Another good year for physics

As the Scottish Qualifications Authority releases the results for 2012’s Higher examinations, the Institute of Physics has welcomed a two per cent increase in the number of students choosing to take the physics course.

The number of students has risen from 9,445 in 2011 to 9,623 in 2012, including the new revised higher.  The Advanced Higher in Physics has also seen an increase in entrants from 1,757 in 2011 to 1,917 in 2012.

Alison McLure, the Institute of Physics (IOP)’s National Officer in Scotland, said: “Not only is phyiscs a fascinating subject, qualifications in physics open doors to the best universities and give students a real edge in competition for highly-sought after careers.  We’re delighted that students across Scotland are recognising this and choosing to study the subject.”

However, with only 29% of the physics Higher entrants being female, physics is still appealing more to boys than girls.

Alison McLure continued, “We want to see as many girls taking physics as boys.  For as long as boys significantly outnumber girls in the physics classroom, we can be sure that there are thousands of able girls in Scotland who are missing valuable opportunities.”