Natural Sciences at Cambridge

Natural Sciences (NST) is the framework within which most science subjects are taught at Cambridge. If you want to study any of the biological and physical sciences listed below, this is the course for you.

• Explore familiar subjects, experience new ones
• Flexibility and choice
• Biological Sciences Options
• Physical Sciences Options
• Learning and assessment
• Preparatory reading
• Changing course
• Accreditation
• After Natural Sciences?

Explore familiar subjects, experience new ones

Natural Sciences (NST) offers a wide range of physical and biological science subjects from 16 departments in a unique and demanding course. A broad first year is combined with increasing specialisation in the second year and the possibility of total specialisation in the third year.

The breadth of the course reflects the blurring of boundaries between the different sciences and before committing yourself to one department you study a variety of subjects, some of which may be new to you. This means you can change your mind about which subject to specialise in.

Visit the Departments' websites for in-depth subject information, details about current research and suggested reading for prospective students.

Flexibility and choice

The flexibility of the course makes it possible to take purely biological sciences, purely physical sciences or a combination of both, according to your interests.

You choose your subjects at the start of the first term in discussion with your Director of Studies but you should indicate in your Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) whether your interests lie broadly in biological or physical sciences. The choice isn't absolute, and many students change direction before they start or as they progress.

In Year 1 (Part IA), you study three experimental science subjects (from a choice of seven, see above), plus one mathematics subject (Mathematics or Mathematical Biology), chosen at the start of the first term. 

Many students discover a passion for the new subjects that they start in the first year, such as Earth Sciences or Materials Science, and continue with these in subsequent years.

In Year 2 (Part IB), you choose three subjects from 19 options available. Some build directly on Part IA subjects and some introduce what are essentially new areas.

Some Part I subjects have a competitive entry due to limited space.

Most students pursue a single advanced subject in Year 3 (Part II), concentrating on specific areas and undertaking a research project or dissertation in that field. Alternatively, in Year 3 you can take the broader Biological and Biomedical Sciences option or the Physical Sciences option.

Some Part II options have a competitive entry due to restrictions on laboratory space, meaning you’re not guaranteed your Part II subject choice. However, around 80 per cent of students are typically able to study their first choice of subject.

Specialising in Part II is appropriate for continuation to a fourth year (Part III, offered in some subjects) and progression to Part III is dependent on a satisfactory level of performance. Successful completion of Part III leads to an MSci degree.

Biological Sciences options

If you're interested in biological sciences, three of the first year (Part IA) options cover biological subjects: Biology of Cells; Evolution and Behaviour; and Physiology of Organisms. Therefore, possible biological sciences combinations include:

• purely biological – all three biology options
• biochemical/pharmacological – combining biology options and Chemistry
• ecological/evolutionary – combining biology options and Earth Sciences
• physical – combining Chemistry, Physics and Biology of Cells

You also take a mathematics paper; usually Mathematical Biology.

In the second year (Part IB), 10 biological subjects are offered. Some of these develop topics covered in Part IA and others introduce new material. The flexibility of the course again means it's possible to take purely biological sciences or to combine biological sciences with, for example, organic chemistry (Chemistry B), Earth Sciences A or History and Philosophy of Science.

Most students focus on a single subject in their third year (Part II), concentrating on specific areas of the discipline and undertaking a research project or dissertation. Alternatively, you can take the broader Biological and Biomedical Sciences option.

It's possible to take a Part III in Biochemistry, History and Philosophy of Science or Systems Biology, leading to an MSci degree.

Physical Sciences options

In the first year (Part IA), those more interested in the physical sciences might choose:

• purely physical – three from Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Materials Science or Physics
• physical/biological – combining two physical subjects and a biological option

A Level (or equivalent) Mathematics and the Part IA Mathematics option of the NST are essential for some physical sciences subjects.

In the second year (Part IB), eight physical science subjects are offered. Students who think of themselves as physicists usually choose Physics A and B, plus another science or Mathematics. Potential chemists generally take Chemistry A and B with a further physical or biological subject, or even Experimental Psychology or History and Philosophy of Science.

Many physical scientists discover a real enthusiasm for the new subjects that they start in the first year - such as Earth Sciences, Materials Science or a biological subject - and continue with these in subsequent years.

Most students focus on a single subject in their third year (Part II) and concentrate on specific areas of the discipline. Alternatively, you can take the broader Physical Sciences option.

It's possible to take a Part III in Astrophysics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, History and Philosophy of Science, Materials Science, Physics or Systems Biology, leading to an MSci degree.

Learning and assessment

The course is both intensive and challenging, but the excellent learning environment enables you to rise to this challenge. Your timetable is full and structured and you encounter new ways of learning and studying.

Each subject approaches teaching in different ways but a combination of lectures, practical classes (where relevant), example classes, supervisions and seminars provides core subject knowledge and develops your transferable skills – support from supervisors and your Director of Studies helps you to develop the most suitable way of working for you.

For each option in Years 1 and 2 (Parts IA and IB), you can typically expect to have three lectures, some practical work and a supervision each week.

Assessment varies depending on the option taken but always includes written examinations. There may also be practical examinations or continuous assessment of practical work.

In Parts II and III, lecturers are actively researching the topics being covered and many are world leaders in their field. Practical work is open-ended, and most students carry out a significant research project which is assessed as part of the final examination.

Preparatory reading

No preparatory reading is required for the course but a list of interesting and informative books for prospective students is available on the Natural Sciences website.

Students who don’t have A Level Mathematics are required to complete 20-40 hours of preparatory work before the start of the course and must take Mathematical Biology as their mathematics subject in Year 1.

Additional course costs

Year 1

• Required: a University approved scientific calculator - Estimated cost £17-£20
• Required: a lab coat - Estimated cost £11
• Required – some options: safety glasses - Estimated cost £3-£6
• Required – Part IA Earth Sciences: field course - Estimated cost £95
• Optional: textbooks (available in libraries), specialist equipment (can be borrowed)
• Optional – Part IA Evolution and Behaviour: field course - Estimated cost £50 + travel

Years 2, 3 and 4

• Required and optional additional costs are dependent on the options taken

Information about additional costs is available on the Natural Sciences website. Refer to the individual Departments’ websites for further details.

Accreditation

Some routes through the course are accredited by a professional body including, for example, the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry. An appropriate combination of subjects and Part II papers is required in each case.

Changing course

Some students take Part IA Natural Sciences and change to Chemical Engineering in their second year. It's also possible (with your College's agreement) to take Part I Natural Sciences and then transfer to another subject such as Management Studies, or another arts or social science subject for Part II.

After Natural Sciences?

Many of our graduates continue with further study and research (either in Cambridge or at other universities) in the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, infection and immunology, biotechnology, environmental management or nanotechnology. Natural Sciences prepares you well for the challenges of research, especially in emerging interdisciplinary areas.

Natural Sciences students develop a range of skills that are highly valued by employers and they go into a wide range of careers; for example, recent graduates include a maths teacher, a product development scientist, an investment banking analyst, and a management consultant.