Natural Sciences Vs Chemistry

Hi I’m currently struggling to choose between a Natural Sciences degree and a chemistry degree. Which one do employers prefer? Would natural sciences disadvantage me if I apply for chemistry related jobs? Also would I learn less about chemistry in the Natural Science course or would I learn the same but just with other subjects on top of the normal chemistry course?

Reply 1

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

16

Original post by heavenly-home

Hi I’m currently struggling to choose between a Natural Sciences degree and a chemistry degree. Which one do employers prefer? Would natural sciences disadvantage me if I apply for chemistry related jobs? Also would I learn less about chemistry in the Natural Science course or would I learn the same but just with other subjects on top of the normal chemistry course?

Hi,

I've just finished my third year studying natural sciences (physics and environmental science) at Lancaster. In terms of which degree employers prefer, I would say it depends on the specifics of the role. Many jobs do not specify a degree title, simply requiring a degree in STEM or the 'physical sciences.' Additionally, many employers will be more interested in how you can apply the skills and knowledge you've learned in your degree to their field/problem, rather than the exact content of your degree. In some ways, a natural sciences degree can be beneficial here as you may have developed a wider range of skills and multidisciplinary approaches to problem-solving than those studying single honours degrees.

However, you will likely study less chemistry in a natural sciences course as there is a maximum number of credits that any student can study in a year. For chemistry students, this will entirely be made up of chemistry credits whilst for a natural science student this will be made up of both chemistry and another, or perhaps two other, subjects. However, it is important to note that different universities have varying degrees of flexibility within their natural science courses. At Lancaster, after first year you can balance your subjects exactly how you would like to. For me, this has meant a roughly 80/20 balance between physics and environmental science.

I hope this helps and feel free to ask if you have any more questions about studying natural sciences,
Becky (Lancaster University student ambassador)

Reply 2

heavenly-home

OP

10

Thank you! Is a natural sciences degree harder and more stressful, as you have to juggle a few different subjects?

Reply 3

Cyion

10

Original post by heavenly-home

Hi I’m currently struggling to choose between a Natural Sciences degree and a chemistry degree. Which one do employers prefer? Would natural sciences disadvantage me if I apply for chemistry related jobs? Also would I learn less about chemistry in the Natural Science course or would I learn the same but just with other subjects on top of the normal chemistry course?

if you know u want to do a chemistry based job do a chemistry degree. Nat sci students have what is considered no lab experience compared to chem students. essentially its 10+ hrs a week for chem students and maybe 5 hrs a month if that for nat sci students, that's a large knowledge gap and employers know it. Nat Sci students only take the core chem course which is quite a bit but will miss out on a lot of other important stuff especially all the spectroscopy which you NEED for working in a lab, no other course will cover this. Don't get me wrong there is a LOT of work in a nat sci course but only your chemistry module will prep you for working in a chem related job. Could argue that the biochem modules help to make up lab experience but it's still a very different kind of lab with very different equipment.

Reply 4

heavenly-home

OP

10

Original post by Cyion

if you know u want to do a chemistry based job do a chemistry degree. Nat sci students have what is considered no lab experience compared to chem students. essentially its 10+ hrs a week for chem students and maybe 5 hrs a month if that for nat sci students, that's a large knowledge gap and employers know it. Nat Sci students only take the core chem course which is quite a bit but will miss out on a lot of other important stuff especially all the spectroscopy which you NEED for working in a lab, no other course will cover this. Don't get me wrong there is a LOT of work in a nat sci course but only your chemistry module will prep you for working in a chem related job. Could argue that the biochem modules help to make up lab experience but it's still a very different kind of lab with very different equipment.

Thank you! I’m much less confused now!

Reply 5

zcqsalm

1

Original post by heavenly-home

Thank you! I’m much less confused now!

i do natural sciences at ucl and it entirely depends on how the uni structures their natsci courses. for mine, i do the exact same modules as chemistry students but can 'drop' one module (i do inorganic & physical but dropped organic). so i do the exact same amount of labs etc as chemistry students. i also do philosophy of science but ik people doing physics and again they do the same modules as physics students. it can be a lot to juggle but most people like the variation & i hated organic chemistry anyway so its worked out perfect haha. again, employers arent bothered about course names and if anything, natsci shows interdisciplinary thinking that chem alone doesnt necessarily show

Reply 6

heavenly-home

OP

10

Original post by zcqsalm

i do natural sciences at ucl and it entirely depends on how the uni structures their natsci courses. for mine, i do the exact same modules as chemistry students but can 'drop' one module (i do inorganic & physical but dropped organic). so i do the exact same amount of labs etc as chemistry students. i also do philosophy of science but ik people doing physics and again they do the same modules as physics students. it can be a lot to juggle but most people like the variation & i hated organic chemistry anyway so its worked out perfect haha. again, employers arent bothered about course names and if anything, natsci shows interdisciplinary thinking that chem alone doesnt necessarily show

Thank you!!

Reply 7

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

16

Original post by heavenly-home

Thank you! Is a natural sciences degree harder and more stressful, as you have to juggle a few different subjects?

In my experience one thing that can be tricky is that the different subject departments don't really communicate with each other, for instance regarding deadlines. A single-honours chemistry student might have deadlines more spaced out throughout the term but sometimes it happens in natural sciences that all the deadlines come in at once. This can sometimes be a little stressful but if you try and plan ahead and keep a calendar of all your deadlines it's easier to manage. Again, as you study the same content I wouldn't say that it's harder necessarily, but sometimes you might lack context provided by another module that you haven't taken. At Lancaster there's an option for natural sciences students to 'audit' modules. This means that you have access to the module pages and information but you don't get assessed on the content, and this can be really useful in making sure that you haven't missed anything.

Also as a note on labs-it depends on the uni and the subject pathways you choose, but natural sciences degrees that are accredited by the Society for Natural Sciences should have a certain amount of lab/practical content. In my degree, I did do fewer labs than single-honours physics students in first year, but after having taken a 'catch-up' lab module at the start of second year specifically for natural science and math-phys students I was able to take any further lab modules that I wanted, the same as single-honours physics students. Again, this will vary by uni so make sure you check the course structure and ask current students/members of the department about this.

Hope this helps,
Becky (Lancaster University student ambassador)

Natural Sciences Vs Chemistry

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