What Are the Best Colleges, or Universities, for Learning More Theoretical Physics

gentillabdulla

Though I'm still a kid I want to know what are the best colleges, or universities, for learning more about theoretical physics.

I want to know which ones have the best teachings in quantum mechanics, string theory, relativity, et. cetera.

Can anyone help?

ray giraffe

gentillabdulla wrote: »

Though I'm still a kid I want to know what are the best colleges, or universities, for learning more about theoretical physics.

I want to know which ones have the best teachings in quantum mechanics, string theory, relativity, et. cetera.

Can anyone help?

In Ireland, certainly TCD has the best reputation.

UCD would have a good standard also.

Podge_irl

The MIT opencourseware stuff is fantastic.

Beyond that I wouldn't personally put a lot of faith in the TCD course. You're better off applying to English universities, with Cambridge top of the pile though others such as Durham are also very good.

gentillabdulla

I've seen some of the courseware on Mit and yale.

I have heard of Cambridge but never really thought about going there.

If I am not mistaken Stephen Hawking has a position at Cambridge.I wonder, what it would be like working with him?

El Siglo

gentillabdulla wrote: »

I've seen some of the courseware on Mit and yale.

I have heard of Cambridge but never really thought about going there.

If I am not mistaken Stephen Hawking has a position at Cambridge.I wonder, what it would be like working with him?

He's retired now, but the rest of the staff are pretty good to say the least.

NiamhTCD

ray giraffe wrote: »

certainly TCD has the best reputation.

You can say that again.......

Podge_irl

gentillabdulla wrote: »

I wonder, what it would be like working with him?

From what I hear, crap. Though as mentioned he's retired now anyway.

The Cambridge maths course is the best in Europe though imo, and certainly one of the best in the world.

El Siglo

Podge_irl wrote: »

From what I hear, crap. Though as mentioned he's retired now anyway.

The Cambridge maths course is the best in Europe though imo, and certainly one of the best in the world.

+1, it's probably the best in the world. And besides where else would you end up in tutorials with the likes of this one and this one (in her prime of course!).;)

Podge_irl

Riley went to Oxford actually (and more precisely my college - Oriel).

The Oxford maths course is by no means lacking incidentally, but it's a little short in terms of theoretical physics and there are far fewer options available to you. The final year of the Cambridge maths course (Part III Maths) has about 80 subjects to choose from across every spectrum of maths imaginable.

In terms of lecturers being approachable and having an open door policy (which I put a lot of emphasis on - anyone could read a book), NUIM.

El Siglo

Podge_irl wrote: »

Riley went to Oxford actually (and more precisely my college - Oriel).

The Oxford maths course is by no means lacking incidentally, but it's a little short in terms of theoretical physics and there are far fewer options available to you. The final year of the Cambridge maths course (Part III Maths) has about 80 subjects to choose from across every spectrum of maths imaginable.

My apologies, but you get the idea.;)

djhaxman

bluewolf wrote: »

In terms of lecturers being approachable and having an open door policy (which I put a lot of emphasis on - anyone could read a book), NUIM.

Glad to hear it - heading there next month to study astrophysics.

djhaxman

djhaxman wrote: »

Glad to hear it - heading there next month to study astrophysics.

Well I was talking about mathsphys dept not exp phys :pac:

Good luck though! I loved it there

Anonymo

There are a few very good universities for theoretical physics in the UK and Ireland. Oxford and Cambridge of course will come up trumps in any list. By the way Stephen Hawking is great to his students. The problem is his communication speed is very slow. He still has one phd student and though retired recently still spends most of his time in Cambridge. As an undergrad the advantage of Cambridge and Oxford is that the undergrads get more attention from their supervisors (two/three students to one supervisor). Other unis in the UK that have very good worldwide reputations are Imperial and Durham. Manchester and Edinburgh are not far behind either. But reputation of a department is more important for graduate work. Trinity as others mentioned has a pretty good rep but they seem to concentrate almost completely on string theory so the focus is a bit narrow. UCD has a great range of courses and gives a really good grounding in theoretical physics. Due to the broader range of interests of the staff I'd probably rate it ahead of TCD for undergrad - though I am biased since I went there! Maynooth and UCC have improved greatly in recent years but I don't know as much about them.