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Bachelor of Science in Physics or BSc Physics is a 3 year undergraduate course, which deals with the nuances of Physics and its various properties. The curriculum is divided into 6 semesters, spanning over three years. It includes the specialized scientific study of Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry in detail.
Any candidate, who has passed his/her high school, i.e. 10+2 from PCM/PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology), with an aggregate of 60% or more, is eligible to take admission in this course. Some universities require the candidate to pass an entrance to take admission to BSc/BSc(Hons.) Physics.
The average tuition fee charged for BSc Physics courses range from INR 5,000 to 30,000. Admission in most of the BSc Physics colleges are Merit-Based, but some colleges may conduct their entrance examinations. Some colleges also provide lateral entry admission to the 2nd year directly.
BSc Physics Keypoints
- Duration: 3 years
- Eligibility: 10+2 from PCM/PCB (Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, or Biology)
- Admission Process: Merit or Entrance exam
- Top Entrance Exams: GSAT, DUET
- Top BSc Physics Colleges: Fergusson College, St. Xavier’s College, Stella Maris College, Mount Carmel College, Christ University, Ethiraj College for Women
- Distance Education/Correspondence/Online: Yes.
- Distance Education Colleges: IGNOU, NIMS University, School of Distance Education and Learning, Uttarakhand Open University, Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU)
- Average Annual Fees: INR 5,000 to 30,000
- Average Starting Salary: INR 3 to 6 lakhs per annum
- Popular Courses after BSc Physics: M.Sc Physics, M.Phil Physics, M.Sc. Applied Physics, M.Sc.+ PhD (Physics and Astrophysics), MBA
- Areas of Work: Aerospace, Manufacturing, Engineering, Oil and Gas, Telecommunication
- Job Positions: Treasury Management Specialist, Content Developer, Quality Control Manager, Radiologist, Statistician,.Operations Manager, Software Engineer, Service Delivery Manager, IT Consultant, Solutions Architect, High School Teacher, Senior Project Manager
- Top Recruiting Companies: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, Tech Mahindra Ltd, HCL Technologies Ltd, Accenture, Wipro, Capgemini, IBM India Private Limited, Axis Bank, Nucleus Software, Oracle Corp, TCS, State Bank of India
BSc Physics syllabus is formulated keeping in view its five compulsory subjects which cover all the concepts of Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry in detail. Some subjects in computer science and electronics are also included. The classroom lectures are accompanied by assessments, assignments, internships, seminars, and practical sessions.
Integrated BSc+M.Sc. Physics, BSc (Applied Physics)+M.Sc. Physics courses are available at different universities. These integrated courses are also pursued in distance learning mode for 6 years duration. After the course completion, BSc Physics graduates can expect a starting salary of around INR 3.5 LPA for the positions of Statistician, Treasury Management Specialist, Radiologist, Quality Control Manager, and more.
BSc Physics Eligibility
Interested aspirants for the BSc Physics course are required to fulfil all of the below-mentioned eligibility criteria:
- Students must have cleared their High School, i.e. 10+2 examinations with PCM or PCB stream.
- For lateral entry in 2nd year, they must have got percentile 60% or above in their first year.
BSc Physics Admission Process
The admission for BSc Physics is done based on marks in the university’s entrance exam. Candidates may also be granted an admission based on the merit list. The students can seek admission by analyzing their marks with the cut off announced by a college.
BSc Physics Admission Procedure is:
Step 1: Apply for an entrance exam for BSc Physics colleges and universities, if they take one, or application based on Merit.
Step 2: Prepare and then appear for the entrance exam.
Step 3: Check out the resulting cutoff and appear for the admission process.
In most of the universities, admission in Bachelor of Science in Physics is then done based on marks in the 10+2 examination.
BSc Physics Entrance Exams
There is no common Entrance test for BSc Physics admission all over India, however, very few colleges and universities conduct their entrance test which varies from college to college.
The entrance exams conducted for BSc Physics are:
| Entrance Exams | Conducting Body | Exam Mode | Date of Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUET | Delhi University | Computer Based | To be announced |
| GSAT | GITAM University | Offline (pen and paper based) | To be announced |
The format of most of the BSc Physics Entrance Test is as follows:
- Test Type: Written/ Computer-based
- Test duration: 1 hour to 2 hours
- General Test Syllabus: Syllabus equivalent to 10+2.
- Entrance Exam dates: April-May
These examinations may be conducted in Online mode or are Pen-paper based. The period of the application commencement ranges from March-June and the examination dates vary from one university to another, which are not yet released for most of the examinations.
BSc Physics Colleges in India
There are more than 1128 BSc Physics colleges in India, which offer the 3-year degree BSc Physics course and 4-year Integrated M.Sc. Physics course through on-campus or distance education mode. Most of the colleges are located in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune.
Below table lists some of the top colleges for B.Sc Physics:
| College Name | Location | Admission Process | Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christ University | Bangalore | Merit-based | INR 20,000 |
| Mount Carmel College | Bangalore | Merit-based | INR 42,000 |
| Ethiraj College for Women | Chennai | Merit-based | INR 10,056 |
| St. Xavier’s College | Mumbai | Merit-based | INR 7,187 |
| Jadavpur University | Kolkata | Merit-based | INR 2,400 |
| St. Xavier’s College | Ahmedabad | Merit-based | INR 9,985 |
| Fergusson College | Pune | Merit-based | INR 11,025 |
| Elphinstone College | Mumbai | Merit-based | INR 5,700 |
| Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College | Chennai | Merit-based | INR 1,200 |
| Stella Maris College | Chennai | Merit-based | INR 17,200 |
BSc Physics College Comparison
The table below demonstrates a comparison between the top BSc Physics colleges in India:
| Parameters | Jadavpur University | Elphinstone College |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Kolkata | Mumbai |
| Overview | Jadavpur University is accredited with NAAC ‘Grade A’. It provides UG, PG and doctorate programs in streams including Architecture, Engineering, Science, Education, and Social Science. Admission is on a merit basis. | Elphinstone College is affiliated to the University of Mumbai and is NAAC and offers courses in the streams of Arts, Commerce, Science, IT, Banking, and Vocational degrees. |
| Total Courses offered | 94 courses across 13 streams | 22 courses across 5 streams |
| Admission Process | Merit Based | Merit Based |
| Popular Courses | B.E. / B.Tech , M.A. | BSc, B.Tech, BA |
| Total Courses offered | 94 courses across 13 streams | 22 courses across 5 streams |
| Average Fees | INR 7,200 | INR 16,045 |
| Average Placement Package | 19.96 LPA | 4.0 LPA |
| Ownership | State University | Private |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Goldman Sachs, Ernst & Young, MS, Amazon, L&T, SAP Labs, Infosys | Wipro, TCS, Career Launcher, Infosys, Times of India, King, NIIT |
Source: College Websites
BSc Physics Distance Education
Admission to BSc Physics can be done on-campus or by correspondence mode. BSc Physics distance education mode admission is done solely based on Merit. Candidates are required to meet the cut-off and then they can easily enrol in the course. The fees for such courses range from INR 1,000 to a maximum of INR 8,000 per semester.
The details of few institutes offering BSc Physics distance education are tabulated below:
| College Name | Location | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| NIMS University | Jaipur | INR 32,000 |
| IGNOU | Delhi | INR 12,600 |
| School of Distance Education and Learning | Jaipur | INR 44,150 |
| Uttarakhand Open University | Nainital | INR 40,350 |
| Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU) | Kolkata | INR 9,300 |
Source: College Websites
BSc Physics Syllabus
BSc Physics syllabus consists of core subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Basics, and more.
Mentioned below is a semester- wise breakup of the BSc Physics course’s syllabus.
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Classical Mechanics & theory of relativity | Properties of Matter, Kinetic Theory of Gases |
| Electricity Magnetism & Electromagnetic Theory | Semiconductor Devices |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Computer Programming and Thermodynamics | Statistical Physics |
| Wave and Optics I | Wave and Optics II |
| Semester V | Semester VI |
| Quantum and Laser Physics | Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy |
| Nuclear Physics | Physics Lab, Solid-State and Nano Physics |
Students are required to give a practical test at the end of the BSc Physics course last semester.
BSc Physics Recommended Books
The books for the BSc Physics course vary from one university to another, but some of the books mentioned below are mostly used throughout the country for BSc Physics learning & teaching.
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Concepts of Modern Physics | Arthur Beiser |
| Optics | G. Kaur and G.R. Pickrell |
| Modern Physics | Ajoy Ghatak |
| Mathematical Physics | Mary L Boas |
| Six Ideas that Shaped Physics | Thomas A. Moore |
| Modern Physics | John R. Taylor, Chris D. Zafiratos |
| Quantum Physics | E.H. Wichman |
| Waves and Oscillations | N K Bajaj |
Course Comparison
A detailed comparison between the BSc Physics and all the other two related courses are given below:
| Parameters | BSc Physics | BSc Applied Physics |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Bachelor of Science in Physics | Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics |
| Course Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Course Overview | BSc Physics deals with the nuances of Physics and its various properties. It is the fundamental scientific study of physics at an undergraduate level. | BSc Applied Physics deals with the specialization in applied physics. It is more focused on the practical applications of physics in real life. |
| Average Fees | INR 3,000 to 30,000 | INR 50,000 to 1.5 lakhs |
| Average Salary | INR 3 to 7 lakhs | INR 3.5 to 7 lakhs |
| Colleges | Jadavpur University, Presidency College, Elphinstone College, Stella Maris College | Adaikalamatha College, Oriental University, KKTM Government College |
Source: College Websites
BSc in Physics: Jobs & Career Options
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science in Physics, any graduate student may opt for a Higher degree like M.Sc Physics, M.Phil Physics, M.Sc. Applied Physics, M.Sc.+ PhD (Physics and Astrophysics) or MBA. They may also pursue a career in the fields of Teaching, R&D, Aerospace, manufacturing, engineering, and more. The starting salary of all these job roles ranges between INR 3 to 7 Lakhs. The different roles of employment that are explored by BSc Physics graduates are:
- Physics Home Tutor
- Assistant Professor
- Physics Degree Lecturer
- Associate Auditor
- Proofreader
- Radiologist
- Statistician
Listed below are some of the popular job positions for BSc Physics graduates, along with their corresponding description and salaries offered.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Content developer | Content developers write, review, analyze & finalize the content. | INR 2.42 LPA |
| Quality Control Manager | Quality control manager deals with the reporting, testing, quality management and laboratory analysis in the Petroleum line. | INR 9 LPA |
| Treasury Management Specialists | Treasury Management Specialists are responsible for the investment of surplus funds. | INR 4 LPA |
| High School Physics Teacher | Physics Teachers help students understand the concepts of energy, matter, force, material, and all the laws related to them. | INR 4.86 LPA |
| Statistician | Statisticians collect data and manage Statistical and Data Analysts to provide correct statistics to the client. | INR 4.5 LPA |
| Radiologist | Radiologists study and interpret medical images such as Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, etc. | INR 19 LPA |
BSc Physics Salary Trend Graph
Source: Payscale
BSc Physics Scope
Upon successful completion of a BSc Physics degree, a candidate may go for Research or higher studies like M.Sc Physics, or M.Phil Physics. The average salary starting salary ranges between INR 3 to 7 Lakhs for a BSc Physics graduate, but can reach up to INR 19 Lakhs for the job profiles of Radiation Oncologist and Radiologist. There are endless lucrative job-opportunities.
- They can become meteorologists who study weather conditions through computerized and mathematical models.
- BSc Physics graduates can explore their career in space exploration and telecommunications.
- Graduates may find employment in academic institutions, Power Generating Companies, Hospitals, Pyrotechnics Manufacturers, & government research organizations.
Source: Payscale
Read about more Bachelor of Science courses
FAQs
Ques. What further study options one can choose after completing a course in BSc Physics?
Ans. Any candidate can go either for an M.Phil. or pursue M.Sc. Physics, after the completion of BSc Physics. One can also apply for a PhD or R&D. After the course completion, BSc Physics graduates can expect a starting salary of around INR 3.5 LPA for the positions of Statistician, Treasury Management Specialist, Radiologist, Quality Control Manager, and more.
Ques. What is the duration for a BSc Physics course in India and list some most popular colleges offering it?
Ans. The duration for a BSc Physics is generally 3 years for on-campus regular mode and 6-years through distance education mode. Some of the most famous institutions offering a BSc Physics degree is given below:
Ques. Which universities offer Distance Education for BSc Physics in India?
Ans. There are only a few universities which offer students to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in the distance or correspondence mode.Some of the colleges and universities are:
Ques. What is the average annual fee for a BSc Physics course?
Ans. The average fee charged by BSc Physics Colleges range between INR 5,000-30,000 Per Annum. It can be higher in the case of private colleges ranging from 1 Lacs to 1.5 Lacs per annum.
Ques. Is BSc Physics the right option?
Ans. Well, it depends on your interests and what you wish to pursue after BSc Physics as your career. However, this domain of study has progressed much slower compared to Btech counterparts. But if you want to learn about the laws that govern this universe and the earth, then learning physics is a great option.
Ques. What is the difference between BSc Physics and BSc Applied Physics?
Ans. Bachelor of Science in Physics or BSc Physics is a 3-year undergraduate degree course, which deals with the nuances of Physics and its various properties. It includes the specialized scientific study of Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry in detail. Whereas, the Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics deals with the specialization in applied physics. It is more focused on the practical applications of physics in real life.
Ques. What is the difference between BSc Hons Physics and BSc Physics?
Ans. BSc in physics is a 3-year program, in which one can choose physics as a major and then can choose 2 other subjects. Whereas BSc Hons in physics is a 4-year degree, the major subject is physics, which is accompanied by some subjects related to research too.
Ques. What is taught in BSc Physics?
Ans. BSc Physics syllabus is formulated keeping in view its five compulsory subjects which cover all the concepts of Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry in detail. Some subjects in computer science and electronics are also included. The classroom lectures are accompanied by assessments, internships, seminars, and practical sessions.
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