Bachelor 1 subject

Physics, Bachelor 1 subject

  • What are dark matter and dark energy?
  • Which are the components our matter consists of?
  • How do galaxies evolve?
  • How can an embryo be made visible by ultrasound?
Anna Hellermann

I often find the explanations of everyday phenomena baffling that you usually don’t give any thought to.

Anna Hellermann Bachelor's degree
Ganzes interview
Anna Hellermann
Anna Hellermann is a first-year student of Physics. She is pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree.

Wieso haben Sie sich damals für Ihr Studienfach entschieden?

Even as a little girl, I wanted to do something with astronomy. I had actually discarded that plan once I realised that I would have to study physics for that purpose, because I’d thought: “You won’t make it, anyway.” Eventually, I decided to give it a try. Fortunately!”

An welchen Stellen haben sich die Erwartungen an Ihr Studienfach erfüllt, an welchen nicht?

Difficult to say, because I didn’t know what awaited me to begin with, as I’d not had physics at school for a long time. I suspected that maths would turn out to be very abstract – that suspicion was confirmed. On the other hand, I find several fields of physics much more interesting than I’d ever expected. 

Was macht Ihnen in Ihrem Fach am meisten Spaß?

I have not encountered much yet, but so far it’s definitely experimental physics. I often find the explanations of everyday phenomena baffling that you usually don’t give any thought to. I often enjoy calculations where maths is actually applied and leads to concrete results.

Was war bisher die größte Herausforderung?

Maths. It has nothing in common with maths that you know from school, and I still find it difficult to learn the way of thinking that you need to understand my assignments. It is like a wholly new language!

Was wollen Sie einmal damit werden?

I’m not quite sure yet, because there are many options open to physicists, many of which, however, I don’t fully understand yet. So far, my dream has been to work as an astronomer in research.

Welche Tipps geben Sie den Leuten, die auch überlegen, Ihr Fach zu studieren?

Don’t let them put you off. Even if you didn’t choose advanced maths and physics courses at school, it doesn’t mean that you cannot study Physics. That had been my worry, but it turns out in Physics you’ll start from scratch anyway, so that everyone’s got a chance to catch up. Those who studied physics at school might have a small head start, but it doesn’t take long until the content of the curriculum goes beyond what you’d learned at school. What’s important is that you enjoy it – if you don’t, you might find the heavy workload discouraging.

Steckbrief
Abschluss
Bachelor of Science
Beginn
Wintersemester
Dauer
6 Semester
Unterrichtssprache
German
Admission
Not restricted
Information on enrollment/application for German applicants

Information on enrollment/application for German applicants

Jetzt informieren
Application information for international applicants

Application information for international applicants

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Worum geht's?
Dieser Studiengang ist einzigartig, weil ...
we are “Human – Multi-Faceted – Research-Driven”: our degree programme offers comprehensive training in the fundamental principles of physics, from traditional to modern.
Er bietet eine Vertiefung in den Bereichen ...
  • Astronomy & astrophysics
  • Biophysics
  • Didactics of physics
  • Solid-state physics and material science
  • Nuclear & particle physics
  • Plasma physics
Studienverlaufsplan
Modulhandbuch
Zu wem passt's?
Wer diesen Studiengang studieren möchte,
have:
  • Excellent knowledge of mathematics and physics acquired in school

enjoy:

  • Physics-related questions as well as physical and mathematical puzzles
  • Discovering the world behind the things

struggle through:

  • Challenging lectures where self-reliant learning and team work are required
Wer einen Abschluss in diesem Studiengang hat, arbeitet häufig
  • In scientific fields such as research and development
  • Patent attorneys
  • With patent attorneys
  • In the field of medical physics
  • As corporate consultants
  • As students in the Master’s degree programme in Physics
Und sonst?
Ein Vorbereitungskurs ... can be covered voluntarily.
Name: Introduction to the mathematical tools of physics
Start: 1st Monday in September
Weitere Informationen zu Vorkursen
Ein Praktikum ...

is optional.

Ein Auslandsaufenthalt ... is recommended. It is done in the 5th semester.
Dauer: 1 semester
Wer hilft?
Academic advisory office

Dr. Dirk Meyer

Building, Room: NBCF 04/595

Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-23198

E-mail: d.meyer@rub.de

Website academic advisory office

Contact students

Fachschaft: Physik

Building, Room: NB 02/174

Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-23991

E-mail: fachschaft@physik.rub.de

Website Fachschaft

Marina Falke

Physics satisfies my curiosity and lets me see the world through different eyes.

Marina Falke Bachelor's degree
Ganzes interview
Marina Falke
Marina Falke is a first-year student of Physics. She is pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree, 2-subject programme. Marina's second subject is Media Studies.

Wieso haben Sie sich damals für Ihr Studienfach entschieden?

Even back at school, physics was the most fascinating subject for me. I’d like to understand how the world works. Physics satisfies my curiosity and lets me see the world through different eyes.

An welchen Stellen haben sich die Erwartungen an Ihr Studienfach erfüllt, an welchen nicht?

The physics lectures are exactly like I imagined them – perhaps even more entertaining and hands-on than expected. The mathematical part, however, is more difficult than expected. It requires a lot of effort, according to my fellow students in 1-subject programmes.

Was macht Ihnen in Ihrem Fach am meisten Spaß?

It feels really good to understand new theories and everyday phenomena and to be able to explain and calculate them. Solving a problem that I’ve been working on for ages in a group is fun, too.

Was war bisher die größte Herausforderung?

Explaining to my fellow students in physics why I would voluntarily combine Physics and Media Studies. And for my fellow students, the greatest challenge was mathematics for physicists 1; in order to finish my Master’s degree, I will have to struggle through this subject too.

Was wollen Sie einmal damit werden?

I can’t really say yet. My original plan was to pursue a career in science journalism, but I can also imagine an academic career in physics. But there’s still time to start looking for a job.

Welche Tipps geben Sie den Leuten, die auch überlegen, Ihr Fach zu studieren?

You will need a lot of curiosity and stamina. Being quick on the uptake doesn’t hurt, either, when you study physics. First and foremost, you will have to reserve a lot of time for mathematics and theoretical physics. But it’s totally worth it!

Sophia Köhne

If you don't understand something, you are not alone! All physics students feel this way again and again, and that's why we study physics - to understand. 

Sophia Köhne
Ganzes interview
Sophia Köhne

Wieso haben Sie sich damals für Ihr Studienfach entschieden?

I first studied another natural science subject and noticed during my studies how exciting I found basic physics and math lectures; at school I had hardly any contact with physics. Because I could not fully satisfy my curiosity in my then subject, especially for the basic processes, I started my physics studies after graduation. 

An welchen Stellen haben sich die Erwartungen an Ihr Studienfach erfüllt, an welchen nicht?

I expected that the studies would be a new, big challenge, and that was confirmed. You spend a lot of time calculating and sometimes even several days working on a math problem. I was pleased that it was confirmed that it is not a rote learning subject. What I didn't expect at all is that physics students are very social beings. It was very easy to find great, interesting people, without whom studying would probably be twice as hard.

Was macht Ihnen in Ihrem Fach am meisten Spaß?

What I enjoy most is solving the tasks. Solving a problem where you think at the beginning, "You can't calculate that with so little information" at the end feels great. Checking the calculations in an experiment and figuring out why the two don't match is also great - like detective work. 

Was war bisher die größte Herausforderung?

The biggest challenge for me was math and theoretical physics. In both subjects I learned ways of thinking and approaches that I had never had to deal with before. Both were quite difficult at the beginning, but you grow into it during your studies and now I am proud that I have understood it.

Was wollen Sie einmal damit werden?

I don't have a fixed goal. I can well imagine staying in science and doing research. I can also imagine myself working in a company in research and development or in the software sector later on. One of the great things about physics is that you learn problem-solving skills that can be applied to many different areas. 

Welche Tipps geben Sie den Leuten, die auch überlegen, Ihr Fach zu studieren?

It is not necessary that you had physics and math classes in school, you can also start without great previous knowledge and after a short time the school material is through anyway and everyone is more or less on the same level again. A certain stamina or a high frustration threshold are rather characteristics that you should bring along. What is also very important: If you do not understand something, you are not alone! All physics students feel this way again and again, and that's why we study physics - to understand. 

Andere Studiengänge in diesem Fach

Bachelor 1-Fach
Bachelor 2-Fächer
Master of Education