Course Overview
Natural Sciences is a challenging degree that allows you to study across all of the scientific disciplines and to spend a year overseas broadening your horizons. Our pathways let you customise your degree to suit your interests.
If you are interested in more than one scientific subject and want the opportunity spend a year studying in another country, our Natural Sciences Study Abroad programme is ideal. The course allows you to combine up to three different subjects, while your year abroad allows you to experience a different culture and society at one of our partner universities. As you progress through the course you can maintain a breadth of study or choose to become more specialised. Either way, our Natural Sciences degree is designed to challenge the brightest students who are highly motivated and prepared to apply themselves across multiple boundaries. You can choose pathways from ten subject areas that can be combined together to create a purpose built degree programme. The science subjects are:
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- Computing
- Engineering
- Environmental and Earth Sciences
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Medical School
- Physics
- Psychology
Additionally, each pathway within these ten subject areas includes a wide selection of modules to choose from. This breadth of possibilities makes it difficult to summarise what the three year programme will look like, but the experience will be unique and tailored to your needs and goals.
In the first year, all students begin with three pathways. You must choose two science pathways, and a third that can either be another science topic or you can select from elsewhere across the University, including a range of humanities and social sciences. You will be taught by academic staff who are leaders in their field, gaining a comprehensive understanding of your chosen subjects. You will also develop important skills and technical knowledge specific to each discipline, as well as interdisciplinary skills, such as data handling, analysis and evaluation, plus laboratory, IT and specialist software skills.
At the end of the first year, you will have the opportunity to choose whether or not to continue with three subjects or to just focus on two sciences, to suit your goals and ambitions.
During your first year we will organise your overseas placement. You will spend your second year studying at one of our partner institutions in North America, Australia or New Zealand. There you will benefit from an enriching experience and will broaden your horizons, while continuing your specialist studies and developing new academic networks.
Lancaster University will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules which contribute credit to your Lancaster degree. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable. If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster.
Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year or term abroad.
In second year, you will continue to develop the skills learned in the first and you will have the opportunity to utilise and practice the knowledge and experience you have gained so far. In addition, many of the modules will allow you to progress your project management, research and professional skills, as well as further enhancing your technical ability.
During the final year, you will delve deeper into the topics that interested you previously and much of what you explore will be guided by what you studied in second year. This year, you will firmly cement your learning by applying your skills and experience to a major research project or dissertation. Depending on your chosen pathway, you may also have the opportunity to undertake an industry placement, further developing your professional skills and giving you valuable experience in preparation for your career.
MSci Natural Sciences (Study Abroad)
In addition to our BSc degree, we offer a four year MSci Natural Sciences (Study Abroad) programme. On this degree you would spend the third year of study overseas, returning to Lancaster to complete your fourth year. This final year includes advanced, research-led, modules and a major research project, all of which prepare you for a career in research and development.
Assessment
We aim to provide you with the most effective and stimulating approaches to teaching, learning and assessment, to enabling you to demonstrate your capabilities in a range of ways. Assessment varies across disciplines and from module to module, but typical assignments include: laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focused critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations, as well as formal examination.
Community
Fitting with the dynamic and diverse nature of our Natural Sciences programme, you will have the opportunity to engage and build meaningful relationships with students and staff from multiple scientific disciplines. You will be welcomed and integrated into departments as anyone on a single-track programme would.
You will also be part of a Natural Sciences community, which fosters a highly supportive and productive learning environment. You will benefit from an excellent student-to-staff ratio, work with and be supported by approachable and engaging staff, and be recognised as an individual person with individual needs.
Additionally, you will have access to a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities that provide space for socialising with your peers, as well as help you excel in your studies.
