There are thousands of courses available to study in the World, but which of these courses are more difficult than others? Join us as we explore the 55 most difficult courses in the World.
As a student, you must have argued with your friends about which course is more difficult than others. Most students believe that engineering is the most difficult course to study. But are they right? You will find out shortly.
Just like our fingers, all courses are not equal. Each course has its coursework. Some are difficult, some are easy. There is no doubt, that all students have to study well to pass, but some need to study more.
Do you want to know why some courses are more difficult than the rest? Some of the reasons are mentioned below.
Table of Contents
What Makes A Course Difficult to Study?
The difficulty of a course is subjective. How you will perform in a course depends on your strength, interest, and skills.
You may find one of the easiest courses difficult if you don’t have an interest in it or have a solid foundation in it.
The difficulty of a course also depends on the lecturer or professor. Some professors can make passing a course a nightmare because of their bad teaching methods.
Some courses are difficult because of the voluminous courses. Students studying these courses have a lot to cover in a period of time. Even though the most difficult courses take longer to complete, the time is not just enough.
The difficulty of a course also depends on the school. Studying at MIT or Cambridge may be more challenging than at some schools – because of the difference in coursework.
How to choose a course to study
Are you still struggling to decide on your course of study? These steps can guide you on how to choose the right course to study in the college or university:
1. Decide your interest
The first step is to decide what interests you. You might be wondering how to know your interest. It is simple.
List out the subjects or topics that you enjoyed while in secondary school. Then, check for courses that require the subjects.
If you already have a career in mind, then search for courses required to pursue that career. After you decide on your interest, draw out a list of courses you will like to study.
For example, if you wish to pursue a career in the healthcare field, you should either choose medicine, pharmacy, nursing, psychology, nutrition, e.t.c.
2. Research your chosen courses
Check blog posts about the courses you have an interest in. Find out about the duration, career prospects, best schools for the courses, and other information. Also, check the course outline of the courses, this will give you an insight into the courses.
You can also speak to professionals in your chosen field – they can share with you their experiences while studying.
3. Decide on your Degree type
There are different types of degrees – associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. An associate degree will take less time than a bachelor’s degree.
If you wish to spend four years and more on a course, then you should pursue a bachelor’s degree. Degree type also depends on your choice of career. You can’t practice medicine with only an associate degree.
4. Find out about Entry Requirements
Each course has its requirements, some may require certain grade scores, GPA, and possession of certain skills – this will show you the level of competition. It is also a good measure of whether you are capable of studying a course or not.
5. Consider the Cost of Studying
Cost is another factor to consider when choosing a course to study.
Some courses are very expensive – in terms of tuition, practical fees, book fees e.t.c. But, this is not enough reason to cancel your dream of studying a particular course, as several schools offer financial awards.
Tips on How to Pass Tough Courses
Tough courses can be challenging but not impossible. If you ever find it difficult to pass a course, try these 8 steps:
1. Change Your Mindset
The first step is to change your opinions about the course.
Like we said earlier, the difficulty of a course depends on you. If you believe you can pass a course then you will pass. Be determined to learn the course.
2. Attend Class Regularly
Don’t miss a class because you find the course difficult. The classes may be boring but that is not enough reason to be absent.
Always attend classes, pay attention to the lectures, ask questions, and be part of all conversations. If you find it difficult to understand your lecturer, record the class and listen to it later.
3. Build a Good Foundation
The reason most students find a particular course difficult is a lack of knowledge of the core subjects. You may have to go back to study your high school textbooks.
4. Change Your Approach
If you have been failing a course consecutively, then it’s time to change your approach.
Try new study methods, like dividing your notes into small units and reading the units one at a time. Don’t try to rush.
Also, make sure you avoid any form of distraction during your study time. Read in a quiet environment, take breaks and eat.
5. Go over your notes regularly
You don’t have to wait till it’s a week to test or exam before you start studying, by then there will be a lot to cover. Make sure you spend at least 30 minutes per day going over your notes before the next class.
6. Try Practice Tests
You can test your knowledge with practice tests. There are several practice tests for each course online, download them and answer the questions. If you have access to past exam questions, you can use them to test your knowledge.
7. Ask for Help
No matter how difficult a course is, there will still be students that perform well in them. Don’t be shy to ask them to tutor or explain some topics to you.
In most schools, top students in a course organize prep classes to help students that find the course difficult. You can attend these prep classes.
8. Talk to Your Professor
This may sound off, but you may need to discuss your challenges with your professor.
They may share with you tips, study materials, and other things that can help you pass their courses.
List of 55 Most Difficult Courses in the World
Below are the 55 Most Difficult Courses in the World in no particular order:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Nursing
- Law
- Chartered Accountancy
- Engineering
- Veterinary Medicine
- Astronomy
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Architecture
- Aeronautics
- Economics
- Neuroscience
- Statistics
- Finance
- Philosophy
- Linguistics
- Psychology
- Fine Arts
- Accounting
- Biochemistry
- Human Anatomy
- Nuclear Physics
- Biomedical Science
- Quantum Mechanics
- Information Technology
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Radiology
- Entrepreneurial Studies
- Management Science
- Materials Science
- Cellular/Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
- Nanotechnology
- Geology
- Urban Planning
- Environmental Science
- History
- Linguistics
- Mass Communication
- Commerce
- Geography
- Geosciences
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Journalism
- Theatre Arts
- Criminology
- Mineralogy
- Forensic Science
- Microbiology
- Music
- Anthropology/Archeology.
The Toughest Courses in the World
1. Medicine
Medicine is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the diagnosis, treatment of disease, and other aspects of health.
Studying medicine is no easy task, it requires the memorization of terms, laws, and so on. Medicine is one of the most difficult courses because it has a bulky curriculum, difficult exams, lots of lab work, takes more time to complete, and requires a lot of reading.
However, if you prefer reading to solving ambiguous calculations then you will thrive in medicine than in fields that require mathematics.
2. Pharmacy
Pharmacy is a field that concentrates on the preparation, distribution, and prescription of drugs, as well as the effects of drugs on humans.
It is considered to be among the most difficult courses in the world because it requires a background in chemistry and biology – some of the hard science subjects.
Pharmacy has its roots in organic chemistry. So if you struggle with organic chemistry, pharmacy will be difficult to pass.
Pharmacy has a heavy course load and includes lots of lab work. Topics covered are usually microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, organic chemistry, immunology, pharmacy jurisprudence e.t.c.
3. Nursing
Just like medicine, Nursing is concerned about the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of patients.
Nursing students spend a lot of time in Clinical practice, learning how to care for patients. This is no joke.
As a nursing student, you will likely study anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, gerontology, psychology, sociology, and so on.
4. Law
Law is the discipline and profession concerned with the customs, practices, and rules of a country. It is one of the most respected courses in the world.
Law requires a lot of time – takes longer to complete than other courses, and requires students to read a lot.
5. Chartered Accountancy
Chartered Accountancy is a degree that can be earned after completing three levels of exams. The degree centered on the study of accounting, finance, and taxation.
The journey of becoming a chartered accountant can be challenging but is worth it. According to QS Top Universities, Accounting is one of the 10 lucrative degree subjects.
It requires a strong background in mathematics and requires a lot of work.
6. Engineering
Engineering is no doubt one of the most difficult courses in the world. It is a very broad discipline, concerned with the application of science and mathematics to design and build machines, structures, and solve problems.
Engineering is difficult because it involves a lot of mathematics, and requires students to have logical skills, analytical skills, abstract thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and so on.
Even though engineering is difficult to study, there are some engineering courses easier than others.
7. Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary is the branch of medicine concerned with the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and injuries in animals.
Some of the courses covered in veterinary medicine are: animal husbandry, parasitology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, public health, and epidemiology.
Veterinary medicine is difficult because it has heavy coursework, and requires good memory to pass exams.
8. Astronomy
Astronomy is the science that studies the universe and objects in it – planets, moons, stars, galaxies, nebulae, and comets.
Studying astronomy is hard because its core courses – mathematics, physics, and chemistry, are challenging. However, if you enjoy mathematics and physics you will enjoy astronomy.
9. Physics
Physics is the science that deals with the structure of matter and the interactions between the fundamental constituents of the observable universe. Sounds quite easy right. No! Physics is a difficult course.
To pass this course you must have a retentive memory – you will be memorizing a lot of formulas, theories, principles, and laws. You will also practice the knowledge acquired theoretically in laboratory classes.
Physics requires a strong background in mathematics and logical thinking skills.
10. Chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the structure, properties, and behavior of matter.
Just like Physics, Chemistry requires memorization of laws, properties of compounds, and the periodic table.
Some of the difficult topics in chemistry are organic chemistry, chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry, nuclear physics, and thermodynamics.
11. Architecture
Architecture involves designing and constructing buildings and other structures.
It is among the most difficult courses because it requires a good understanding of geography, physics, and mathematics. Students who perform excellently in those subjects will enjoy architecture.
12. Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the study of the science, design, and manufacture of aircraft. It is one of the majors of aerospace engineering.
The work put into designing aircraft is a lot, so as studying it. It requires a lot of skills – critical thinking, problem-solving, intelligence, creativity, and innovative thinking.
However, Aeronautics is not impossible. All you need to do is perfect and develop some skills, and improve in mathematics and physics.
13. Economics
Economics is a field of social science, concerned with the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth.
This course is difficult because it is a combination of many subjects – mathematics, business, accounting, psychology, and sociology.
Economics can be challenging because students need to understand the concepts of supply and demand, scarcity, diminishing returns, and opportunity costs.
14. Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous systems, especially the brain, and its impact on behavior and cognitive function.
Neuroscientist examines the structure and function of the human brain and nervous system.
Neuroscience is difficult because it is an interdisciplinary science that combines mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physiology, biology, anatomy, psychology, and medicine.
15. Statistics
Statistics is the science of collecting, analyzing, presenting and interpreting data.
Studying statistics is difficult because it combines math concepts to interpret data. This course will be difficult for students who have little or no knowledge of mathematics – especially probability and linear algebra.
16. Finance
Finance is the study of money and assets. Most students find finance difficult because it requires mathematics, accounting, and economics.
Finance can be challenging especially at the graduate level. However, someone with an aptitude for maths will thrive well in this field.
17. Philosophy
In simple words, philosophy is the love of wisdom. It is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.
Philosophy can deal with your mental health because it will make you question everything, including the truth. It requires abstract thinking and critical reasoning.
18. Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language and its structure. It involves the study of phonetics, phonology, syntax, pragmatics, morphology, and sociolinguistics.
Linguistics is hard because it is centered on language. Language is a complex thing and can be challenging to study. However, linguistics focuses on other things apart from languages.
Linguistics can be combined with courses in other fields, like sociology, psychology, history, philosophy, and mathematics.
19. Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Major branches of psychology are health, educational, counseling, clinical, social, marriage and family psychology, and developmental psychology.
Psychology is a quite complex field, you will be faced with the challenge of understanding several psychological disorders – depression and hysteria.
20. Fine Arts
Fine Arts are listed among the most difficult courses in the world because the amount of coursework can be time-consuming, and requires a lot of money – you will spend most of your money on quality art materials.
Students in Fine Arts take classes in drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpting, painting, e.t.c.
However, students that are art-inclined will thrive well in Fine Arts.
7 Most Difficult Examinations to Pass in the World
Students studying the hardest courses in the world often sit for exams that are difficult to pass. Some of the most difficult exams to pass in the World are:
1. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
Medical College Admission Test is a computer-based standardized examination required by medical schools in the US, Canada, Australia, and Caribbean Islands.
MCAT is designed by the Association of America Medical Colleges (AAMC) to test the knowledge of prerequisites to study medicine. It also assesses students’ skills – problem-solving and critical skills.
2. United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
The United States Medical Licensing Examination is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the US.
The first two steps are taken while in medical school, and the third step (final exam) is taken after graduation. Medical students can only attempt each step of USMLE four times.
3. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
The CFA program is a three-part exam that tests the fundamentals of investment tools, valuing assets, profit management, and wealth planning.
Only students with backgrounds in finance, accounting, economics, or business, are eligible for the CFA program.
4. Gaokao
The National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) popularly known as the Gaokao, is a standardized college entrance exam for students in China.
Gaokao is usually taken by students in their final year of senior high school. It is required for entrance into almost all higher education institutions at the undergraduate level.
Gaokao is popularly known as one of the toughest examinations in the World. The exam lasts for about nine hours over a period of two or three days.
5. Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT)
Law National Aptitude Test is used by UK universities to select students for their undergraduate law courses.
LNAT is not a test of knowledge, but rather tests students’ aptitude for the skills required to study law. It is made up of two sections: multiple-choice questions based on passages of text, and an essay.
6. Indian Engineering Services/Engineering Services Examination (ISE/ESE)
The engineering Services Examination is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). ESE is an exam conducted for the selection of technical officers of the Republic of India, offered once a year.
The ESE is one of the most difficult examinations to pass. It tests general knowledge, engineering aptitude, engineering mathematics, engineering discipline-specific knowledge, e.t.c.
7. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is a computer-based standardized test administered by the Indian Institute of Technology.
GATE is used by many Indian engineering colleges to test students’ understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science for admission into a master’s program. It is also used by public sector Indian companies to recruit engineers.
GATE lasts for 3 hours and is offered once a year. The scores are valid for three years only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MBBS the toughest degree?
MBBS or Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery is the toughest medical course that requires five years of study.
What is the Best University for Medicine?
Harvard University is the best university for clinical medicine, followed by John Hopkins University and University of California - San Diego.
What is the toughest exam?
Master Sommelier Diploma Exam is considered the world's toughest examination. It is an exam for expert winemakers and is divided into three sections: theory, service, and blind tasting.
What is the most difficult engineering course?
The top 3 hardest engineering courses are electrical engineering, chemical engineering, and aerospace engineering.
We Also Recommend:
- Top 10 Hardest engineering courses in the world
- List of the easiest online associate degrees to get
- 25 easiest college majors that pay well
- Top 15 hardest Degree in the world 2022
- 30 easiest doctorate programs without a dissertation.
Conclusion
Studying difficult courses may be challenging but it is highly rewarding.
Students studying the most difficult courses in the world are qualified to pursue some of the most lucrative jobs.
So, if you have chosen to study any of these courses, you are definitely on the right path. Which of these courses do you have an interest in? Let us know in the Comment Section.