Career as Physicist

A student who has graduated in Physics can work in workshops or laboratories. Students can also work for the health and sanitation departments, research and development, defence and robotics, artificial intelligence, computers and electronics, oil and natural gas, and power generation for various private and government sectors.

Deserving candidates will move into management or senior consultant roles as they progress steadily in this career. You can even progress faster if you hone your skills well and keep learning about the latest developments and research throughout the community.

As any other career, being a physicist comes with its pros and cons. 

Pros

• working in a field that you are satisfied with and contributing to the advancement of humankind.

• The studying stage you can apply for various scholarships and work your way to excel in your exams. 

• During the job search, you can teach or research in physics, and if nothing else works out, you can still work for data analytics and sciences.

Cons 

• lack of high-paying jobs. 

• The second con that is uncommon is that during the doctorate level, it is difficult to get grants from universities to conduct research and experimentation.

Roles and salaries offered

A course in physics is not meant for everyone as it requires strong dedication and further studies. To pursue graduate-level physics, you need to choose science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as the primary subjects in senior secondary school.

Most colleges and universities offer courses at the graduate level, based on the marks scored in 12th standard. Each university or college has a set cut-off marks criteria that students can apply for. Further studies at masters or postgraduate level, you need to decide a subject. Take the help of your university counsellor or professor to choose the best field to study further.

Physics is a fundamental science that deals with the study of matter and their behaviour across space and time, and under the influence of other factors such as energy and force. Courses in physics cover several phenomena that can range from subatomic particles to infinite galaxies. 

Physics is also called natural science as other disciplines such as biology, chemistry and mathematics are closely related to its physical systems, and obey the laws of physics. Hence, it is possible to come across courses in physics that are linked with other subjects.  

Here are a few courses provided in India:

• B.Sc./ M.Sc. (Applied Physics)

• B.Sc./M.Sc. (Hons.) Physics

• B.Sc. (Mathematics with Allied Physics)

• B.Sc. (Physical Sciences)

• B.Sc. (Physics with Allied Chemistry)

• B.Sc. (Physics)

• M.Phil (Applied Physics)

• M.Phil (Physics)

• M.Phil + PhD (Physics)

• M.Sc. (Applied Physics and Ballistics)

• M.Sc. (Applied Physics)

• M.Sc. (Biophysics)

• M.Sc. (Geophysics)

• M.Sc. Applied Solid State Physics

• M.Sc. Nuclear Physics and Technology

• PhD (Applied Physics)

• PhD (Biophysics)

• PhD (Chemical Thermodynamics)

• PhD Kinematics

• PhD in Nuclear Physics

• PhD Physics

• PhD (Thin Films)

The course duration for the graduate level is usually three years. Some universities offer an additional year for specialization and research or study. The fees typically vary from one college to another. A typical semi-private college would offer graduate courses beginning from anywhere between Rs 30,000 to 50,000 per year. Lookout for scholarship programs and other benefits that you can avail as a student.

Syllabus

• Physics Journals

• Oxford Physics Dictionary

• Textbook recommendations by your university

• Online courses from MITX and edX

• Walter Lewin’s Lectures