Can I Study Physics? A-Levels, GCSEs & University

[blaire]

I'm starting a college course in a month and I'll be studying the following A-levels: chemistry, maths, biology and psychology.

When I applied for my course I was under the impression that A-level physics would be a part of it, but I found out during my interview that it is not.

My issue is that my true passion is physics, but this is the only science course I can do in my part of the country with my GCSE grades, and for personal reasons I can't afford to drop this course and look for something else at the moment.

Will it still be possible for me to study physics in university? If not, is it likely that I can become a physicist later in life?

 

[PeroK]

I'm starting a college course in a month and I'll be studying the following A-levels: chemistry, maths, biology and psychology.

When I applied for my course I was under the impression that A-level physics would be a part of it, but I found out during my interview that it is not.

My issue is that my true passion is physics, but this is the only science course I can do in my part of the country with my GCSE grades, and for personal reasons I can't afford to drop this course and look for something else at the moment.

Will it still be possible for me to study physics in university? If not, is it likely that I can become a physicist later in life?

I don't know what to say. You either find the time to study A-level physics on your own. You can always sit an A-level exam, can't you? In that case, you might have to sacrifice something like psychology. Do you have to pass psychology to do physics at university? That said, you may need to do some physics labs and pass those modules.

Or, take another year. Get a job next year and do A-level physics in your spare time. And further maths!

 

[blaire]

Is it possible to get an A-level physics qualification without taking an entire A-level course? (As in, if I teach myself A-level physics.)

 

[PeroK]

Is it possible to get an A-level physics qualification without taking an entire A-level course? (As in, if I teach myself A-level physics.)

As I said above, the lab work might be a problem. As far as I'm aware, certainly for an adult, you can sit an A-level exam as a private individual.

If I were you I'd talk to the physics dept at one of the universities you are interested in. See what they suggest.

 

[thetasigma]

Since you mentioned A-levels, I will assume you are in the UK, I recently graduated from university so I may be able to offer some advice. One thing I do know is that a lot of universities in England have a Foundation Year option, aimed at students who either did not get the grades they needed at A-Level, or students who were not able to study A-Level Physics but got good grades in their non-physics related subjects.

While not ideal, since you have to do an extra year at the start of your degree, it may be something you wish to explore if it turns out that you cannot do an A-Level physics.

From solely my own experience, a foundation year can be a great way to settle in to university life and prepare before starting your Physics degree proper.