Interview: Double Degree Physics
We recently sat down with two UCU students who opted to do a double degree programme in Physics, combining a flexible Liberal Arts and Sciences curriculum at UCU with courses in Physics from Utrecht University. The double degree programme typically means taking one additional year to graduate, but also allows a high degree of academic freedom.
Reflecting on their experiences in the Double Degree Physics are Miguel Guerra Benedit from Spain and Fenna Roovers from the Netherlands. Miguel is currently in his final year at UCU and aiming to graduate in 2026, while Fenna has already completed her degree and is currently doing a Master’s in Physics.
Choosing More Than One Passion
For Fenna, physics was never the only subject that she was interested in, and had a number of interests while in high school, from mathematics to Greek and Latin. Fenna says choosing a single discipline felt like giving something up. “I didn’t want to study just physics,” she explains. “I wanted to keep doing other things as well.” Going for a double degree at UCU meant she didn’t have to choose between her interests. She could combine physics with literature, and as it turned out, she would do far more literature courses than she initially expected.
Miguel’s dilemma was similar but he was interested in a different set of subjects. Miguel says he was interested in physics and biology in equal measure, but also other subjects outside of the sciences such as philosophy. After arriving at UCU, the liberal arts and sciences curriculum allowed him to dive into molecular cell biology while also pursuing the physics track. What began as a simple desire to study two subjects he enjoyed gradually revealed deeper connections. Over time, he came to see biology and chemistry as “applied physics,” with their processes further informed by the statistical mechanics and advanced theory he encountered in the double degree. Physics didn’t replace his interest in biology; it strengthened it.
The courses that I took in the last year of the double degree, I use them every day in my Physics Master's
The Double Degree Programme in Physics
Any student at UCU may opt to go for the Double Degree Programme in Physics, and while applying to UCU there is no separate admission process. Once students are admitted to UCU, they are required to make an application to the Double Degree Programme, usually at the end of the first or second year, and take the required courses. In the third year at UCU, students start to take courses from the Utrecht University Department of Physics. After the additional year focused on physics at Utrecht University, students are required to write a thesis that counts for both institutions. Students take advanced courses, from quantum mechanics and classical field theory to specialised topics such as gravitational waves, alongside physics students at the Science Park.
For Fenna, who is now pursuing a master’s in theoretical physics at Utrecht University, those advanced courses form the backbone of her current studies. “I use them every day,” she says. For students aiming at a pure physics master’s, she believes the double degree is not just helpful but often essential. It provides the formal preparation that universities recognise and expect.
Miguel, graduating this year and planning to continue with a master’s in experimental physics, sees it similarly, although he emphasises the flexibility the extra year offers. With four years instead of three, Miguel says he was able spread out his workload and even take additional courses in biology at Utrecht University that would otherwise have been impossible to fit in.
In the beginning I didn't really think about how biology and physics went together, but as I progressed I understood that biology and chemistry are in essence applied physics
Breadth as Strength
What distinguishes the double degree is not simply the opportunity to go deeper into advanced topics in Physics, but also the possibilities to broaden curricula and diversify the disciplines students are able to explore. Fenna combined physics with literature, and later on with the history and philosophy of physics. Her thesis explored cosmology from a historical and philosophical perspective, an interest she now hopes to connect with advanced cosmology courses in her master’s.
Fenna says that the humanities background has given her tools her peers who only studied physics sometimes lack: writing fluency, confidence in presenting, and the ability to shape complex ideas into compelling narratives. “You’re just not scared of presentations anymore,” she smiles, reflecting that her time at UCU has given her great writing and presenting skills apart from a depth and breadth of knowledge.
Miguel echoes this idea of breadth as advantage. As someone interested in biophysics, Miguel says the molecular biology and chemistry knowledge he gained at UCU will be invaluable. A traditional physics degree might have offered depth; the double degree offers both depth and interdisciplinary agility.
It's nice to be surrounded by people who study different combinations of subjects, and when I say I study physics and literature, they are not at all surprised
Beyond the UCU Bubble
Both students say that transitioning from UCU’s small seminars to larger lectures at Utrecht University was initially daunting. Fenna worried that students who had spent years focusing exclusively on physics might be ahead, but quickly found confidence. Fenna says even if she sometimes needed a bit of extra time to catch up on background knowledge, she was able to work things out, offering a boost to her confidence as a student of physics.
Miguel says that he appreciated the shift in dynamics. While UCU’s smaller classes foster close engagement, Miguel reflects that the research-driven environment at Utrecht University connects students directly to cutting-edge topics. Courses like gravitational waves are taught by researchers active in the field, offering a glimpse into the frontiers of physics.
Campus Life and Growth
Both emphasise that the UCU experience extends far beyond academics. Living on campus, surrounded by students equally passionate about wildly different subjects, fosters conversations that might not happen elsewhere. According to Fenna, “when I say I do physics and literature people aren’t surprised.” That academic and intellectual openness becomes not only accepted but expected.
Miguel, an international student, found the residential nature of UCU especially valuable. He points out that arriving in a new country can be isolating, but being housed alongside fellow students created an immediate sense of belonging. “The whole campus experience is an enriching part of the University College degree, and is very valuable in itself” he says.
The growth they describe is not always comfortable. Spending hours on a problem without progress can be frustrating and shake anyone’s confidence. Miguel mentions that learning patience, and indeed resilience, became one of his most important lessons. Fenna recalls moments of doubt too, wondering whether a conventional physics degree might have been easier, yet those moments are balanced by the recognition that she gained skills and perspectives that extend beyond equations.
The Double Degree in Physics was very enriching both academically and personally, and really helps you grow a lot as a person as an academic
Looking Ahead
Fenna, now deep into her master’s, says that she is considering a future in academia and possibly a PhD, with cosmology high on her list of interests. Miguel is weighing theoretical versus experimental physics, leaning toward experimental work in soft matter and biophysics. He says that an internship may help him decide between academia and industry where physics graduates are employed. Both see many opportunities for graduates with a physics background in the fields of engineering, technology and research where applied physics are used.
Both students encourage others with an interest in physics to consider joining the double degree programme and reflect on their time at UCU fondly. “It was very enriching academically and personally” Miguel says, “it may sound a bit corny, but it’s a time when you grow a lot as a person and as an academic”. Fenna puts it differently: she enjoyed the freedom to combine her interest in physics with the humanities and not having to sacrifice one for the other: “I felt supported to try to figure out what it was that I wanted to do, and how to include physics while learning other things as well. Now I'm doing my master's in physics I really appreciate that at UCU”.