Applied Physics

Advantages: Friendly department, variety of modules, ranked in world top 20
Disadvantages: Heavy workload, department need a bit of renovation

...the wooden doors are many friendly tutors and PhD students who form a friendly and helpful community. Everyone seems to know everyone else here, and there is a genuine interest to make sure students and collegues feel 'included' and settled. There are a variety of courses on offer by the department, including physics, physics and astronomy, physics and space science, physics with medical physics, as well as physics with mathematics, and theoretical physics. Many of these offer the option of doing the 3-year BSc, or the 4-year MSci. The 4-year course is more adapted to those who aim to go on and do research after their degree due to the extended final year project, which allows for hands-on research. The 3-year course can of course still lead to research since it can directly lead onto a 1-year masters. My advice for when applying, is to apply... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: The best course around.
Disadvantages: Very hard work.

...So you are one of those wierdos who wants to study Physics then? Join the club. Physics is one of the most exciting fields of study open to the human race, and what better place to study it than in the best university in the country. Once here, you will be lectured by leading researchers on the cutting edge of work in their fields, and find yourself doing experiments in the famous Cavendish laboratory. As for practicalities, the first year course is probably the toughest of the Natural Science options. A strenuous slog through mechanics, waves and fields should soon deter any passing chemists, but by the end, you begin to remeber why you wanted to do physics with sections on special relativity and quantum physics. 9am lectures can sometimes be a touch soperific, but with fairly good lecture notes, you can always catch up when you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Reading Uni is pretty good
Disadvantages: Physics department haven't got a clue

...RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!! Reading University is all in all not a bad university and I have had a pretty good time there, except that if anyone were to ask me whether I would recommend them doing a physics degree there I would tell them a resounding NO. The physics department has undergone some changes lately and they are for the worst. The course structure is terrible and basically leaves you feeling totally dazed and confused. The worse aspect of it is that it makes you start to resent the physics you are being taught. Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed my time at Reading, however I don't know if I had the chance to do it all over whether I would go there again. You won't regret doing physics ar Reading but you'll definetly have a voice at the back of you mind saing 'surely it could have been better than this?'... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic