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Undergraduate Study

BSc Natural Sciences - 2025 entry

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code CGF0
Duration 3 years
Entry year 2025
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Natural Sciences
Contact

Web: Enquire online
Phone: +44 (0)1392 725500

Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A levels: AAA
IB: 36/666
BTEC: DDD

Contextual offers

A-Level: AAC
IB: 32/655
BTEC: DDM

Overview

  • A true Natural Sciences programme specially designed to let you work across all the sciences without pathways or boundaries
  • Study at the frontiers of knowledge and take an active part in research - many of our students are publishing their work as early as year 2
  • Be part of a close community of highly skilled and recognised scientists
  • Contribute to our understanding of critical global issues, such as climate change, ageing society, food security and urbanisation
  • Encourages you to follow your interests and develop your own ideas as an independent scientist and researcher

View 2024 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open Days and visiting us

How to apply

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Number One icon

1st in the sector for student satisfaction in 6 out of 7 themes

National Student Survey 2023: Natural Sciences

Second icon

2nd in the UK for Natural Sciences

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Microscope icon

Study across Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics

An image of a globe on a stand, depicted through a line drawing, showcasing the continents and countries of the world.

Spend time at a university abroad as part of your degree

Number One icon

1st in the sector for student satisfaction in 6 out of 7 themes

National Student Survey 2023: Natural Sciences

Second icon

2nd in the UK for Natural Sciences

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Microscope icon

Study across Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics

An image of a globe on a stand, depicted through a line drawing, showcasing the continents and countries of the world.

Spend time at a university abroad as part of your degree

Entry requirements (typical offer)

Qualification Typical offer Required subjects
A-Level AAA A in Mathematics, Pure Mathematics or Further Mathematics and A in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics
IB 36/666 HL6 in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) and HL6 in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics (Applicants with Mathematics SL7 plus HL6 in two from Physics, Chemistry or Biology will also be considered)
BTEC DDD Applicants studying a BTEC Extended Diploma are also required to achieve grade A at A' Level in Mathematics and grade A at A' Level in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics
GCSE 4 or C Grade 4/C in GCSE English language
Access to HE 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade 15 L3 credits at Distinction Grade in an acceptable Mathematics subject area and 15 L3 credits at Distinction Grade in either a Biology, Chemistry or Physics subject area
T-Level T-Levels not accepted N/A
Contextual Offer

A-Level: AAC
IB: 32/655
BTEC: DDM

Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers.

Other accepted qualifications

View other accepted qualifications

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

NB General Studies is not included in any offer.

Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply

International Foundation programmes

Preparation for entry to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree:

Accreditations

Society of Natural Sciences logo

This programme is accredited to meet the educational requirements of the Society of Natural Sciences (SocNatSci).

I chose Natural Sciences at Exeter because of the variety of modules available, with options that I knew I’d enjoy and the chance to try new things. It’s really broadened my knowledge across all sciences, especially physics which I didn’t have an A-level in.

Lucie

Studying Natural Sciences

Course content

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Your first year will be made up of four modules through which you’ll be introduced to interdisciplinary research, ideas and philosophy which form the basis of Natural Sciences. You’ll explore experimental science in the lab where you’ll complete a series of experiments that complement your lectures.

Compulsory modules

CodeModuleCredits
NSC1002Mathematics and Computing: Integrative Tools for Natural Sciences30
NSC1003Foundations in Natural Science60
NSC1004Experimental Science15
NSC1005Frontiers in Science 115

As you move in to your second year a wide range of optional modules from across physics, biology, maths and natural sciences will be available, giving you a great amount of freedom to follow your interests. You’ll also design, build and run an extended experiment as part of ‘Frontiers of Science 2’.

Up to 30 credits may be taken from other relevant University modules, for which you have the necessary pre-requisites, and with agreement with your Personal Tutor.

Compulsory modules

CodeModuleCredits
NSC2001 Frontiers in Science 230

Optional modules

CodeModuleCredits
Optional Modules
BIO2085Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds II15
BIO2088Advanced Cell Biology15
BIO2090Analytical Techniques in Biochemistry15
BIO2091Bioinorganic Chemistry15
BIO2092 Genomics and Introductory Bioinformatics15
MTH2003Differential Equations15
MTH2004Vector Calculus and Applications15
NSC2002Physical Chemistry15
NSC2003Introduction to Numerics and Simulation for Scientists15
PHY2021Electromagnetism I15
PHY2022Quantum Mechanics I15
PHY2023Thermal Physics15
PHY2024Condensed Matter I15
PHY2029The Physics of Living Systems15
PHY2030Observing the Universe15

Your final year includes two major projects. The Research Project will see you working on current research being undertaken by one of the University’s research groups while the Group Project will involve working as a team with other finalists to complete a project of your choosing. Group projects typically involve a piece of scientific research, but could also be related to outreach, widening participation or work aimed at encouraging greater gender equality within the sciences. In addition to these projects you will choose three optional modules. An indicative list is provided below but this list is not exhaustive and you are encouraged to look at the range of modules on offer across the University.

Compulsory modules

CodeModuleCredits
NSC3001BSc Research Project30
NSC3003Group Project30

Optional modules

CodeModuleCredits
Optional Modules
BIO3037Ecology of Environmental Change15
BIO3041Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry15
BIO3073Specialist Topics in Chemical Sciences15
BIO3077Frontiers in Molecular Cell Biology15
BIO3089Organic Synthesis and Drug Design15
BIO3092Bioinformatics15
MTH3006Mathematical Biology and Ecology15
MTH3007Fluid Dynamics15
MTH3019Mathematics: History and Culture15
MTH3030Mathematics of Climate Change15
MTH3047Mathematics for Environment and Sustainability15
NSC3007Macromolecular and Supramolecular Chemistry15
NSC3008Symmetry and Statistics of Molecules15
NSC3009Aerosols, Clouds and Climate15
PHY3052Nuclear and High Energy Particle Physics15
PHY3061The Biophysics of Cells and Tissues15
PHY3067Energy and the Environment15

Fees

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £30,900 per year

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*. Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

Our Natural Sciences degree will place you at the heart of a community of internationally respected scientists, who are exploring some of the most important developments of the future, and whose enthusiasm for research is matched by their passion for teaching. We believe every student benefits from being part of a research-inspired culture and being taught by experts – you will discuss the very latest ideas in seminars and tutorials.

You will learn through practical work, problem-solving, project work, team work and research projects - key qualities for success for the rest of your degree and your future career. Working through examples, solving problems and developing your mathematical and analytical skills are a vital part of being a scientist, so coursework forms a component of most modules. Modules will have a reading list that might consist of chapters from textbooks and research articles from journals.

Excellent student-to-staff ratios, small group tutorials and accessible staff will mean you’re well supported throughout your degree. In all years you will be offered personal tutoring in small groups with an academic who you will see every week.

You will be expected to undertake independent and self-motivated study as part of your degree and should expect your total workload to average about 40 hours per week during term time. We will support you in learning to work independently and becoming a scientific thinker – these skills are not easy to acquire but we will be on-hand to guide you throughout the programme.

Assessment

You will be assessed in all years through a variety of means. These will include coursework, exams, written reports or presentations amongst others. You must pass your first year assessment in order to progress to the second year, but the results do not count towards your degree classification and the assessment will not disadvantage students who did not study all subjects at A level.

Optional modules outside of this course

Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.

  • A Foreign Language
  • Data Science
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • Law (Penryn Campus only)
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Social Data Science

Find out more about proficiency options

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Your future

Our aim is to teach a syllabus that you will find intellectually challenging, rewarding and stimulating. In addition, to help you develop as a scientist so that you can make a real contribution to the exciting research taking place at the University of Exeter and to important scientific developments long after your graduation.

Many employers look for graduates with a background in a broad based multidisciplinary science degree, as it allows them to tackle problems holistically.

This course will help you to develop a wide range of key skills for employment and further study such as analytical problem solving, teamwork, and organising and communicating information.

Graduates of this degree are highly employable and have found positions working in a wide variety of related roles including laboratory-based positions, industry, law, business, management, teaching and government.

Career Paths

The broad-based skills acquired during your degree will give you an excellent grounding for a wide variety of careers, not only those related to Natural Sciences but also in wider fields. Examples of roles recent graduates are now working as include:

  • Academic Researcher Auditor
  • Bioinformatics Research Assistant
  • Consultant
  • Financial Analyst
  • Policy Adviser
  • Research and Development Scientist
  • Risk Culture Business Analyst
  • Software Engineer
  • Trainee Operational Meteorologist