Updated at: 28-02-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

Choosing a major for your university studies is a major life choice. Your UCAS application is just the first step in a long and exciting journey that will lead you to the university of your dreams, the people you’ll meet there, and the career path you’ll eventually choose.

Since it’s helpful to have a clear picture of the degree’s difficulty level going in, we’ll discuss the most difficult courses in it.

You might feel overwhelmed by the course material if you arrive with false expectations about how easy it will be.

However, if you are prepared for the academic rigors of college, you can look forward to university with enthusiasm. It’s crucial to do your research and give yourself plenty of lead time before diving headfirst into your passion project.

Top Hardest Degree In The World

Top hardest degree in the world

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineers focus on aircraft development, production, and evaluation. Aeronautics, astronautics, and avionics are the subfields within which this research falls. Aerospace engineering is a broad field that can lead to rewarding careers working with aircraft, rockets, missiles, satellites, and spacecraft.

It’s one of the most challenging majors for a reason, but the payoff is well worth the effort. You need excellent design and writing skills in addition to a firm grasp of algebra, geometry, and calculus. Since the focus is on real-world use cases, you’ll also need strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Before applying, you should be performing at a high level because that is the standard for Aerospace Engineering degree programs. To get into Imperial College London, one of the top 10 universities in the world, where the program is offered, you would need at least two A*s and one A on your A-levels or its equivalent. In the first two years, you should focus on building a solid foundation in the fundamentals of aerodynamics, lightweight structural mechanics, and flight mechanics and control.

Modules in aerodynamics, aircraft design, flight mechanics, business management, and airframe and flight dynamics may be available. You can also count on learning the fundamentals of engineering in general.

Even though Aerospace Engineering is a difficult major, it is a fascinating and exciting field, so long as you are prepared to put in the time and effort required to succeed.

Architecture

We wish that getting a degree in architecture were simple. Who doesn’t wish they could go sightseeing and boast, “I built that!” whenever they see a beautiful structure? Architecture, however, is notoriously difficult; some degrees are on par with those in the medical field in terms of time and effort required.

Unfortunately, the job of an architect entails more than just doodling attractive layouts on paper. To properly plan out the sizes, numbers, volumes, and areas of buildings, you need a solid grasp of geometry, trigonometry, and algebra. Moreover, obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture degree in four years is just the beginning of the professional architectural education and training required.

After finishing your undergraduate degree, you will need to complete a year of professional work experience, two more years of full-time university study, such as a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch), a third year of professional training, and a final qualifying exam. It’s not easy, but if you love architecture, it’ll be worth it. If you don’t want to become a chartered architect, you can use your architecture degree for a variety of other careers, such as building control surveyor, urban designer, or interior and spatial designer.

Studying for an architecture degree is notoriously time consuming and demanding. Instead of going out to the student bar, you might find yourself spending more time than usual on projects like building physical models and designing floor plans. Late-night studying is common for architects because architectural drawings take so long to complete. College students studying architecture in the United States sleep the fewest hours per night, on average 5.28.

The head of the Architecture program at Brighton University, Ben Sweeting, has this to say about the discipline: “It’s hard to do very well [in Architecture] and hard to pass. There are only flawed designs and inefficient methods of operation. Additionally, it can be more personally challenging than other arts subjects because your creative vision has to work in practice.

Even though Architecture is a creative field, unlike English Literature, you won’t get any extra credit for arguing for your own personal opinion. If your design doesn’t produce infrastructure that is both mathematically and physically sound, you might as well throw in the towel and call it a day.

Statistics

The study of numbers is known as statistics or statistical science. A statistician applies mathematical principles to situations of varying complexity to ascertain the data types required, the best means of collecting those data, and the most fruitful methods of analyzing those data to provide answers to research questions. It’s true that in comparison to other degree plans, this one is a bit vaguer, but that’s intentional. General statistical analysis is just one of the many fields where a degree in statistics can be useful. Others include data analytics, financial risk analysis, operational research, economics, and financial trading.

Learning what statistics are and how to use them effectively is challenging on its own, and the degree’s rigorous academic expectations only add to the difficulty. Students pursuing a degree in statistics are expected to have a solid grounding in calculus, linear algebra, probability, computer science, analytical and problem-solving skills, and matrix methods. A key part of the practice is being able to accurately and succinctly interpret and convey data on a large scale, often to people who may not be as versed in data analysis, which is what sets statistics apart from other analytical subjects like computer science and requires excellent communication and people skills.

Three A*s at A Levels or the international equivalent, including Mathematics, are required for admission to a university offering this major. In the first year, you’ll focus on strengthening your foundational knowledge of mathematics, and in subsequent years, you’ll dive deeper into your chosen area of concentration. If you were a first-year student at Oxford, for instance, you could expect to have about ten lectures and three tutorials per week. You should expect the first year to be the same as the first year of any mathematics degree. You may have as many as 12 lectures and 4 classes per week in your third and fourth year, not counting time spent on capstone projects.

Possessing a degree in statistics will make you more marketable to a wide range of employers. However, there is a good reason why it is one of the most challenging degrees: it calls for a wide variety of abilities, from mathematics to writing.

Medicine

Medicine

There are a lot of options for free medical schooling, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

This Doctor of Medicine degree program is widely considered to be among the most challenging academic offerings anywhere. Indian students who are interested in enrolling in the program must take the National Eligibility and Eligibility Test (NEET) before they can do so.

While there is a lot of material to cover in this lengthy course, the focus is on understanding rather than memorization. Without a doubt, no aspect of a student’s medical education is superfluous.

Pharmacy

Although both medicine and pharmacy are part of the healthcare sector, there is a world of difference between the two. Think of them as opposite sides of the same coin. Pharmacy is considered one of the most challenging fields of study on the planet due to its rigorous curriculum and extensive preparation time.

Like the other courses here, employment prospects after completing this one are plentiful and varied.

All pharmacy students, whether they are pursuing a Bachelor of Pharmacy, a Diploma in Pharmacy, or a Doctor of Pharmacy, are confronted with the sometimes daunting subjects of Chemistry and Biology.

Nursing

Nursing is one of the world’s most challenging fields because it calls for qualities as diverse as patience, medical knowledge, fortitude, and a selfless spirit.

Because of the profound impact that a caring act can have on a person’s path to recovery, many nursing programs offer their programs at no cost to those with a strong sense of empathy.

Nurses help medical professionals, patients, and their loved ones.

High school and college grades in required subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Psychology. They need to be quick thinkers who can address and head off any issues that arise in a patient’s immediate surroundings.

Dentistry

Dentistry

There is a lot of reading and clinical work involved if you want to go to dental school, just like there is in medical school.

Fine motor skills are essential, as are an interest in and background in science disciplines like biology, chemistry, and mathematics.

The field of dentistry requires a rigorous academic and competitive environment to succeed in. You should be committed to dentistry from the start because there aren’t as many schools that offer it as there are medical sciences.

A*AA in your A-levels or equivalent, including Biology and Chemistry, is required to enter King’s College London’s dental school, widely regarded as the best in the UK. Because of the integrated nature of this course, as well as many others in the dental field, the science you learn in class will have a direct bearing on the clinical work you do, and the knowledge you gain in the clinic will be grounded in your research.

Oral surgery, periodontics, and prosthodontics are three of dental school’s most rigorous disciplines, each of which necessitates, once again, a comprehensive medical literacy and a high level of motor skill. Like with medical school, deciding on a career in dentistry requires making a commitment early on. It’s a lot harder than your average degree, and it actually matters in the real world. There’s a good reason dentistry is viewed as a challenging field of study, so you should be sure it’s the one you want to pursue before committing to it.

Chartered Accountancy

A Chartered Accountant (CA) is an internationally recognized accounting professional who has completed a 4-year undergraduate accounting program in addition to their 3-year CA program. Accreditation from the Association of Certified Public Accountants (ACCA) is one of the most challenging benchmarks to achieve on the global stage. You will learn a variety of disciplines, including corporate law, accounting, auditing, finance, risk analysis, mathematics, and computer science. So, if you want to succeed, you have to put in the effort. There is little room for error when the fate of entire companies and organizations rests in your hands.

Please take note that the term CA is used in the UK and other commonwealth countries. A CPA is the equivalent in the United States. Not to be confused with the ICAI’s Chartered Accountant program in India. The content of the Indian CA program is adapted specifically for the needs of Indian corporations and the Indian legal system. Find an ACCA-approved program to earn recognition around the world.

Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Mechanics

For a description of the physical properties of nature on the scale of atoms and subatomic particles, quantum mechanics is a foundational theory that combines physics and mathematics. Since the goal of this field is to examine the various forces at work in the natural world, it has broad potential applications. Recent breakthroughs in this area have led to discoveries such as black holes and quantum computers. Complex numbers, integral calculus, elementary probability, functional integration and analysis, and many other topics should be second nature to a student of quantum mechanics.

FAQs

What is the hardest degree at Harvard?

Classes in Mechanics and Special Relativity, Microeconomic Theory, Organic Chemistry, Honors Abstract Algebra, Engineering Thermodynamics, and Social Studies are considered to be the most challenging at Harvard.

What Makes a Degree So Difficult to Obtain?

Getting a degree is challenging because it requires a lot of time, effort, and focus. Coursework, independent study, and final exams are typical components. It can be difficult and overwhelming to acquire all the information and expertise needed to pass a degree program’s requirements. Completing a degree program can be a significant time and financial investment.

Which Degree is the Most Difficult in the World?

What is the most challenging academic degree program around the globe? Since the difficulty of a degree depends on both the student and the curriculum, we cannot say with any certainty that any given degree is more challenging than any other. However, medicine, engineering, law, and computer science are some of the most challenging fields to earn a degree in.

Conclusion

There you have it. The most difficult academic credential available. If you have the aptitude and interest to pursue any of these degree programs at university, you will no doubt have a fantastic academic experience. Don’t let the rigorous nature of these degrees discourage you.