The dual EHEA bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics: Passion for the game of knowledge

Laia Montraveta.
Laia Montraveta.
(26/02/2014)

They name themselves ʻmathephysicistsʼ; they are around twenty students that start the dual EHEA bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics every year. In 2012-2013 academic year, half of them gained admission to the University with a mark higher than 13. These students, who study during five years the degrees in Mathematics and Physics simultaneously, get high marks at the University and they also have time to do other activities. Teaching staff consider them more mature than other students. In a country that is below OCDE standards according to PISA results, ʻmathephysicistsʼ outstand because they ensure they enjoy studies and knowledge acquisition as learning is a game for them.

Laia Montraveta.
Laia Montraveta.
26/02/2014

They name themselves ʻmathephysicistsʼ; they are around twenty students that start the dual EHEA bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics every year. In 2012-2013 academic year, half of them gained admission to the University with a mark higher than 13. These students, who study during five years the degrees in Mathematics and Physics simultaneously, get high marks at the University and they also have time to do other activities. Teaching staff consider them more mature than other students. In a country that is below OCDE standards according to PISA results, ʻmathephysicistsʼ outstand because they ensure they enjoy studies and knowledge acquisition as learning is a game for them.

Once at the University, it is proved that students of the dual degree pass 74% of enrolled subjects in the first year, and 96% of them in the third year, whereas this figure is between 50% and 72% in the case of students of the degree in Mathematics. Therefore, the grades obtained by dual degree students are similar to the ones got by the best students of either degree, or even better in some cases. Josep Taron, university lecturer at the Faculty of Physics, points out that they are brilliant students and they are really motivated, “even if it is not easy”.

 
“My classmates and I like science, particularly physics and maths; we didnʼt want to choose between them, so the dual degree was the perfect option to study both”, explains Sergi Justiniano, who is now studying the second year of the dual degree and affirms that mathematics are “like a hobby”. Laia Montraveta, the only woman in her class, also explains that she decided to study the degree because she liked mathematics and physics, “and I did not have to say no to any of them”. Armajac Raventós, who is now on the fifth year, highlights the same idea too: “I really like mathematics, but also physics, so it was the way to not select only one”.
 
Students find some connections between both degrees. “Some Physics subjects are much easier if you have studied Mathematics; anyway, to connect both areas is always a good idea”, affirms Sergi. Armajac explains that “in Physics, a type of intuitive reasoning is developed and you realize that mathematics is a useful tool (in fact, sometimes you observe that there is a lack in the way we use mathematics). Actually, they influence one to each other”. Taron points out that the students of the dual degree know a perfect and axiomatic world, like mathematics, and at the same time, they learn physics, so they can apply this knowledge.
 
Most students of the dual degree combine their studies (they have lessons in the morning and in the afternoon) with other activities, for instance languages, sports or music. “I try to do some sport because we spend many hours in class, so days can be really boring and tiring”, says Sergi. Regarding time management, the student underlines that “ten well-spent minutes are better than two hours of exercise”. 
 
Concerning their future professional career, Josep Taron ensures that they usually focused it on research. Laia and Armajac, even if they are now studying the last year of the degree, do not know what they want to do then. Armajac affirms that he would like to continue studying, “at least for the moment”. Sergi, who is studying the second year, wants to “research on physics”. He likes mathematics, but he loves international research projects on physics.
 
It seems that the students of the dual degree on Mathematics and Physics view studies as an amusing activity. They share the idea that Marc Ranchal (student of the first year of the degree in Mathematics at UB who formulated a theorem on the research project he developed in upper secondary education) stated when he was speaking about the difficulty of learning mathematics: “It is like a game, an intellectual game, but a game; the fact is that everyone do not like the same games”.