- #1
vrkosk
- 3
- 0
Hello all. Without further ado, my situation is this:
I would be grateful for any tips how to be able to enter a physics PhD program with these credentials. I already know this is going to be a long road. I know I don't have enough physics content in my degree to be able to enter any physics PhD program straight away. Besides, my grades are not the best. So, the question becomes, what kind of studies or proof do I need first?
My current plan is to take a couple of level 2 or 3 physics or mathematics courses in Open University, then apply to a taught (theoretical) physics Master's program (in, say, King's College). That way I could show that I still have the motivation to study, and that I'm serious about physics (since this time I have no excuse not to aim at the top, i.e. get top grades). After the Master's, I could apply to a PhD program. Open University and the Master's will need to be part-time studies, since I need to save money at the same time.
I know entry requirements vary from institution to institution (and my next step is to contact different universities in London), but does this plan sound like it would work? Am I being too optimistic? Pessimistic? Thank you for any thoughts on the subject.
- I graduated with a Master's in computer science from the University of Turku, Finland earlier this year. It's equivalent to a UK MSc.
- I have a strong maths and physics background; I started as a physics major, but switched over to computer science after the first year. Additionally I did not skimp on discrete mathematics courses.
- My grades are not the best. We don't use a GPA in Finland, but my understanding is it would be close to B or B+. I'm not sure if this is relevant, since I already have a post-graduate degree, whose grade is "eximia cum laude approbatur". This means it's in the top 80-95%.
- My Master's thesis was part of a larger bioinformatics research in Turku, and I also collaborated in an article to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
- I'm currently working at a bioinformatics firm in London, UK.
- I want to switch back to physics and graduate with a PhD in theoretical physics.
I would be grateful for any tips how to be able to enter a physics PhD program with these credentials. I already know this is going to be a long road. I know I don't have enough physics content in my degree to be able to enter any physics PhD program straight away. Besides, my grades are not the best. So, the question becomes, what kind of studies or proof do I need first?
My current plan is to take a couple of level 2 or 3 physics or mathematics courses in Open University, then apply to a taught (theoretical) physics Master's program (in, say, King's College). That way I could show that I still have the motivation to study, and that I'm serious about physics (since this time I have no excuse not to aim at the top, i.e. get top grades). After the Master's, I could apply to a PhD program. Open University and the Master's will need to be part-time studies, since I need to save money at the same time.
I know entry requirements vary from institution to institution (and my next step is to contact different universities in London), but does this plan sound like it would work? Am I being too optimistic? Pessimistic? Thank you for any thoughts on the subject.