Pursuing a degree in Physics

To put it simply, Physics is a scientific discipline that examines space, its motion, and action in distance - time, along with power and force, which are connected entities. In the field of science and its study, Physics is one of the most basic subject areas where the aim stands as the understanding of how the world works, with the use of tools such as research, mathematics, and others.

Benefits of pursuing a degree in Physics

The benefits of pursuing a physics degree are uncountable. However, the benefits unlock completely once a student has attained an advanced degree in physics - such as a master's or a Ph.D. To attain a graduate degree in physics, an undergraduate degree has to be achieved first. Below is a list of all the benefits of pursuing a physics degree from the undergraduate degree stage.

• Job Opportunities: A student who has completed their master's or Ph.D. in physics is most likely to land a high-paying job in any sector they prefer to work in. The demand for graduate students in the field of physics is high, leading to creating multiple openings for jobs in different sectors. The most popular sector is working in research and teaching.
  
  
• Challenges at every step: Learning physics means constantly challenging ideas and theories of the world. After all, physics is the study of the workings of the universe, there is always something to learn and solve. Hence, there is never a boring day in the field of physics.
  
  
• Plethora of options: Undertaking the field of physics automatically opens a range of options for students. It is not necessary or a compulsion to pursue physics as a career, once students complete their studies, they can enter other fields such as engineering, business & management, and education.

Undergraduate degree in Physics

At the undergraduate level, universities offer either a degree in the form of B.A. (Bachelors in Arts) or B.Sc. (Bachelors in Science). Students learn the basic fundamentals of physics at the undergraduate level, which is completely theory-based. Barely any practical experience is provided at the bachelor's level as it is important for students to understand the basics first and foremost.

Graduate degree in Physics

At the graduate level, students can either opt for an M.Sc. (Masters in Science) or a Ph.D. (Doctor in Philosophy). A majority of universities in the US provide a combined degree in which the student enrolls in a Ph.D. program directly. Students can choose the option to be awarded a masters' degree while completing their Ph.D. degree by putting a request to the university. At the graduate level, students learn the application of the fundamentals they have learned, and the focus of physics narrows to a particular subject area, rather than being a general field of study.

Due to the exposure provided in the master's or Ph.D. program, it is easier to secure a job after completing an advanced degree in physics.

Top universities for Physics

For decades, the USA has been attracting domestic and international students with their unique courses and exceptional education. Along with job opportunities and great exposure, universities in the US have been a popular destination for pursuing higher studies in the field of Physics. However, the other side of the higher study in the US shows that the tuition fee has been taking big leaps as the years go by. The tuition fee at most universities has risen by a shocking 4 to 5 percent than the previous year, which is becoming increasingly difficult for students to afford. Even though tuition fee is increasingly high, the availability of financial aid is a relief to most students.

Below is a list of the best universities to pursue higher studies in the USA.

Princeton University

• Princeton University has seen some of the world-famous scholars and scientists in the field of particle astrophysics, molecular biophysics, polymer physics, computational physics, statistical physics, experimental biophysics, condensed matter physics, and many more.
• Princeton University offers two kinds of programs in physics - a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Physics and a Ph.D. in Physics. Princeton university does not offer an M.Sc. (or any other kind of master's) program in physics as of now. The highest level of study is a Ph.D. in Physics.
• The entry requirements for the B.A. in Physics include a high school degree with a minimum of B+ grade in the following subjects - Maths, English, and any two science subjects. Additionally, students are required to submit their transcripts, letter(s) of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a CV, and financial documentation.
• The annual tuition fee for B.A. in Physics is $56,000.
• The entry requirements for a Ph.D. in Physics includes potential students to have an outstanding academic record and must have expertise in an area of the subject under physics. The minimum grade requirement for the Ph.D. program is between 70 percent to 75 percent.
• Princeton University awards a fully-funded program for the first five years of graduate study, granted that the student displays adequate academic success and timely completion of normal work assigned.
• The English language requirement for both the programs include submission of either a TOEFL score of 100 overall or an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in every aspect.

Yale University

• Yale University is known for many of its courses. The courses in physics are not an exception, as Yale University has been a leading factor in applied physics, geophysics, molecular biophysics, etc.
• Yale University offers two programs in the field of physics - a B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) in Physics and an M.Sc. in Physics.
• The entry requirements for B.Sc. in Physics include a high school degree with a minimum of B+ grade. Among the science subjects, one of them has to be an advanced level subject with a minimum grade of 60 percent. Additionally, students must submit their transcripts, academic certificates, and a CV.
• The annual tuition fee for B.Sc. in Physics is $60,000.
• The entry requirements for M.Sc. in Physics include completion of a relevant bachelor's degree from a recognized university. The minimum grade requirements include at least 70 to 75 percent.
• The annual tuition fee for M.Sc. in Physics is $44,500.
• The English language requirement for both the programs include submission of either a TOEFL score of 100 overall or an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in every aspect.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology gives your career a great boost if you are planning to pursue higher studies in Physics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology projects includes cloud physics, biological and chemical sensors, quantum modeling, material science projects, computational solid-state theory, etc. The Ph.D. courses consist of strong graduate-level studies along with significant contributions in the field of physics through published journals and thesis. There is also scope for nanotechnology projects and certifications.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology university offers two programs in the field of physics - a B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) in Physics and a Ph.D. in Physics.
• The entry requirements for B.Sc. in Physics include a high school degree with a minimum of B+ grade. It is very ideal for the student applying to have a science background with Math, English, and other science subjects as the focus. However, it is not a necessity for getting admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Additionally, students must submit their transcripts, GRE scores, a statement of purpose, a CV, and the application form & fee.
• The annual tuition fee for B.Sc. in Physics is $51,000.
• The entry requirements for Ph.D. in Physics include completion of a relevant bachelor's degree from a recognized university. The minimum grade requirements include at least 70 to 75 percent or at least a 3.5 GPA grade.
• The annual tuition fee for Ph.D. in Physics is $27,000. However, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology awards a fully-funded program for the first five years of graduate study, granted that the student displays adequate academic success and timely completion of normal work assigned.
• The English language requirement for both the programs include submission of either a TOEFL score of 90 overall or an IELTS score of 7.5 overall, with no less than 7.0 in every aspect.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

• The California Institute of Technology is ranked as one of the top-most universities in the state and is arguably one of the strongest professional programs' in the nation. The courses taught by the faculty are from the eminent universities of Harvard, Carnegie-Mellon, MIT, etc. the university aims at providing in-depth studies in solid-state physics, macromolecular crystallography. The department of physics at the California Institute of Technology also has close interdisciplinary collaborations.
• California Institute of Technology offers two programs in the field of physics - a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Physics and a Ph.D. in Physics.
• The entry requirements for B.A. in Physics include a high school degree with a minimum of B+ grade. It is very ideal for the student applying to have a science background with Math, English, and other science subjects as the focus. Additionally, students must submit their transcripts, a CV, and the application form & fee.
• The annual tuition fee for B.A. in Physics is $59,000.
• The entry requirements for Ph.D. in Physics include completion of a relevant bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Additionally, students have to submit a written exam in classical physics and quantum mechanics as a part of their application.
• The annual tuition fee for Ph.D. in Physics is $56,000. However, the California Institute of Technology awards a fully-funded program for the first five years of graduate study, granted that the student displays adequate academic success and timely completion of normal work assigned.
• The English language requirement for both the programs include submission of a TOEFL, however, the score requirements have not been displayed as of yet. California Institute of Technology does not accept IELTS scores.

Harvard University

• Harvard University barely needs any introduction for scholars in the field of academics. Quantum physics, molecular physics, solid-state physics, nanotechnology, etc. courses are offered with regular exposure to the latest experimental physics. The students get placed as professors, scientists, researchers, mathematicians, and scholars.
• Harvard University offers two programs in the field of physics - a B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) in Physics and a Ph.D. in Physics.
• The entry requirements for B.Sc. in Physics include a high school degree with a minimum of B+ grade. It is very ideal for the student applying to have a science background with Math, English, and other science subjects as the focus. Additionally, students are required to submit their transcripts, letter(s) of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a CV, and financial documentation.
• The annual tuition fee for B.Sc. in Physics is $50,000.
• The entry requirements for Ph.D. in Physics include completion of a relevant bachelor's degree from a recognized university. The minimum grade requirements include a minimum of B- grade.
• Harvard University awards a fully-funded program for the first five years of graduate study, granted that the student displays adequate academic success and timely completion of normal work assigned.
• The English language requirement for both the programs include submission of either a TOEFL score of 90 overall or an IELTS score of 7.5 overall, with no less than 7.0 in every aspect.

Career options

After obtaining an advanced degree in physics, students can look for job opportunities in the following fields:

• Physicist
• Researcher in physics
• Astrophysicist (additional degree in astronomy required)
• Engineer
• Professor in the field of physics

Recommended list of universities offering a degree in Physics

Harvard University Princeton University Massachusetts Inst of Technology University of California-Berkeley California Institute Technology Cornell University University of Chicago U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Stanford University Univ of California-Santa Barbara University of Texas at Austin Columbia University Yale University University of Washington Univ of California-Los Angeles Univ of California-San Diego University of Pennsylvania University of Maryland College Park University of Michigan Rutgers State Univ-New Brunswick University of Wisconsin-Madison State U of New York-Stony Brook University of Minnesota Ohio State University University of Rochester a Brown University University of Rochester Carnegie Mellon University Johns Hopkins University Purdue University Michigan State University University of California-Irvine University of Florida Northwestern University University of Colorado Boston University University of Pittsburgh Duke University Rice University University of Arizona University of Virginia Texas A&M University Univ of California-Santa Cruz Iowa State University University of Southern California North Carolina State University Washington University New York University U of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Pennsylvania State University University of Notre Dame Syracuse University Vanderbilt University Georgia Institute of Technology College of William & Mary U of Massachusetts at Amherst Case Western Reserve Univ Northeastern University University of California-Davis Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst Arizona State University Virginia Polytech Inst & State U University of Iowa Drexel University Dartmouth College University of Illinois at Chicago Lehigh University State Univ of New York-Buffalo Auburn University University of Rhode Island Boston College George Washington University