astronomy in UNI

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

My Nephew in England wants to study astronomy/astrophysics at Uni- he is currently just started doing his A levels in physics but he has not chosen Maths. My belief is that to do this course at Uni you would need higher maths- is that correct?
He is asking me for advice so I said I would appeal to the brains trust here!!
cheers
Graham

[bojan]

Correct - math is the basis. Without it he will not get very far.
I am puzzled they haven't told him that at uni already.

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Thanks Bojan- he is not at Uni yet -he has only just started doing his O levels (aged 16) in the UK but is unsure if he needs to swap a subject or not.

[Atmos (Colin)]

Mathematics is an absolute must in physics in general, especially astrophysics when you're doing stellar astrophysics (the study and modelling of the interior of stars).

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

col
just as I thought
Maybe he should ditch his politics A level!!

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

I agree with Bojan and Atmos and that was certainly the case for me as I progressed physics and maths in my undergrads degree. It is highly likely that first year physics at Uni there will have at least the intermediate level maths at year 12, if not the highest level, as a minimum prerequisite. In my day ( a very long time ago!) Physics 2 required Pure Maths 1 and Applied Maths 1.
Easy to check now on likely prerequisites by looking up the details on the Uni websites.

Cheers

Steve

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by graham.hobart

col
just as I thought
Maybe he should ditch his politics A level!!

How will he understand funding then?
Alex

[bojan]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

How will he understand funding then?
Alex

Well, funding or science, that is the question

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Originally Posted by Tinderboxsky

I agree with Bojan and Atmos and that was certainly the case for me as I progressed physics and maths in my undergrads degree. It is highly likely that first year physics at Uni there will have at least the intermediate level maths at year 12, if not the highest level, as a minimum prerequisite. In my day ( a very long time ago!) Physics 2 required Pure Maths 1 and Applied Maths 1.
Easy to check now on likely prerequisites by looking up the details on the Uni websites.

Cheers

Steve

I looked at the Univ. Leicester (my old haunt and the one closest to him) and it needs A/AS level grades AAB including maths and physics.
I don't know which Uni he is interested in but Leicester has a good reputation for physics/space science and there is a space museum in Leicester (National Space centre) plus I know all the good old pubs that were there when I was a student (if they haven't been condemned!) and as an added bonus he can go and watch Leicester City play!!

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

Originally Posted by graham.hobart

I don't know which Uni he is interested in but Leicester has a good reputation for physics/space science and there is a space museum in Leicester (National Space centre) plus I know all the good old pubs that were there when I was a student (if they haven't been condemned!) and as an added bonus he can go and watch Leicester City play!!

Now we are really zooming in on the critical list of prerequisites!!

[silv (Annette)]

Optional preparation courses in maths are standard at universities. Meaning if he can't change his subjects, anymore, he'll still be fine.