Jonah Jarvis

Why did you originally apply to do MSci Physics and Astrophysics at Birmingham?

I found that the quality of the equipment on campus was very impressive, particularly the particle accelerator and university-owned telescopes. The options for fourth year research groups were also a big factor as it felt like my options would be very wide and I’d have a lot of choice to research any topic I may become particularly passionate about during the course of my studies.

What do you think are the best points of MSci Physics and Astrophysics?

The lecturers and staff are all very friendly and helpful. I’ve found that, not only are they willing to answer questions, but enjoy doing it and actively encourage it in lectures. Also, the content of the course, while difficult, is always interesting. Topics I was expecting not to find interesting, like statistics, pleasantly surprised me, keeping my interest and being immediately applicable to work in labs.

What's the best thing about studying at the University of Birmingham?

The campus is very nice and feels very professional. I thought there was a good mix of old and new buildings. Poynting and Physics West being part of the Redbrick buildings makes it feel very well established. The library is a great space to study and very comfortable so I also make use of it a lot.

What's your highlight of your time at the University?

It started snowing and people went out at one in the morning on a Sunday in the Vale and started having snowball fights and doing, as I call it, “student sledding” (sledding down hills on plastic bags) once it had settled. It had a great sense of community and was a really fun night.

What advice would you give to students thinking about studying MSci Physics and Astrophysics?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and find out more about what’s being taught. Use things like tutor sessions and physics families to go over material you haven’t quite grasped yet. Reading different books on more difficult physics is also very useful to help boost your understanding and can give you a leg up when you start studying Physics at uni.

Is there anything extra students thinking about studying MSci Physics and Astrophysics should know?

Physics is very hard and there are a lot of contact hours compared to most other subjects, but I’ve found this work to be very rewarding and I haven’t had problems with balancing this with social life.