• Question: What grades do you need to become a scientist?

    Asked by jmac to Alessandro, Angela, Claudia, Marina, Phil on 12 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Phillip Wilkinson

      Phillip Wilkinson answered on 12 Mar 2013:

      According to Brian Cox, he got a D in A-Level maths.

      So amazing grades aren’t the only thing you need to become a scientist. Though good grades certainly help and you need to know about field! What’s more important is an interest and passion for the subject you are a scientist in, as well as a love of asking questions.

    • Photo: Claudia Krehl

      Claudia Krehl answered on 12 Mar 2013:

      If you want to become a scientist as a career, you first need to go to university. It depends on the university what grades you need. Once you are at uni you probably should aim for a 2.1 or a 1st class degree. You might also have to do a masters course at uni before you can get into research. And then you can apply for a PhD position, where you work 3 or 4 years on a project and you get to collect you Doctor title afterwards. Nothing can stop you then! I’ve got another 6 months to go 🙂

      But Phil is right, passion and enthusiasm are the most important thing and if you have those then the grades will follow!

    • Photo: Marina De Vos

      Marina De Vos answered on 12 Mar 2013:

      Curiosity and perseverance are probably the most valuable qualities for a scientist.
      But having a good university degree will help and makes things a easier. The exact A-level results depends on the university.
      If you want to stay at a university you will need a Phd (doctor of philosophy). Some universities or disciplines will require you to do a master before. Others will allow you to start straight after your batchelor.

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