Can I Pursue Different Graduate Studies After Completing Undergraduate Studies?

  • Thread starter Thread starter hellbike
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Graduate Studies
AI Thread Summary
Applying for graduate studies in a different specialization than one's undergraduate degree is possible, particularly in EU countries like the UK, but it depends heavily on the specific program and the skills acquired during undergraduate studies. Mathematics poses unique challenges, especially in pure mathematics, where foundational knowledge is crucial. Some interdisciplinary fields, such as mathematical biology, may allow for a smoother transition due to overlapping skills, like programming, that a physics background provides. Prospective students are encouraged to research individual university programs and their entry requirements, as flexibility varies significantly across institutions and countries. In some regions, particularly in German-speaking countries, strict prerequisites are enforced, requiring a relevant bachelor's degree before pursuing a master's or Ph.D. Overall, while transitioning to a different field is feasible, it often requires additional preparatory work to meet specific academic standards.
hellbike
Messages
61
Reaction score
0
Is it possible to apply for graduate studies in other specialization that under-graduate studies were passed?

After obtaining bachelor of physics i may want to go on mathematics graduate studies - is this possible?

I'm asking about EU countries, mostly about UK.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Generally, yes, there are some crossover topics that will be available to you. Mathematics is a particularly tricky area to handle, however: there will be lots of areas (notably pure mathematics) that will be inaccessible because you won't have covered the necessary introductary mathematics in nearly enough detail (if at all).

In short, rather than depending on the overall 'subject', graduate studies depend on the way in which the skills you have gained from undergraduate might apply to the topic of study.

For instance, in a Ph.D you'd be able to do something like mathematical biology; where the relevant life-science background knowledge would normally be covered in a crash-course of sorts (possibly through attendance at low level undergraduate lectures). This is feasible because projects of this nature will potentially require only a basic understanding of biology to get underway, but need skills in things such as programming - something that you will have as a physicist.

If by graduate studies you also mean things like Msc/PgDip/PgCert, the scenario is similar. It depends on the topic of the individual course. If there's something you're interested in i'd recommend simply looking around various universities that have active research in that area, checking out their postgraduate prospectus' and finding out what they require for entry.

Is there a particular area that interests you?
 
I don't know if this applies to the UK, but I know that some EU countries are a lot less flexible when it comes to switching fields. Math - and pure math in particular - is one of those fields where universities insist on all of the prerequisites. Most universities in the German speaking part of Europe would ask you to complete a Bachelor's degree in math first before they would admit you for a Master's, and a Master's before they would let you start working on a PhD.
 
I'm going to study math on my own during my physical studies.

But i don't think i'll be able to tell what field in pure math is more interesting for me.

I don't think i will be able to tell that for physics either, even though i study that on university.

I though undergraduate is about obtaining most basic knowledge.
 
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...
Back
Top