Difficult degrees
Physics, Medicine, Law, Engineering, Architecture, Dance, Music: they are degrees that tend to have a reputation for being demanding, and that reputation has specific reasons that are worth knowing before choosing.
“Difficult” depends on each person: what is very hard for one person comes easily to another. There is no official difficulty ranking, and no degree is “the most difficult.” What can be known is what each one requires.
What difficult degrees have in common
These degrees demand a lot for at least one of these reasons:
- A lot of math and physics.
- They are long, with a lot of content to retain and, in several, practical training with patients or animals.
- They require a lot of reading and long projects.
- They require daily practice of the body or the instrument, and several institutions require tests or auditions to get in.
Some are among the longest there are, although the exact length varies by institution and country.
How to handle them: with steady studying instead of last-minute marathons, with study groups, asking teachers or older classmates when something is not understood, and knowing why you want the degree. Choosing out of your own interest holds up better through the years of study than choosing for the fame of the degree.
The degrees according to what they require
A lot of math and physics
Calculus, models, and problems solved step by step. They are degrees like Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Actuarial Science, and several engineering fields: Civil, Chemical, Electronic, Mechanical, and Aeronautical. If at school you like long problems with a solution at the end, these degrees are for you.
Long, with a lot of memorization and practical training
A lot of content to study and retain, and in several of them, practical training with patients or animals. Includes Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, and Biochemistry. It helps to have the habit of reviewing a little every day and of handling contact with people or animals that need care.
A lot of reading and long projects
Law is studied by reading and arguing; Architecture, by developing projects that take weeks. In both, managing your time matters as much as talent.
Daily practice and entrance tests
In Dance and Music, the body or the instrument is trained every day, and many institutions require a test or an audition for admission. Check the requirements of each program.
Where to study demanding degrees
Institutions offering several of these degrees.
Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP)La Plata · Public
Universidad de Chile (UChile)Santiago · Public
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)Mexicali · Public
Universidad Antonio Nariño (UAN)Bogotá · Private
Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh)Valdivia · Private
Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (UAA)Aguascalientes · Public
Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (UACJ)Ciudad Juárez · Public
Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)Bahía Blanca · PublicHow to choose without getting carried away by reputation
Think about what you do without anyone making you: if you stay solving a math problem even though class already ended, if you read for fun, if you practice an instrument or a sport every day, if you like taking care of others or your pets. That says more about you than the prestige of a degree.
A demanding degree is neither better nor worse than a less demanding one: it is a different kind of effort. If you have doubts, the career test compares your answers with these degrees and tells you which ones you fit best with.
If you already have one in mind, read the subjects in its profile and ask someone who is studying it what their real week is like.
To read before choosing
Frequently asked questions
What is the hardest degree?
There isn't one. There is no official ranking, and what is hard depends on your skills and what you enjoy: those who enjoy math suffer less in engineering, and those who enjoy reading suffer less in Law.
Do I need to be really good at math to study engineering?
You need to master the basics and be willing to practice a lot. The math in engineering degrees and Physics is learned by practicing, not just by understanding.
What should I do if I struggle with a subject?
Ask for help early: from your teacher, classmates, or in the institution's tutoring services if it offers them. Putting it off usually makes the problem bigger.
How long do these degrees last?
Several are among the longest, but it depends on the institution and the country. Check the length in the program you are interested in.
Is it worth choosing a degree just because it is demanding?
No. Choose the one that resembles what you like to do: the effort of several years is much easier to handle with real interest.