The ultra-low temperature laboratory in Physics

Degree Structure

As a Natural Sciences student at Lancaster, you will take three pathways in your first year (Part I). At least two of these must come from pathways offered by the following departments.

  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Computing and Communications
  • Engineering
  • Environmental and Earth Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Medical School
  • Physics Psychology

During your first year, you would normally take three equally weighted pathways. A pathway consists of a series of modules each covering a different aspect of a subject. Modules are made up of lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops and laboratory-based practical work.

Successful completion of the first year allows you to progress into the second year. First-year marks do not contribute towards your final degree classification. It is from second, third and possibly fourth year (Part II) that your degree classification will be based. Each pathway offers a range of second, third and fourth-year modules to choose from.

Keep your options open

Concentrating on two subjects

You can make your degree more specialised by concentrating on only two subjects. If it is important to you to get professional accreditation with your degree (BPS, IoP, RSC etc.) then this is achievable with a Natural Sciences degree. You should discuss this option with the Director of Natural Sciences at an early stage in your studies who will advise on the necessary requirements. You can undertake a teaching PGCE qualification in any subject that you have taken 50% or more of your degree in.

Moving to a single-honours degree

In certain circumstances, you can transfer out of the Natural Sciences programme into the second year of a single-honours degree. This will be dependent on you having taken all of the necessary first-year pre-requisite courses.

Four-year MSci degree

Our MSci is a good choice if you are aiming at PhD studies or hope to go into research in industry. Your first three years will be identical to the BSc degree. Your fourth year will be more specialised and can consist of studies in two subjects or complete specialisation in a single subject.

All of the courses taken in the final year will come from the fourth year of other four-year undergraduate programmes or from postgraduate master's programmes.

Whilst there is the opportunity to undertake short projects in your second and third years, up to half of the fourth year will comprise of an open-ended research project.

Transferring between programmes

As your career plans start to take shape you may want to transfer your registration between our different degree programmes.

Progression into the fourth year of the MSci course is dependent upon achieving at least upper second class honours marks at the end of the three-year BSc programme.

How does it work?

A Natural Sciences degree gives you a unique opportunity to mix scientific subjects to form your own hand-picked degree. If you are interested in more than one science subject or are interested in where traditional disciplines overlap, Natural Sciences is the choice for you.

  • Natural Sciences entry requirements

    The standard entry requirements for all of our courses are AAA at A level with at least two of these being in science subjects and to grade B in GCSE mathematics. We do have other terms depending on your choice of course.

  • Natural Sciences study pathways

    You can choose what to study from our 21 pathways over 10 subject areas. Each Pathway has a series of modules, some of which are mandatory though many are optional.

Natural Sciences courses