In this video I break down the real differences between physics and engineering, because “which one should I choose?” is one of those questions that looks simple on paper, but gets messy the moment you think about careers, day-to-day work, and what you actually enjoy learning. I start by clarifying what I mean by “physics” (a framework for understanding how the world works, from first principles) versus “engineering” (taking those principles and turning them into useful, working systems under constraints). I also share my own perspective as someone who’s done astrophysics at Cambridge and worked as a spacecraft engineer—so I’ve seen both mindsets up close. I go through the benefits and downsides of a physics degree: it’s insanely strong for problem-solving, abstraction, and keeping doors open, but it can be less direct in terms of “here is the job you will do” unless you intentionally build applied skills alongside it. Then I do the same for engineering: it’s usually more structured, more obviously tied to specific roles, and you’ll get more practice designing within real-world constraints—but it can also feel narrower if you’re craving deep theory or you’re not sure which branch you want. My main takeaway is that neither path is “better”; the right choice depends on whether you’re motivated more by understanding or by building, and what kind of work you want to do most days.