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Natural Sciences is a broad course that gives you the opportunity to study physical and biological sciences from 14 different departments.
The course is flexible, which means you can study a range of new and familiar areas in the sciences before choosing a subject, or two, to specialise in.
Overview
Number 4 in the World for Natural Sciences (QS World University Rankings 2025)
Natural Sciences at Cambridge
You’ll have the option to study a wide range of physical and biological science subjects from 14 different departments:
- Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
- Astronomy
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Genetics
- History and Philosophy of Science
- Materials Science and Metallurgy
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physics
- Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
- Plant Sciences
- Zoology
During your first and second year you will study a variety of subjects, some of which may be completely new to you.
You can change your mind about which subject to specialise in as you progress through the course.
You can choose to study purely biological sciences, purely physical sciences or a combination of both.
If you discover a passion for a new subject, such as Earth Sciences or Materials Science, you will be able to continue with it after your first year.
Choosing between Natural Sciences Biological and Physical
When you apply, you’ll need to tell us whether you’re interested in Biological or Physical Sciences. We use this information in the admissions process.
Your choice of application stream, and the courses that you are currently studying, will affect the types of questions that are asked at interview.
It is best to apply for Physical Sciences if you have studied Physics and Maths A levels. This is because your interview will be on subjects that you have already studied.
On the course, you can take physical and biological science options. But you won’t choose which subjects to study within the Natural Sciences course until you arrive.
There are A levels requirements for some of the first year options. Check the requirements for Year One options.
Teaching and facilities
Teaching
We have some of the world’s best scientists, teaching and researching at the very forefront of current scientific knowledge. They are working on tackling some of the most important challenges of our times.
We’ll teach you to become a scientist who progresses their area of science, someone with their own ideas and opinions.
Some of our research includes:
- searching for life’s origins on Earth and attempting to discover it on planets beyond Earth
- using newly developed microscopy method to see for the first time how protein clusters form in living cells
- understanding astronomical forcing of climate change records as recorded in oceanic sediments
- understanding how adverse environments experienced in early development leave a lasting legacy with impacts on later and intergenerational health
- facilitating the early detection of hard-to-diagnose diseases using new sequencing technology that spots the changes in the genes that mark the onset of these diseases
Facilities
The 14 departments that contribute to the Natural Sciences course have a variety of teaching and research facilities.
These include:
- lecture theatres, classrooms and seminar rooms
- teaching laboratories
- Libraries
- a wide variety of study and social spaces
In your final year, you can access active research labs for your project work.
Watch the video to find out what a day in the life of a Cambridge Natural Sciences student is like:
Course costs
When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).
Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students.
Find out more about general study costs.
Other additional course costs for Natural Sciences are detailed below. If you have any queries about these costs, please contact the course team.
Equipment
- University approved scientific calculator - estimated cost £25
- Lab coat - estimated cost £13 to £16
- Safety glasses - estimated cost £4 to £7
Field trips
- Year 1 Earth Sciences field course (required) - estimated cost £120
- Year 1 Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology field course (optional) - estimated cost £50 plus travel expenses
For Years 2, 3 and 4, any additional costs will depend on the options taken. You can find details on the course website.
Your future career
You’ll be well prepared for life beyond Cambridge, whichever pathway you choose.
This course prepares students well for the challenges of research, especially in emerging, interdisciplinary areas. Around half of our graduates continue with further study or research, based on the Graduate Outcomes survey. 47% of Natural Science graduates who completed their studies between August 2022 and July 2023 responded to the survey.
The other half of our graduates go directly into a broad range of careers, including:
- programming and software development
- financial management
- management consultancy
- teaching
Course outline
Teaching
You will be taught through lectures and practical laboratory classes. You'll also have supervisions and complete projects, coursework and field work for some courses.
In your first year, you will usually attend 12 lectures a week and have one supervision a week for each of your 4 courses. As well as this, you’ll take part in practical labs.
In your second year, you will typically attend 9 lectures a week and have one supervision a week for each of your 3 courses.
Depending on the courses you choose, you’ll also take on practical labs, project work and/or coursework. The frequency of your practical labs will depend on your courses.
The organisation of teaching in the third and fourth years will vary depending on the course.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques. These include:
- unseen written examinations
- assessed practicals
- assessed coursework
- experiment write-ups
- literature and experimental reports
- marked essays
- oral examinations
- project reports and presentations
You won't usually be able to resit any of your exams.
Year 1 (Part IA)
You can study a range of different subjects in your first year. However, you may need to have certain A levels or IB to study some of them.
See entry requirements information for the Year 1 subjects you’d like to study.
You will choose 3 science subjects from these areas:
- Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology
- Biomedical Sciences
- Cells and Molecular Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Materials Science
- Physics
You will also take a mathematics-based subject, for example:
- Mathematics focusing on Physical sciences
- Mathematics focusing on Biological sciences
You may also be able to choose a Psychology-focused course, subject to timetable restrictions and student numbers.
Some subjects may not be able to be taken together due to timetable restrictions.
Year 2 (Part IB)
You will take 3 subjects, from the following areas:
- Animal Diversity
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry A: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Chemistry B: Organic, Inorganic and Biological Chemistry
- Conservation
- Developmental Biology
- Earth Sciences A: Climate, geobiology, geophysics and the sedimentary record
- Earth Sciences B: Igneous and metamorphic processes, mineralogy and planetary differentiation
- Ecology
- Environmental Sciences: Quantitative Approaches
- Evolution
- Genetics
- History and Philosophy of Science
- Materials Science
- Mathematics
- Mathematical and Computational Biology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Neurobiology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physics A: Waves, Quantum Mechanics, Condensed Matter Physics
- Physics B: Dynamics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics
- Physiology
- Plant Sciences
Year 3 (Part II)
You can choose to follow a broad subject in Biological or Physical Sciences, or you can choose to specialise in one of these areas:
- Astrophysics
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Genetics
- History and Philosophy of Science
- Materials Science
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physics
- Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
- Plant Sciences
- Zoology
Please note that some Year 3 subjects have limited numbers due to the size of the laboratory space.
Year 4 (Part III, optional Masters)
Progression to fourth year depends on how well you do in your third year. Usually, students are expected to have achieved at least a 2.i in their third year to progress to a corresponding Year 4 course. Entry requirements for progression to fourth year are published annually.
These subjects offer a fourth year option, which lead to an MSci degree:
- Astrophysics
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- History and Philosophy of Science
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Systems Biology
- Quantitative Climate and Environmental Science
For further information about studying Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge see the Natural Sciences course website.
Changing course
It’s really important to think carefully about which course you want to study before you apply.
In rare cases, it may be possible to change course once you’ve joined the University. You will usually have to get agreement from your College and the relevant departments. It’s not guaranteed that your course change will be approved.
You might also have to:
- take part in an interview
- complete an admissions test
- produce some written work
- achieve a particular grade in your current studies
- do some catch-up work
- start your new course from the beginning
For more information contact the College you are considering applying to.
You can also apply to change to:
You can't apply to this course until you're at Cambridge. You would usually apply when you are in your second or third year of your original Cambridge course.
You should contact your College’s Admissions Office if you’re thinking of changing your course. They will be able to give you advice and explain how changing courses works.
Entry requirements
The listed entry requirements relate to entry in 2026 or deferred entry in 2027. Entry requirements for 2027 entry or deferred entry in 2028 will be published in April 2026. Check our guidance on choosing high school subjects.
Minimum offer level
A level: A*A*A
IB: 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level
Other qualifications: Check which other qualifications we accept.
To apply to any of our Colleges for Natural Sciences, you will need A levels/IB Higher Levels (or the equivalent) in:
- Mathematics
- 2 other science or mathematics subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and, for A level only, Further Mathematics)
If you’re studying a science that's not listed as your third subject, please contact the admissions office at your shortlisted College(s) for advice.
You may need to have studied specific science subjects to apply to some Colleges and to take certain first-year options. Check the course website for first-year options. Visit the websites of your shortlisted College(s) before applying.
International Baccalaureate
The advice above about A level subject combinations also applies to the IB.
- Higher Level subjects will satisfy A level subject requirements
- For Natural Sciences (Physical), if taking Higher Level Mathematics, applicants are expected to take Analysis and Approaches. If this option is not available at your school, please contact your shortlisted College(s) for further advice and guidance.
- For Natural Sciences (Biological), if taking Higher Level Mathematics, we recommend Analysis and Approaches for the most competitive application, however Applications and Interpretations will also be considered.
Admissions assessment
All applicants for Natural Sciences are required to take the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) at an authorised assessment centre. You must register in advance for this test.
Please see the admissions test page for more information.
Submitted work
You won't usually be asked to submit examples of written work.
All undergraduate admissions decisions are the responsibility of the Cambridge Colleges. Please contact the relevant College admissions office if you have any queries.
What Natural Sciences students have studied
Natural Sciences (Biological)
Most Natural Sciences (Biological) students (who had studied A levels and started at Cambridge in 2018, 2019 and 2023) achieved at least A*A*A* (76% of entrants).
Nearly all of these students took Mathematics (99%). Please note that Mathematics is now a required subject.
Other common subjects were:
- Biology (98%)
- Chemistry (97%)
- Further Mathematics (36%)
- Physics (29%)
In addition to Mathematics A levels, the percentage of entrants taking:
- all 3 of Biology, Chemistry and Physics was 23%
- 2 of the sciences 74% (of which 95% took Chemistry and Biology)
- only one of the sciences was 1%. Please note that two sciences are now a requirement.
The majority of students who studied IB achieved at least 43 points overall and/or grades 777 at Higher Level.
Natural Sciences (Physical)
Most Natural Sciences (Physical) students (who had studied A levels and started at Cambridge in 2018, 2019 and 2023) achieved at least A*A*A* (97% of entrants).
All of these students took Mathematics. Other common subjects were:
- Physics (97%)
- Further Mathematics (92%)
- Chemistry (89%)
- Biology (9%)
In addition to Mathematics A levels, the percentage of entrants taking:
- all 3 of Biology, Chemistry and Physics was 8%
- 2 of the sciences 81% (of which 98% took Physics and Chemistry)
- only one of the sciences was 10%. Almost all of these students took Further Mathematics. Please note that it is now a requirement to study Mathematics and two other science or mathematics subjects.
The majority of students who studied IB achieved at least 43 points overall and/or grades 777 at Higher Level.
Check our advice on choosing your high school subjects. You should also check if there are any required subjects for your course when you apply.
Next steps
Discover your department or faculty
- - The Natural Sciences website has more information about this course, facilities, people and research.
Explore our Colleges
- - A College is where you’ll live, eat and socialise. You may also have some small group teaching there, known as supervisions.
- - If you think you know which course you’d like to study, it’s time to choose a College.
Visit us on an open day
- - Get a feel for the city and the University.
- - We offer a range of events where you can find out more about Cambridge, Colleges, and your course. Many of our events are online so you can join us virtually.
Find out how to apply
- - Our admissions process is slightly different to other universities. We’ve put together a handy guide to help you apply to Cambridge.
- - Supercurricular activities are a great way to engage with your chosen subject outside of school or college.
Discover Uni
Discover Uni data
Contextual information
Discover Uni allows you to compare information about individual courses at different higher education institutions. This can be a useful method of considering your options and what course may suit you best.
However, please note that superficially similar courses often have very different structures and objectives, and that the teaching, support and learning environment that best suits you can only be determined by identifying your own interests, needs, expectations and goals, and comparing them with detailed institution- and course-specific information.
We recommend that you look thoroughly at the course and University information contained on these webpages and consider coming to visit us on an Open Day, rather than relying solely on statistical comparison.
You may find the following notes helpful when considering information presented by Discover Uni.
- Discover Uni relies on superficially similar courses being coded in the same way. Whilst this works on one level, it may lead to some anomalies. For example, Music courses and Music Technology courses can have exactly the same code despite being very different programmes with quite distinct educational and career outcomes.
Any course which combines several disciplines (as many courses at Cambridge do) tends to be compared nationally with courses in just one of those disciplines, and in such cases the Discover Uni comparison may not be an accurate or fair reflection of the reality of either. For example, you may find that when considering a degree which embraces a range of disciplines such as biology, physics, chemistry and geology (for instance, Natural Sciences at Cambridge), the comparison provided is with courses at other institutions that primarily focus on just one (or a smaller combination) of those subjects.You may therefore find that not all elements of the Cambridge degree are represented in the Discover Uni data. - Some contextual data linked from other surveys, such as the National Student Survey (NSS) or the Destination of Leavers in Higher Education (DLHE), may not be available or may be aggregated across several courses or several years due to small sample sizes. When using the data to inform your course choice, it is important to ensure you understand how it has been processed prior to its presentation. Discover Uni offers some explanatory information about how the contextual data is collated, and how it may be used, which you can view here: https://discoveruni.gov.uk/about-our-data/.
- Discover Uni draws on national data to provide average salaries and employment/continuation data. Whilst starting salaries can be a useful measure, they do not give any sense of career trajectory or take account of the voluntary/low paid work that many graduates undertake initially in order to gain valuable experience necessary/advantageous for later career progression. Discover Uni is currently piloting use of the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) data to demonstrate possible career progression; it is important to note that this is experimental and its use may be modified as it embeds.
The above list is not exhaustive and there may be other important factors that are relevant to the choices that you are making, but we hope that this will be a useful starting point to help you delve deeper than the face value of the Discover Uni data.