Congratulations on your offer to study Natural Sciences at Lancaster. We are hosting offer holder events to help you make the right decision about your degree. Below, you will find information about the available dates to book, what to expect on the day, and further information about your course.
Our offer holder events are lively and informative, filled with various activities which will give you an experience of studying Natural Sciences at Lancaster. They are an opportunity to:
Take part in a departmental activity based on your pathway interests
Learn more about the different pathways available to you
Meet with current Natural Sciences students and academics to get a feel for the community you’ll become part of
Find out details about our degree programmes (including study abroad and year in industry) and entry requirements
Tour the Department and see our facilities
Learn more about where a degree in Natural Sciences can take you
From 9:00
Optional morning activities including campus tours, accommodation, and student experiences hub
11:30
Registration with the Natural Sciences Department
11:40
Lunch with the Natural Sciences Department
12:20
Natural Sciences Talk by Dr Peter Wynn, Director of Natural Sciences
13:10
Department tours and activities
13:15
Parent Q&A with Peter and ambassadors
13:45-14:45
Employability and Alumni Session
13:45-14:25
Parents' Wellbeing for Students Talk
15:00
Refreshments with FST Departmental Natural Sciences pathway representatives
16:00
Day ends
Why attend an offer holder event?
Our in-person and online events are a great way to find out more about your Natural Sciences course and experience life as a Natural Sciences student. Watch one of our current Natural Sciences student, Ella, talk about her experience of attending an offer holder event. We hope that you can make it!
Book your offer holder event
Click the link below to search for your offer holder event and book your place.
A Natural Sciences degree allows you to choose up to 3 different Pathways from the subject areas below. Each subject area can contain more than one Pathway. Each of these Pathways then offers a mix of core modules, and optional modules, allowing you to create a truly unique degree programme that best suits your interests and talents.
accordion
Biology
Fundamental biological mechanisms are related to the environmental challenges of the 21st century, such as food security, environmental pollution, ecosystem functioning, sustainable resource management and biodiversity conservation. You will be trained in the scientific study of interactions between organisms and the environment, and how these are modified by human activities.
Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Cellular biochemistry examines the macromolecular structure and the relationship of cellular organisation to the central pathways of intermediary metabolism and the physical processes underlying cellular functions. Cell biology covers the interactions within and between cells which allow them to perform their function in the whole organism. Genetics examines the mechanisms of heredity, moving through Mendelian genetics and its extensions to molecular genetics.
Ecology and Conservation
Interactions between organisms, the environment and humanity are often complex. You will receive a thorough grounding in ecological theory and how these biological principles relate to the conservation of wildlife and ecological habitats. The pathway also concerns the practice of ecology and has a strong fieldwork component designed to encourage you to develop your practical skills.
Microbiology and Biomedicine
This pathway contains a balanced mixture of biochemistry, microbiology and physiology. It attempts to demonstrate the relevance of microbiology to human affairs, whether the connection is direct, e.g. diseases of humans, or indirect, e.g. the control of diseases of food crops. Although some lectures deal specifically with one group of microbes, i.e. bacteria, fungi or protozoa, entire modules emphasise ecological and functional relationships between different groups of microbes.
Chemical Measurement and Analysis
Chemical theory and analysis relates to the measurement, rationalisation, and prediction of the chemical and physical properties of individual molecules and bulk materials. This pathway covers the theory and practical application of techniques in physical, analytical, and computational chemistry. It also prepares you for potential research projects in physical and computational chemistry in your final year.
Chemical Synthesis and Structure
Chemical synthesis concerns the creation of new molecules. Key to this is understanding molecular reactivity and mechanism techniques to design and synthesise molecules, and how we can characterise and measure their properties. This pathway develops knowledge and practical skills across all of synthetic chemistry and prepares you for potential research projects in chemical synthesis in your final year.
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental chemistry specifically relates to the chemistry of the aqueous, atmospheric and terrestrial environments. This Pathway is designed to give a thorough grounding in chemistry whilst covering the techniques and methodology of environmental chemical analysis, together with an introduction to environmental planning and assessment.
Due to the complexity of this subject and the background knowledge it requires in later years, this Pathway is double weighted. As such you can only take one other Pathway with this option.
Computing and Communications
The School of Computing and Communications offers an extensive portfolio of high-quality programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate study, taught by a team of acknowledged world experts in their field. This Pathway covers practical storage and usage of data and digital media and its applications.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering influences numerous areas of technology. These Pathways will help you to develop the skills needed to conceive and design processes for the production, transformation and transportation of materials.
Due to the complexity of this subject and the background knowledge it requires in later years, this Pathway is double weighted. As such you can only take one other Pathway with this option.
Electrical Engineering
This Pathway will help you develop a sound foundation in all aspects of Electronic and Electrical Engineering that is crucial to the design and manufacture of future systems in the medical, environmental, energy, transport and ICT markets. You will also have the opportunity to specialise in areas including wireless communications, silicon chip design, nanotechnology, green technologies and power generation.
Due to the complexity of this subject and the background knowledge it requires in later years, this Pathway is double weighted. As such you can only take one other Pathway with this option.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is a field covering any industry that uses moving parts, from construction to transport; medicine to manufacturing; renewable energy to consumer technology. Our programme gives you the skills necessary for the subject, with an applied focus on mechanical system designs.
Due to the complexity of this subject and the background knowledge it requires in later years, this Pathway is double weighted. As such you can only take one other Pathway with this option.
Earth Science
The solid rocks that comprise Earth’s upper crust contain a record of change driven by processes originating from the core to the atmosphere over a period exceeding 2 billion years. This Pathway provides the basic skills needed to read this record and understand how Earth has evolved over both long and short periods of time. You will have the opportunity to take a number of field-based modules in both the UK and abroad.
Environmental Science
This Pathway aims to train you in those areas of natural science (including chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, geology, physical geography) that are used to understand natural and anthropogenic processes on the surface of the Earth, rivers, lakes, oceans and the atmosphere, as well as Earth’s internal processes, against the backdrop of environmental change.
Human Geography
This Pathway provides you with an understanding of society, culture, development and issues of globalisation within a framework of environmental issues in the 21st century.
Physical Geography
You will learn about the main components of our ‘Earth-system’, how environments have changed in the past, what controls the dynamics of environments in the present, and how we can predict changes in the future. All this is studied in the context of an interconnected planet.
Single Mathematics
This Pathway allows you to continue your study of maths at degree level in a top-ranking department. You’ll focus on both pure mathematics and statistics with an emphasis on solving practical mathematical problems.
Double Mathematics
If you prefer to focus your studies on maths, we also offer a double-weighted Pathway that allows you to study the subject in greater detail. This incorporates the maths modules listed above and gives you the opportunity to concentrate on theoretical problems. As a double-weighted Pathway, you can only take one other Pathway with this option.
Human Physiology and Exercise Science
If you are interested in science and physical education, this Pathway provides a solid foundation in application and performance modules. These will help to increase your understanding of the functions and regulations of the human body and physiological integration of the systems.
Physics
You will gain a working knowledge and understanding of the physics of fluids and solids, especially their thermal and electrical properties, with an emphasis also on computing, classical mechanics and quantum physics.
This Pathway requires a set of first-year maths-based modules, either through the Physics Department or the Mathematics and Statistics Department (under the Pathway Single Mathematics, on the previous page). As such, students taking Physics can only take one other Pathway in addition to either of the supporting Maths Pathways.
Psychology
This Pathway develops your range of knowledge and skills in order to continue your study of psychology at degree level.
Psychology with BPS accreditation
This double-weighted Pathway allows you to study psychology and receive accreditation from the British Psychological Society. It can only be taken alongside one other Pathway and cannot be taken by BSc students intending to study abroad due to the accreditation regulations.
Societies and Clubs
Societies are a great way to find your place and make the most out of life at Lancaster. And Lancaster University Students' Union (LUSU) oversees over 160 of them. Find the society for you!
A community for Trudy
Studying Natural Sciences at Lancaster University was the best decision I could have made when picking my course. While at school, I always considered myself as a future scientist rather than say an organic chemist or geneticist, and Natural Sciences at Lancaster has allowed me to do just that. The breadth of knowledge I built in my first two years helped me learn what my biggest interests are, and I have been able to tailor my degree to focus on these in my last two years with a level of flexibility that not many other universities offer. The Natural Sciences departmental staff have been so helpful and supportive, and I feel like advice is readily available whenever I ask for it.
My favourite thing about studying in Lancaster is the diversity of students. Having moved from London, I was not sure whether I would still be surrounded by as great a diversity of people, but my flat in first year had people from 5 different continents! It's been so interesting being able to share foods and languages and it really does feel like I am part of an international community.
By auditing modules in other departments, while formally studying sciences I am still able to engage myself in other subjects I enjoy such as English Literature so as to not diminish my involvement in them. I can access the same material as someone formally studying it and pick up many transferable skills along the way. Attending career talks organised within Uni have made me start thinking about combining these and pursuing scientific communications, a field I did not realise existed before.
