Is it possible to do advanced physics online?

[oldmember]

TL;DR Summary: Some universities offer online MSc and phd in physics,are they wirth it?

I am what you would describe as wannabe physicist, i like the topic and want to study it but in my country there are no reputable universities that teach the topic in advanced lvls. So can i study it online and get academic credentials online and be able to join and publish research ?
Thank you.

 

[hutchphd]

It is unlikely, but not impossible. The most difficult part (after you learn a bunch of Physucs) is to choose ann appropriate topic to pursue. This is a question of "right-sizing": a topic neither too hard nor too hot. Certainly a lot easier with some direct guidance from a mentor. Credentials is another question which I presume is also fraught, but I have no knowledge.

 

[oldmember]

It is unlikely, but not impossible. The most difficult part (after you learn a bunch of Physucs) is to choose ann appropriate topic to pursue. This is a question of "right-sizing": a topic neither t too hard nor too hot. Certainly a lot easier with some direct guidance from a mentor. The question of credentials is another question which I presume is also fraught, but I have no knowledge.

Thank you for the help, since it's online ofcourse there won't be any lab work so i was plannig to focus on mathematical and theoretical physics, for which there is a lot of detailed explanation and lectures online.

 

[hutchphd]

Let us know how it goes. Research will require more specificity!

 

[jtbell]

Have you looked at the Open University which is based in the UK? I have no experience with it myself, but it gets mentioned whenever someone asks here about online physics degrees.

 

[oldmember]

Have you looked at the Open University which is based in the UK? I have no experience with it myself, but it gets mentioned whenever someone asks here about online physics degrees.

Thank you for help, yes i looked at them and i consider that option as it's not expensive and also online, but i want more options and the ability to research in physics and publish

 

[PeroK]

Thank you for help, yes i looked at them and i consider that option as it's not expensive and also online, but i want more options and the ability to research in physics and publish

Do you already have an undergraduate degree?

 

[oldmember]

Do you already have an undergraduate degree?

Yes, i have undergrad in software engineering and also i have knowledge of basic physics and math.

 

[PeroK]

Yes, i have undergrad in software engineering and also i have knowledge of basic physics and math.

Assuming you are working, an online undergraduate degree will take about six years. That's the first step. Once you have a degree, you'd almost certainly have to give up your job to enrol in a PhD. Even if you could do a part time PhD, that would be another 6-10 years.

 

[oldmember]

Assuming you are working, an online undergraduate degree will take about six years. That's the first step. Once you have a degree, you'd almost certainly have to give up your job to enrol in a PhD. Even if you could do a part time PhD, that would be another 6-10 years.

The universities i looked at offer MSc mostly 2 years. I am planning to take full time i can find space for that. But the options i find include universities from UK(those can be completed in one year) US(1.5-2 years) and india(2yrs) i am not sure about PHD but i think some universities also offer it online in physics and it can be completed in 2 years.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Have you looked at the Open University which is based in the UK? I have no experience with it myself, but it gets mentioned whenever someone asks here about online physics degrees.

The OU has given many people the opportunity of higher education which they otherwise couldn't hope for. I have a number of friends who have done (Science) degrees and they have all attended residential courses and field trips. The OP would need to check up about that for any courses that interest him / her.

UO is a whole way of life that they all appreciated. My friends are all of an older generation when all contact was by POST and TV programmes. ON-line life is different and a lot more convenient.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Those times are unrealistic. They are what it would take a full-time student who already has a BS in physics. You need to get the eauivalent of a BS in physics before you can even start. Full-time, this will take around 5 years to do the BS+MS and more than twice that to do the BS+MS+PhD.

If you can put in 20 hours a week on this - that's 3 hours outside of work every single day, including weekends - this will take 10 years to complete. At 1/3 times (2 hours/day) it's 15 years.

There's no way around this. Years of study take years of study.

 

[hutchphd]

10,000 hours........

 

[oldmember]

Those times are unrealistic. They are what it would take a full-time student who already has a BS in physics. You need to get the eauivalent of a BS in physics before you can even start. Full-time, this will take around 5 years to do the BS+MS and more than twice that to do the BS+MS+PhD.

If you can put in 20 hours a week on this - that's 3 hours outside of work every single day, including weekends - this will take 10 years to complete. At 1/3 times (2 hours/day) it's 15 years.

There's no way around this. Years of study take years of study.

So other than the time it takes you think that in principle it's possible to study physics online and get academic credentials and be able to join and publish research?

 

[oldmember]

The OU has given many people the opportunity of higher education which they otherwise couldn't hope for. I have a number of friends who have done (Science) degrees and they have all attended residential courses and field trips. The OP would need to check up about that for any courses that interest him / her.

UO is a whole way of life that they all appreciated. My friends are all of an older generation when all contact was by POST and TV programmes. ON-line life is different and a lot more convenient.

That's very good news

 

[andresB]

Yes, i have undergrad in software engineering and also i have knowledge of basic physics and math.

In the university where I'm working right now, a software engineer has to take 3 basic physics, 3 calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and some extra mathematics (complex calculus + Fourier analysis, I think). If your education was similar and you did well in those courses, then I think that's a good basis for a BS in physics, so it should take you less time to do it.

Then, a master is a reasonable endeavor. However, a Ph.D. It's probably too much commitment in time and effort.

If you want to do research, the most reasonable path is to go to computational physics or things like that .

 

[oldmember]

Thank you very much that is a really helpful insight.

In the university where I'm working right now, a software engineer has to take 3 basic physics, 3 calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and some extra mathematics (complex calculus + Fourier analysis, I think). If your education was similar and you did well in those courses, then I think that's a good basis for a BS in physics, so it should take you less time to do it.

Then, a master is a reasonable endeavor. However, a Ph.D. It's probably too much commitment in time and effort.

If you want to do research, the most reasonable path is to go to computational physics or things like that thank you very much that it is really a helpful insight.

 

[CrysPhys]

In the university where I'm working right now, a software engineer has to take 3 basic physics, 3 calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and some extra mathematics (complex calculus + Fourier analysis, I think). If your education was similar and you did well in those courses, then I think that's a good basis for a BS in physics, so it should take you less time to do it.

Then, a master is a reasonable endeavor. However, a Ph.D. It's probably too much commitment in time and effort.

If you want to do research, the most reasonable path is to go to computational physics or things like that .

<<Emphasis added.>> I don't know what you mean by "a good basis for a BS in physics". Would this student be further along than a student who had taken no physics and math courses at all? Yes. Would this student be able to skip further undergrad courses in physics? No.

At many universities, the first 3 physics courses would typically be intro mechanics, intro E&M, and then either intro modern physics or vibrations and waves. For foundational courses for a BS in physics, that would still typically leave at least intermediate mechanics, intermediate E&M, intro thermo and stat mech, and a 2-semester sequence in quantum mechanics. With at least special relativity thrown in somewhere, along with lab courses, and specialized courses dependent on the student's interests (e.g., solid-state, nuclear, or astro). Even theoretical physicists need some exposure to labs.

 

[andresB]

<<Emphasis added.>> I don't know what you mean by "a good basis for a BS in physics". Would this student be further along than a student who had taken no physics and math courses at all? Yes. Would this student be able to skip further undergrad courses in physics? No.

At many universities, the first 3 physics courses would typically be intro mechanics, intro E&M, and then either intro modern physics or vibrations and waves. For foundational courses for a BS in physics, that would still typically leave at least intermediate mechanics, intermediate E&M, intro thermo and stat mech, and a 2-semester sequence in quantum mechanics. With at least special relativity thrown in somewhere, along with lab courses, and specialized courses dependent on the student's interests (e.g., solid-state, nuclear, or astro). Even theoretical physicists need some exposure to labs.

Well, He would have to take the actual physics courses, of course. I tried to say that, for example, he already has the basis to jump directly into intermediate mechanics and intro thermodynamics. Compared to my own education and the physics curriculums I know and the other engineers I know that have transitioned to physics, I'd say he can skip 1.5 years or maybe even 2 years to complete his physics BS.