Student spotlight: From summer school to graduate scheme

8 July 2026

I am a 4th-year MSc Physics and astrophysics student and have just completed my studies. During secondary school, I attended a physics summer school at Queen Mary University and had the opportunity to work on a week-long group project in the physics labs and present our work. This experience broadened my understanding of physics and practical skills but also showed me how motivated and interested the students were in their course. 

I have enjoyed many parts of my degree here: the course itself and the quality of teaching across the physics course, the opportunities presented after the degree, and the resources available to support reaching your full potential. 

The physics course is taught by very passionate and friendly professors, who make the lectures and teaching enjoyable and engaging. There is also a chance to dive deeper into the understanding of the concepts and expand the discussion of the modules if that topic really interests you as a student, as the professors often provide extra materials or are current researchers in the field.  

Studying physics here improved my problem-solving and critical thinking skills through the different types of module assessments: exams, written reports and articles, and independent projects. Additionally, the final year and 3rd-year review projects were quite self-led and pushed me to think about a research question and plan my work independently, with a lot of support from my supervisors. This was a great challenge that developed my research skills and helped identify which parts of physics are my favourite. 

I was able to receive a lot of comprehensive and consistent career support through my course modules, but also through a central careers team for more personal help and feedback. I met with a physics careers consultant to assist with my CV and cover letters to help present the skills I gained from my degree to employers in different fields. The support from the careers team also helped me understand how to approach employer assessments and interviews. I was able to land an internship and, later on, a graduate scheme in the financial sector using this support.  

The academic team at the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences continuously motivates students to seek and obtain physics internships and work experience to gain more research experience and pursue a physics career. There are opportunities with different laboratories within the UK or other organisations, such as CERN, and schemes like SEPnet to present students with other research projects. These connections have provided me with a great network throughout my career and future prospects.  

There is an inspired student community here as well, which made it possible for me to be part of starting a student society focused on supporting women and queer people in physics. This enhanced my experience at university and connected me with many people in the physics outreach and communication area to meaningfully contribute to improving inclusivity in the field. It also gave the chance to work with friends and create a fun environment within our university.  

Overall, I strongly believe my experience at Queen Mary, studying physics and engaging in the community, has supported my career prospects greatly and has been an exciting time.