Education · 1 of 5

The path

Longer than medicine, and with no guaranteed job at the end. Go in knowing that.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Physics, calculus and advanced functions, plus chemistry. Math matters more than physics class does.

2. 2

   Bachelor of Science in physics

   4 years

   Four years of mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and a lot of math. Research placements in the summers are the single best thing you can do.

3. 3

   Master's degree

   2 years

   Two funded years attached to a research group. Some Canadian programs let strong students go straight into a PhD.

4. 4

   PhD

   4 to 6 years

   Four to six years building and defending original research. This is where you actually become a physicist.

5. 5

   Postdoctoral research

   2 to 6 years

   One or two paid research contracts, often in another country, before a permanent position.