Lancaster is ranked amongst the top 10 UK universities
Study up to three different subjects for the whole of your degree
Create your own modular degree from over 100 possible degree combinations.
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:
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.
In your 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.
You will spend your third 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.
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.
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.
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. Browse the pages below to find out more about your path through the degree.
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.
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.
A Natural Sciences degree will allow you to maintain an interest in two or three scientific disciplines where you will learn and integrate knowledge from a range of subjects.
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.
A Natural Sciences degree ensures that you graduate with a broad and multidisciplinary set of skills which means that you benefit from the widest range of career opportunities. The flexibility of the degree and the breadth of subjects that you can study allows you to transition into a career from any scientific discipline, whether it is in biology, chemistry, computing, engineering, mathematics, physics, environmental sciences, and many more. You are also in demand for non-science roles due to your mathematic and statistical abilities, as well as skills in critical analysis and reasoning, logic, solving complex problems, data handling, and project management, to name just a few transferable skills. As a result, you can chart a course to a career in almost any industry. Graduating from this programme, you can honestly say the opportunities are endless. The median starting salary of graduates from our Natural Sciences degrees is £23,900 (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023).
Here are just some of the roles that our BSc and MSci Natural Sciences students have progressed into upon graduating:
Every year, approximately 20% of our graduating cohort pursue postgraduate study (MSc or PhD).
At Lancaster, we're passionate about ensuring our graduates are prepared for the world beyond university - here are a few ways that we aim to support your future ambitions.
Our placement year provides a wonderful opportunity for you to increase your attractiveness to employers and add a distinctive element to your CV. Working in a science or non-science related role at graduate level, you will deepen your understanding of the workplace and how to apply your skills and knowledge.
We have an extensive network of businesses providing a range of full-time and part-time paid internship opportunities. You get to apply your knowledge in the real world and businesses get the skills they need. Internships are the perfect opportunity for you to explore different career paths and give you an edge in the job market
Our dedicated Careers Service offers a lifetime of support, guidance and advice to all of our students, including one-to-one advice and information on work experience, employability, skills and careers.
I'm a PhD researcher with CGE at Lancaster University (as part of the Eco-i NW programme). I graduated 2020, and I was lucky to be offered a sponsorship as a full-time researcher. My research is evaluating university-business collaboration for sustainability. I did an internship with CGE when I was doing my undergrad where I interviewed and audited market traders in Lancaster and came up with ideas to improve their sustainability. I really enjoyed this and stayed in touch after as they did funded Master's. Instead, I went for the funded PhD!
A Level AAA
Required Subjects A level grade A in two sciences from the following; Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.
Subject Specialisms There are a number of Study Pathways available in the Natural Sciences degree programme, some of which require specific subject prerequisites. Please refer to the Natural Sciences webpages for detail of subjects that may be required.
GCSE Mathematics grade B or 6, English Language grade C or 4
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.
International Baccalaureate 36 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including two science subjects at HL grade 6
BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction to include sufficient science. We require Distinctions in majority of relevant science units. We will assess the qualification on an individual basis and will look for substantial study of relevant science at Distinction level. Please contact the Admissions Team for further advice.
We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.
Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of applicants whose personal circumstances may have impacted their exam results.
Contextual offersNatural Sciences students create their own individual degree programme by combining modules taken from single honours programmes.
This would lead on to a wide choice of second, third and fourth year modules in each discipline. For details of individual modules please go to the module list for each degree scheme. This example is just one of a large number of possible combinations of pathways. For more detailed information about pathways please visit the Natural Sciences web page.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2025/26 entry fees have not yet been set.
As a guide, our fees in 2024/25 were:
| Home | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £28,675 |
Dependent on subject choice the course offers optional field trips which may incur travel costs.
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2023 and 2024, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2025 have not yet been set.
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. VISA or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.
In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
Fees are set by the UK Government annually, and subsequent years' fees may be subject to increases. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
We will charge tuition fees to Home undergraduate students on full-year study abroad/work placements in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:
International students on full-year study abroad/work placements will be charged the same percentages as the standard International fee.
Please note that the maximum levels chargeable in future years may be subject to changes in Government policy.
Details of our scholarships and bursaries for students starting in 2025 are not yet available. You can use our scholarships for 2024-entry applicants as guidance.
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.
Trudy Tucker, BSc Hons Natural Sciences
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
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