A breakdown of the structure of the Natural Sciences degrees:
You can find the term dates on the Life at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ website, a typical term is composed of five weeks of study, followed by one reading week and then another five weeks of study in each of the first and second terms and a final, shorter, third term for examinations.Ìý Term dates for the 2023-24 academic yearÌýcan be found here.
Below is the overall structure of the programme in each year, if you want to see what you could be studying in each stream, check out the core streams page.
- Year 1
The first term of the first year is comprised of students taking three "foundation courses" that introduce them to the broad scientific areasÌýoffered on eachÌýstream, students choose these courses during induction week and take them for the duration of the first term.Ìý You then decide which twoÌýsubject areas they wish to follow on intoÌýstreams at the end of the first term.Ìý
The six foundation modules currently offered are:
- Chemistry -ÌýChemical Foundations (CHEM0005)Ìýstudents following this moduleÌýcan then take theÌýPhysical Chemistry, InorganicÌýand Materials Chemistry or Organic Chemistry ²õ³Ù°ù±ð²¹³¾²õ.Ìý
- Earth Sciences -ÌýThe Earth (GEOL0007)Ìýstudents following thisÌýmodules can then take the Earth and EnvironmentÌý´Ç°ùÌýGeophysical Sciences ²õ³Ù°ù±ð²¹³¾²õ.ÌýÌý
- Life Sciences -ÌýLife Sciences Foundation (BIOS0019)Ìýstudents following this moduleÌýcan then take the Biomedical Sciences,ÌýGenetics, Evolution andÌýEnvironment,ÌýMolecular and Cell Biology ´Ç°ùÌýNeuroscience andÌýPsychologyÌý²õ³Ù°ù±ð²¹³¾²õ.Ìý
- Statistics -ÌýIntroduction to Probability and Statistics (STAT0002)Ìýstudents following this moduleÌýcan then take the Mathematics and Statistics ²õ³Ù°ù±ð²¹³¾.Ìý
- Physics and Astronomy -ÌýModern Physics, Astronomy and Cosmology (PHAS0011)Ìýstudents following this moduleÌýcan then take the Astrophysics, Physics or Medical PhysicsÌý²õ³Ù°ù±ð²¹³¾²õ.Ìý
- Science and Technology Studies -ÌýIntroduction to History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science (HPSC0009)Ìýstudents following this moduleÌýcan then take the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of ScienceÌýstreams.
In the second term of the first year, you will take two modules in each of your chosen ²õ³Ù°ù±ð²¹³¾²õ.Ìý Note that all assessments (including coursework and examinations) must be taken for the eight modules taken in year one (including in the foundation module area that you did not continue in).
It is not always possible to switch between streams after the first term, as the streams are designed to ensure that the pre-requisites for higher level courses have been completed.ÌýÌý
- Year 2
The second year of study marks the continued consolidation of the two stream areas chosen. Both streams have equal weighting, amounting to 45 credits of study per ²õ³Ù°ù±ð²¹³¾.Ìý
An additional attraction on the Natural Sciences degree at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ is that students have the flexibility (timetable permitting) toÌýpick 15 credits on an electiveÌýmodule, during the second year of the programme.Ìý Often students takeÌýmodules related to their streams butÌýexamples ofÌýmodules from outside main subject areas of study includeÌýmodern foreign languages, management, history of art, economicsor anthropology. Students have the option to take a course that is at first or second year level.Ìý
Towards the end of the second year, you willÌýchoose which one of your streams you want to have as a major stream and which as a minor*Ìýthis then informs some of the third year module choices.
*Note that almost every stream combination allows either stream to be a mjor or minoir, the one exception to this is mathematics and statistics.
- Year 3
The third year of the Natural Sciences degree marks the start of increased specialisation.Ìý After choosing one of their streams as aÌýmajor stream, studentsÌýtake 75 credits in this fieldÌýin the third year, with the remainingÌý45 credits in the minor ²õ³Ù°ù±ð²¹³¾.Ìý The maj´Ç°ùÌýstream'sÌý75Ìýcredits compriseÌý60 credits of taught courses and aÌý15 credit literature review.ÌýÌý
Students have the opportunity to finish with a BScÌýin Natural Sciences after the third year or continue on into the fourth year of study to study for an MSci in Natural Sciences.Ìý To progress to year 4 of the MSci programme, you must have a 3rd year average of 60% or better and a nominal BSc award of an upper second, or better. Students who do not fulfil the required criteria to proceed at the end of the 3rd year may be considered for graduation with the award of a BSc Honours degree
- Year 4
Building on the foundations of prerequisite courses in earlierÌýyears of theÌýdegree, the fourth yearÌýoffers students the opportunity to study the most specialist courses in a range of top-rated °×С½ãÂÛ̳ departments.
Natural Sciences students typicallyÌýspend the MSci year essentially embedded in the department (or Faculty research area) that corresponds to their major stream. All 120 credits in the MSci year must be taken in modules that are at masters level. The fourth year alsoÌýincludes a mandatory MSci research project, which are worthÌý45 - 75Ìýcredits of study (depending on the discipline) as well as masters levelÌýmodules that feature in their major stream field.Ìý There is also the possibility to choose up to 30 credits of stuidy in theÌýminor streamÌýarea, subject to relevant pre-requisities.
- Natural Sciences Modules
You will not onlyÌýtake subject specific coursesÌýas part of their streams, you willÌýalso takeÌýdedicated natural sciences onyl core modules in yourÌýfirst three years.
In year one, you will take a dedicated 15 credit mathematics modulesÌýin the first term, depending on which streams you take:
- Mathematics for Natural Sciences A (NSCI0005)Ìý- designed to provide the mathematical foundations and techniques for the physics, astrophysicsÌýand medical physics streams, ALL students who pick Modern Physics, Astronomy and Cosmology (PHAS0011)Ìýwill take this mathematics module.
- Mathematics for Natural Sciences B (NSCI0006)Ìý- designed toÌýprovideÌýan introduction to some of the key mathematical modelling ideas and techniques used in scientific research today. Students NOT taking PHAS0011, who have a background in mathematics at ÌýA-level, IB or equivalent, will take this module.
- Introductory Mathematics for Science (NSCI0044) - designed to provide an introduction to mathematical ideas at university level for students who did not take A-level mathematics, IB standard level or equivalent. Ìý
You will alsoÌýtake a 0 credit module calledÌýScience and Society (NSCI0010).ÌýThis module in the first term ofÌýyear one aims to get you thinking aboutÌýthe role of science in societyÌýand how multi- and interdisciplinary approaches can help address global challenges. ÌýThrough a variety of different assessments and reflections, you are encouraged to develop collaboration and communication skills as well asÌýcore academic skills you need to succeed at university and beyond.Ìý Although the mark from this module appears on your transcript and academic record, it will not count towards your degree grade calculation.
Ìý
- In year two, you have the ability to choose between oneÌý15 creditÌýcore modules from:
Programming for Scientists (NSCI0036)Ìý- studentsÌýlearn the fundamentals of coding in the Python programming language, one of the most popular programming languages which is widely used in science and other disciplines.Ìý They perform computations, analyse and present data and make predictions, and will be in a position to learn more sophisticated computational techniques including mathematical modelling.ÌýÌý
Science for All (NSCI0038)Ìý- students reflect on and understand inequity in science learning and in the production of scientific knowledge; and to learn about methods and practices being developed to address some of the issues.Ìý They will think about creative forms of engagement through visiting a number of sites where informal science learning may take place and learn how to conduct effective evaluations. Building on this reflective and theoretical foundation, they work in teams to plan, create, and evaluate a science outreach activity.
Science Communication (NSCI0039)Ìý-Ìýstudents will examine various forms of science communication and consider how the content of the message may be affected through communication. They are also be encouraged to reflect on exclusionary practices in science communication to engage with the distrust felt by some members of society towards science and scientists.  They learn how to craft effective communications for different types of audiences and explore some possible ways of challenging exclusionary practices.Ìý
- In year three, unless areÌýcompleting a study abroad year, you willÌýtake a 15 creditÌýLiterature Project (NSCI0004)Ìýmodule which spans the first and second terms.Ìý This involves undertakingÌýaÌýcritical review of literature, in a topic areaÌýagreed with a supervisor andÌýundertaken a subject area within their major stream, producing a final report (maximum length 5000 words). You will also give a five minute long presentation on their review topic area to an audience of peers and academics.Ìý
Natural Sciences also offers a few other modules in year three:
In year three, there is also the posibility for you to take aÌý15 credit Research Project (NSCI0026) module, which is designed principally for students who finish with a BSc but would like to undertake a research project as anÌýundergradute.Ìý After agreeing a research proposal with a supervisor, you will undertake a short reserach project over the course of aÌýterm and then write up a research report (maximum length 3000 words).
In year three, if you are on the Mathematics and Statistics stream, you will take aÌý15Ìýcredit moduleÌýScientific Computing Project (NSCI0011), which looks at some of the current and contemporary computing methods employed in different scientific research fields, including models of small world networks in brain circuits, multi-electron modelling in quanutm theory and models of fluid flow.Ìý The module may also be taken (if agreed by stream leaders) if it is relevant to your area(s) of study in other streams.
Information on all current modules can be found on theÌý°×С½ãÂÛ̳ Module Catalogue, as well as links to the modules timetabling, you can also find more information on timetabling on the page.ÌýÌý