Path to a Degree in Astrophysics - mature student

Blacksheep1979

If you've done nothing at all related to the subject why do you want to do it?

Mankysteve

You do know you have to really really really really good maths I mean really.

khublaikhan

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

If you've done nothing at all related to the subject why do you want to do it?

I have had a healthy interest in Astronomy, quantum physics etc right from school days. My parents did not encourage me and when I told the careers advisor at school I wanted to do Astronomy (in the 80's) he laughed in my face.

It was not until I did my IT degree a few years ago and attained a First did I realise there wasn't anything I could not learn so long as I was prepared to work hard - that includes math. My interest in this subject area is stronger than ever - I have always wanted to learn it.

I feel I need to right the wrong from school days and if I don't tackle it now - I never will.

I hope this answers your question.

MrsManda

The OU is probably the best way to do this as you will be able to continue to work and study at your own pace. Although you won't get a named astrophysics degree you can get a Physical Sciences degree and take modules which allow you to specialise in astrophysics. The advantages of this over a standard university are:

• you don't need any prior qualifications - if you go to the OU website and look at courses each module has an 'entry requirement' which recommends what knowledge you need prior to studying that module and includes a suggestion of a module to take prior to studying that module if you are unsure. The advantage of this being that all the modules you take may be put towards a degree or a certificate.

• you can study at your own pace

• you can work whilst studying

• If you study a module which particularly interests you, you can follow a path which allows you to take more modules in that area, conversely if you find something incredibly dull you can avoid taking other modules covering that area.

As you've already got a degree you are unlikely to get funding for another degree so being able to work and study at your own pace is likely to be better than commiting to a large amount of money in tuition fees in one go - the OU route means that you can work to raise the money for each module before taking it.

melancholly

the inconsistent advice will also be because entry requirements for those will different backgrounds (i.e. students from abroad with different qualifications or mature students) will vary. some have interviews with potential mature students without qualifications to assess whether they can manage the course, whereas others will just ask for some qualifications to be completed..... it won't be a one size fits all answer for this.

i think the OU advice is pretty spot on - a very flexible way to work. since you don't have much experience in physics or maths, it also means you have the chance to switch away from astrophysics if it doesn't end up being what you expect (which happens a lot with degree subjects - the reality of the details can be very different from the overview conceptual interest!)

CIS

Also if you want to do a degree with the Open University:

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergr...cation/b27.htm

You can do the general degree here, but be focus on Astrophysics, which will have the modules below.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergr...utes/b27-2.htm

I can reccomend the OU - as part of my degree Ive done S103 (now re-named to S104),S282 and S283 and couldn't really fault the courses.

gambit27

Hi, did you ever go down the OU route? I only ask as I am about to start a similar course, although at the moment, I'm thinking of taking Astronomy to level 3, but not doing the astrophysics part, changing to earth science at this point. S282 & S283 are 2 of the modules I plan on taking though.

Just wondered how it was going?

Derivative

The route I took is as follows (doing a straight Physics degree, with astro options later on)

GCSE's in Maths, Science ("back in my day" of 2006 it was Double Award, though anything that covers Physics should do, it's a stepping stone) and probably a C in English.

A Levels, Maths and Physics are essential, Further Maths recommended (if you don't take it you'll be learning it in first year at University).

As above though an access course may be a better option (the above takes kids 4 years to do).

Voyager2002

The OU advice is very good. In addition, you could consider Birkbeck College, which offers more traditional face-to-face teaching, but in the evening so that people with jobs can attend. As a matter of policy, they do not require mature students to have entry qualifications, although I would expect them to make clear that you need a fairly advanced knowledge of Maths and Physics in order to make sense of the course.

Reactive

khublaikhan wrote: »

OK,

I have no qualifications and wish to embark on a road that will lead me to attaining a place as a degree student of Astrophysics - which GCSE's, A Levels or qualifications will get me there is my question? It is a lifelong dream.

Note: I have approached a couple of Universities for advice but I am not too happy with the inconsistent advice given - they are much better at giving advice about the Astrophysics course itself but not so good about the entry reuirements for a mature student.

Any suggestions from the good people here?

Thanks in advance

All I can say is that your math abilitiy better be abnormally good. And we're not talking just simple first order differential equations, we're talking hardcore mathematics. I shared a house with three guys that studied pure/applied physics (and one astrophysics who now works at CERN), and they made me feel as thick as two planks.