that in the UK a PhD in theoretical physics usually involves (for the first year of the four) taking the equivalent of MSc lecture courses, so the emphasis is much more on learning than research to begin with. The successful completion of exams in these subjects along with a viva determines whether or not the student progresses onto the subsequent years. Whereas in the University of Amsterdam (UVA) (and other universities I've been researching in the Netherlands) it seems there is no taught component of the PhD as the assumption is all of the requisite material would've been learned in an MSc.
I had (perhaps naively) assumed that the MPhys was equivalent to an MSc and thus sufficient for a PhD in Europe (as would be the case in the UK). Now, however, I am a bit more doubtful. For instance, I notice that the graduate MSc in theoretical physics from UVA includes lectures on string theory and group theory. These are two subjects I haven't had formal lectures on.
As its been a few years since I graduated, I've already spent a significant amount of time outside of my current job re-aquainting myself with fundamental subjects in theoretical physics (GR, QM, QFT) over the past 4 months. I've also been learning some group theory over the past couple of weeks and am planning to move onto string theory afterwards (and anything else which is necessary).
I was just wondering if anyone has any experience / advice from being in a similar situation?
Thanks
I'm looking for a bit of advice with regards to applying for a PhD program in Europe.
As a bit of background: I graduated from Durham University in 2013 with a 1st class MPhys in Theoretical Physics. My thesis (which contributed to half of the grading in the 4th, masters year) was focused on exploring physics beyond the standard model in the Higgs sector. I've been working in the software industry for the past 3.5 years since graduating, the past 1.5 being in Amsterdam. Now I'm hoping to return to theoretical physics and work towards a PhD in the Netherlands.From what I've been reading about the differences between the UK / European education systems. It seems that in the rest of Europe the MSc is much more specific (and possibly even more intensive) than the integrated masters (MPhys) that is common in the UK. Additionally the MPhys is just 1 year as opposed to 2.
Another place where higher education in the UK and the rest of Europe seem to differ, is that in the UK a PhD in theoretical physics usually involves (for the first year of the four) taking the equivalent of MSc lecture courses, so the emphasis is much more on learning than research to begin with. The successful completion of exams in these subjects along with a viva determines whether or not the student progresses onto the subsequent years. Whereas in the University of Amsterdam (UVA) (and other universities I've been researching in the Netherlands) it seems there is no taught component of the PhD as the assumption is all of the requisite material would've been learned in an MSc.
I had (perhaps naively) assumed that the MPhys was equivalent to an MSc and thus sufficient for a PhD in Europe (as would be the case in the UK). Now, however, I am a bit more doubtful. For instance, I notice that the graduate MSc in theoretical physics from UVA includes lectures on string theory and group theory. These are two subjects I haven't had formal lectures on.
As its been a few years since I graduated, I've already spent a significant amount of time outside of my current job re-aquainting myself with fundamental subjects in theoretical physics (GR, QM, QFT) over the past 4 months. I've also been learning some group theory over the past couple of weeks and am planning to move onto string theory afterwards (and anything else which is necessary).
I was just wondering if anyone has any experience / advice from being in a similar situation?
Thanks