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Natural Sciences

What does the course NatSci entail?
Do you get to choose which subjects you study?
I have briefly looked thru prospectuses but they dont make it that clear.
I think you get to choose your subjects e.g geology, physics, biology etc.
But how many do you choose each year?
Also, what qualifications do you need for it? I only do physics but i also do geography is that ok?

Reply 1

moleo

Natural Sciences : Different at each uni that does it but the gist is that instead of studying one discipline ( physics , chem , bio , maths) you study them together. Depending on the university depends on how any you get to choose at cambridge its 3 choices and 1 maths , other places its different. Normally to be considered for NatSci you have to be doing at least 2 sciences or 1 science and maths ( min required i think).

Reply 2

andy5788

14

Yeah it depends entirely on the uni.

Durham for example considers Philosophy as a subject that can be studied under NatSci. Cambridge does not.

So you'll just have to look through prospectuses.

Generally speaking though I'd say it would be pretty much impossible to fit more than 2/3 subjects in per year.

Reply 3

misty

2

at ucl u have two core streams and a couple of option courses.. they then become major and minor streams in the 3rd year...
its an awesome course.. here u need maths & physics for any physics.. bio & chem for bio
and chem for chem
u also need some maths for chem..

Reply 4

zulu

OP

it does sound like a fun course..
it isn't ever considered a lesser degree tho bcoz its not concentrated around one core subject??
for example if i wanted to go on to a job in a physics lab or something, they would still consider natsci a decent degree?

Reply 5

misty

2

am not entirely sure as thats not the area i want yto go into
email the admissions tutor
good luck

Reply 6

ice_illusion

The natural science course at Cambridge looks really interesting although Cambridge is very far away. But I think, while I was looking at the Cambridge course, it said something about the other courses not going very in depth and possibly something about less employability (if you want to research or something) but that could just have been a selling tactic.
This would be different with Cambridge as you don't get biology on it's own as a course anyway. I think natural science would be nice to do but I'm not sure if I'll go into it becuase it could be viewed badly.
I found the Cambridge natural science site to be a lot easier to understand than the prospectus as it gives you all your course options. If that's what you're looking into.

Reply 7

Aired

1

ice_illusion

The natural science course at Cambridge looks really interesting although Cambridge is very far away. But I think, while I was looking at the Cambridge course, it said something about the other courses not going very in depth and possibly something about less employability (if you want to research or something) but that could just have been a selling tactic.
This would be different with Cambridge as you don't get biology on it's own as a course anyway. I think natural science would be nice to do but I'm not sure if I'll go into it becuase it could be viewed badly.
I found the Cambridge natural science site to be a lot easier to understand than the prospectus as it gives you all your course options. If that's what you're looking into.

According to the Cambridge website, that's not true.

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/info/publications/naturalsciences.pdf

Cambridge graduates are expected to achieve the same standard and depth in their final subject as graduates from narrower courses elsewhere

So say you did biochemistry in your third year, even though you've not specialised in biochemistry for the whole three years you should still be at the same standard as somebody who graduated from a pure biochemistry course (plus you'll have done loads of other subjects as part of the course).

Anyway, it's hard to say what natural sciences is like because its different at all the unis that offer it. If you apply to Cambridge you choose 4 subjects in your first year (Three from biology of cells, chemistry, evolution & behaviour, geology, materials & mineral sciences, physics, phisiology of organinsms, plus one maths course from mathematics or quantitative biology if you have a-level maths, or elementary maths for biologists if you don't).
In the second year you choose three options from a list of 20 and then in the third year you choose one option from a possible 16. Some of the third year options (Biochemistry, Astrophysics, Chemistry, Geological Sciences, Materials Science and Metallurgy and Physics) have a fourth year.

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/natsci/index.html

Reply 8

somedayshambles

Hi Zulu...

Lancaster have a good site for their Natural Science degree http://naturalsci.lancs.ac.uk/... I am in first year and doing Bio, Env Science and Mixed Science - makes up the first year of Natural Science degree (but I am actually studying another degree)... Anyway, it's great fun and well worth a look at :smile:

By the way, the degree is themed, so people doing the Geology theme, study the core theme that Geologists would and people doing the Biochemist theme the same. If you are a biochemist (for example) student you would study the Biochemist theme plus optional modules- so with the Natural Sciences, you get rid of those option modules and just study the core areas.

Reply 9

MissSurfer

17

I want to do NatSci...ideally at Cambridge as I think it offers the most options but I'd have to look more closely when it comes to applying (entry 2007). I'm n ot sure I'll get in but oh well! Might as well apply I guess.

Reply 10

IainM

11

I too am worried about the degrees reputation, can anyone comment on how the reputation compares to other science courses?

Thing is, they do the course at Cambridge and Durham, both of which are massively oversubscribed, employers surely wouldnt overlook grads from either of those unis just because the degree is multidisciplinary. The degree is in no way watered down and the lectures are the same as if you were studying the subject at ug level.

my second question is about pg study, Nat Sci would still allow me to take most graduate courses wouldnt it, obviously with the exception of HIGHLY specific courses?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Iain

Reply 11

graveyarddreams

13

i was just looking at this http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/natsci/index.html

it sounds really good because i have no idea what i'm going to do in the future yet and would like quite a 'broad' subject so i can gradually become more specialised. A couple of things i'm not sure about though, firstly, is it possible to get a high degree such as masters or phD if you study natural science? (and can someone describe how the degree system works? i have an idea but is not entirely sure, something like 3 yr undergraduate, then.. something.. then masters?)
It says 'The only biological subject offering a fourth year leading to an MSci degree is Biochemistry.'
so if you don't choose biochemistry, you can't do a masters degree (or phD) with any other choices? not even for anatomy? and pathology etc?

Also, would choosing your subject in the third year be very stressful as you will be expected to cover the same amount of material as someone who studies it from first year? and would most employers prefer the latter as they would seem to have studied into it with more depth?

Reply 12

MissSurfer

17

Well they say that at Cambridge although its broad, you do have to work so hard that you end up leaving with the same level of knowledge in your final year choice of subject ('cos you gradually specialise more and more each year) as people from other uni's who did that subject straight.

For example, if you do Psychology, Biology and some Maths in year 1....Psych and Bio in year 2 and just Psych in year 3, you'll still get that Psychology degree BPS accredited so you can go on to do postgrad and everything. So you'd, in theory, know as much psychology as someone who'd done straight psychology. Make sense?? I know this is correct btw becuase I asked today at the UCAS fair!

That's why it appeals to me. I can't decide between becoming a psychologist or becoming a science teacher! So this is the perfect course for me - I just really really hope I can get in. MissSurfer

Reply 13

Supermerp

2

MissSurfer

For example, if you do Psychology, Biology and some Maths in year 1....Psych and Bio in year 2 and just Psych in year 3, you'll still get that Psychology degree BPS accredited so you can go on to do postgrad and everything. So you'd, in theory, know as much psychology as someone who'd done straight psychology. Make sense?? I know this is correct btw becuase I asked today at the UCAS fair!

You can't do the Experimental Psychology course until the second year. So you'll just have to do lots of Biology. Or Geology or Chemistry or Physics, if you're so inclined

Reply 14

zulu

OP

Do u need to have done biology to do zoology as part of the natural sciences course at cambridge?
ALso some courses offer a minor in a modern language. Do u need qualifications for that? I would want to do spanish bt only hav a GCSE in french...

Reply 15

MissSurfer

17

Supermerp

You can't do the Experimental Psychology course until the second year. So you'll just have to do lots of Biology. Or Geology or Chemistry or Physics, if you're so inclined

Oh yeh, I want to to Physics too but not many places offer Psychology and Physics. I wouldn't mind doing Biology and Maths either. I just enjoy science in general so that's why I want to do this course :smile:

Reply 16

Renaissance_boy

I am thinking of studying natural sciences, and I am taking bio, chem physics and geography, which I think is perfect for the course.

What are employment options from Natschi afterwars.

Reply 17

JrW

14

amrou

I am thinking of studying natural sciences, and I am taking bio, chem physics and geography, which I think is perfect for the course.

What are employment options from Natschi afterwars.

Plenty! If you specialise in one, you can go into that field; if not there are plenty of jobs that do not require any particular degrees.

Reply 18

Inkerman

11

Rolling on the Floor Laughing.

"Sixth form entry:

St Pauls school: Conditional offer of A's in proposed AS level subjects
Latymer Upper school: Conditional offer of 6 A's at GCSE
Eton College: Acknowledgment
"

What the hell? Hilairious.

Reply 19

No Future

17

I thought it was a well respected degree?

Natural Sciences

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