How Do UK and US Undergraduate Physics Programs Differ?

[bkvitha]

Hello there

I've heard that undergraduate course in Physics/Maths/Eng in universities in UK and US differ in a few ways. I could search through the websites of renowned Universities of both these countries, unfortunately, I have a big exam coming up soon, and do not have much time to do this comparison.
I was wondering if anyone could inform me how different and in what ways are they so different?


thankx a bunch!

ps
hope this thread would not start some sort of debate between british n american grads/professors/lecturers of

 

[Vanadium 50]

I could search through the websites of renowned Universities of both these countries, unfortunately, I have a big exam coming up soon, and do not have much time to do this comparison.

Translation: "My time is too valuable to do the work myself. But yours isn't."

I don't think you are likely to get as large a response with this tactic than with perhaps other choices you might have made.

 

[bkvitha]

Its better to hear from the people who are and have been in that side of life already , right? especially if they are a part of the teaching/academia and scholars... experience counts...

well, an advise when you are free will surely help me. thanks

 

[uman]

If you live in Europe or the United States, one choice is probably much cheaper. Unless your family has millions of dollars, why not just go with the cheapest option?

 

[Office_Shredder]

If you live in Europe or the United States, one choice is probably much cheaper. Unless your family has millions of dollars, why not just go with the cheapest option?

If you're going to a private university in America, you definitely don't need millions of dollars to have it cost as much or more than paying full tuition at a school in the UK

 

[uman]

So go to a public one.

 

[j93]

Are you going to pursue Graduate School? In the US?

If you are planning to pursue graduate school in the US you should most likely go to a US school. Your recommenders will be more saccharine and the admissions committee will be more likely to be familiar with your school.

 

[bkvitha]

I might pursue grad school in the US. How much do UK and US undergrad schools differ in terms of the syllabus.

I've looked at the course framework of a number of leading universities in both countries:
picked two of my choices(they are the "biggies" i know,no harm trying):

http://physics.berkeley.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=180&Itemid=422

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/natsci/outline.html

(the major is in physics)

please let me know your view.

By the way, j93, uman and office shredder, thank you.