Natural Sciences (Placement Year)

BSc Hons

  • UCAS code GFC1
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements AAA
  • Duration Full time 4 years

We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Study up to three different subjects for the whole of your degree

  • Create your own modular degree from over 100 possible degree combinations.

  • Lancaster is ranked amongst the top 10 UK universities

Natural Sciences is a challenging degree that allows you to study across all of the scientific disciplines. Our pathways let you customise your degree to suit your interests and career aspirations. A paid placement enables you to experience twelve months working in the type of organisation that you might aspire to join when you graduate.

If you are interested in more than one scientific subject, our degree allows you to combine up to three different subjects throughout the programme. You can keep your interests open or choose to specialise as you progress. 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 subject areas are:

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

Each pathway within these ten subjects 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 also 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 second year, your study will begin to become more focused and modules will be more specialised. You will continue to develop your skills from first year 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.

To prepare you for your work placement year, our Careers and Placements Team will provide advice and guidance on: the skills required to create effective CVs, cover letters and applications; tips and techniques on how to make an impact at interviews and assessment centres; how to create a relevant digital profile; and how to research employers and career sectors of interest. In addition, there is great emphasis placed upon developing self-awareness and on how to present yourself in a professional manner to employers. This optional provision will be delivered via a blend of traditional and digital methods including face-to-face workshops, online webinars, e-courses and 1:1 appointments.

You will spend your third year on an industrial placement, before returning to Lancaster for your fourth year where you will continue in your chosen specialties. The placement offers you the opportunity to work as a full-time employee of the organisation whilst still receiving both academic and pastoral support.

The University will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all placement roles offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills. If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.

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

In addition to our BSc degrees, we offer a four year MSci Natural Sciences programme, which allows you to decide if you want to graduate after three years with a BSc or complete your MSci study with a fourth year. This additional year includes advanced 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.

Course accreditation

Society of Natural Sciences logo

The Society of Natural Sciences was formed in 2019 to promote interdisciplinary education within the sciences, particularly at undergraduate level. All of our BSc and MSci courses are accredited by the Society of Natural Sciences.

Learn more about the Society of Natural Sciences accreditation

Careers

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:

  • Graduate Researcher – Centre for Global Eco-Innovation
  • Nuclear Technical Advisor – Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy
  • Net Zero, Climate, and Environment Advisor – Government Office for Science
  • Financial Modelling Analyst – KPMG
  • Graduate Air Quality Consultant – AECOM
  • Audit Associate – EY
  • Trainee Healthcare Scientist – NHS
  • Environmental Engineer – ARUP
  • Senior Scientist Researcher – AstraZeneca
  • Cloud Solution Architect – Vmware
  • Research Assistant/PhD – University of Cambridge
  • Hydrologist – Environment Agency

Every year, approximately 20% of our graduating cohort pursue postgraduate study (MSc or PhD).


Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level AAA

Required Subjects A level grade A in two sciences from the following; Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Human Biology, 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.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 38-36 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 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 qualification. 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

International foundation programmes

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.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Natural 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.

Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2025/26 home undergraduate entry fees have not yet been set.

Home International
TBC £29,820

Fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

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.

Our Students’ Charter

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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