Physics Navigating Career Paths in Physics: Challenges and Opportunities

[gurps409]

Evil Physics?

im a second year student at university at momment and I am a little confused. iv been looking for placements online and all i can see is companies for defence agencies and that's it. is this mostly what we can get into if you refuse to go into anything to do with finance?

another thing is that everyone who employes people with a BSci degree are asking for a 2.1. will there be a chance of getting a good degree if this is not reached?

thanks

 

[fasterthanjoao]

im a second year student at university at momment and I am a little confused. iv been looking for placements online and all i can see is companies for defence agencies and that's it. is this mostly what we can get into if you refuse to go into anything to do with finance?

No. You should keep looking. You'll find most people on this forum don't work in defence or finance, in fact. There are many different types of jobs in physics (too many to list) - though admittedly in the UK the defence contractors do provide a large number of jobs, and are particularly keen to advertise to physics graduates so you will be exposed to them, a lot.

another thing is that everyone who employes people with a BSci degree are asking for a 2.1. will there be a chance of getting a good degree if this is not reached?
thanks

To answer, I'll assume you mean "will there be a chance of getting a good job if this is not reached" and the answer is, realistically, no. In the UK system, graduate programmes will generally not even look at the rest of your application if you get less than an upper-second class degree. The same goes for Ph.D progammes. There are exceptional circumstances: but certainly don't count on it.

If you do get a lower-second class (2:2) or, say, a third class degree then employment in a graduate position is not realistic given a competitive job market. Companies can afford to be choosy. To overcome a degree of this type, the suggested options would be to either: enrol in a post-graduate degree such as a PGDip or a PGcert (again at almost all institutions an Msc will require a 2:1) and get a good enough result that you can convince employers that you're better than your initial degree result.

Also, please read this:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=240792