Perhaps you are studying Physics at school, or have gone on to study Physics at University. If you are interested in finding out more about where physics can take you, you have come to the right page.

Studying Physics

The best way to get into a physics career is to study physics at university. There are loads of Universities in Scotland offering Physics courses, each will have a slightly different focus and some that can be combined with another subject. To find out about the courses at different universities, check out the downloadable brochure ‘Physics on Course’ on the Institute of Physics (IOP) website.

Physics is generally a four year course in Scotland. Entry is via Scottish Highers, with the general requirements of Maths and Physics, although subjects such as Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Geography, and Information Technology are also useful subjects.

Where could Physics take me?

Learning about physics develops a broad range of skills, which are valuable to a range of different employers. People who have studied physics are likely to have the ability to grasp concepts quickly, be determined to find rational answers, and have good problem-solving, analytical, mathematical and I.T skills. This means that students of physics have a wide range of careers available to them, even some that you would consider to be outside the ‘physics’ field. Studying physics maybe a way of keeping your employment options open.

You can find out more about where physics can take you at the careers section on the IOP web-sites IOP or Physics.org or by joining the IOP for free via their 16-19 membership scheme.

Whether you are still choosing your university subjects or you have already graduated, it’s good to take some time to sift through your long-term options and work out what career would suit you best.

Possible career paths include:
Armed Forced and Defence Solutions, Astronomy, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Meteorology and Climate Change, Computer Games Design, Nanotechnology, Oil and Gas, Patent Law, Renewable Energy, Scientific Research Science Communication, Space Exploration Industries, Telecommunications.

How much can I expect to earn?

A report produced in 2009 found that Physics graduates are likely to earn more than students of many other subjects, with graduates of physics earning around £40,000 compared to the £25,000 UK graduate average. 

Find out more

To research different career paths in more depth you can visit the Institute of Physics website, Prospects or physics.org.

The Institute of Physics has a number of case studies where you can hear about different careers from the people that are doing them.