The key characteristics of the Natural Sciences degree at Durham are choice, flexibility and depth. The Natural Sciences degree programme has a wide choice of subjects and there is choice between modules within subjects. It is also a flexible degree programme and with most subjects you can delay choosing your subjects until you get to Durham and you can also change the shape of your degree at the end of the first year.

The Natural Sciences degree programme has the following features:

• The degree programme is based at the Durham campus.

• The University operates on a system of undergraduates studying 120 credits each year drawn by combining modules offered by departments.

• There are two types of degree that you can obtain, a 3-year BSc (degree code CFG0) or a 4-year MSci (degree code FGC0). The MSci is only available in certain subjects, namely Biology, Computer Science, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Maths and Physics. Both the BSc and the MSci contain BSc Joint Honours and MSci Joint Honours degrees as well as the more broad BSc Natural Sciences and MSci Natural Sciences degrees.

• You should note that not all combinations of all modules in all subjects are feasible. Choices are constrained by the limits of the University timetable, which changes every year.

MSci in Natural Sciences

To take an MSci in Natural Sciences you must be taking at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics. Biology has a very limited range of modules at fourth year level, so Biology can only be included in a Joint Honours degree with Chemistry or Physics. An MSci in Natural Sciences can be a slight variation from one of the MSci Joint Honours degrees below. Alternatively, it could be just one of the subjects above (say Chemistry) with modules from other subjects (say Anthropology and Philosophy) for the first three years. In this case, your fourth year would have to consist of all six modules from the subject listed above (Chemistry in this case).

Joint Honours MSci within Natural Sciences

The MSci is available as a Joint Honours degree in one of six pairs namely:

Biology and Chemistry; Biology and Physics; Chemistry and Maths; Chemistry and Physics; Computer Science and Maths; Maths and Physics.

Students on the Natural Sciences programme design their own programme, so depending on their choices they learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes, fieldwork, informal but scheduled one-to-one support, and self-directed learning, such as research, reading, and writing. All of these are supported by a virtual learning environment, Durham University Online (DUO).

Tutorials, seminars, workshops, and practical classes are much smaller groups than lectures, small enough to allow one-to-one interaction with a member of staff. Practicals also allow hands-on experience of the work of professionals in the disciplines studied on the programme. The same is true of fieldwork and consists of engaging in, for example, geological, biological, geographical, or anthropological work in the field with members of academic staff. This emphasis on small-group and practical teaching reflects a conscious choice to enhance the quality of the learning experience rather than the number of formal sessions.

The degree programmes in Natural Sciences are designed to feature fewer formal sessions and more independent research as students move from their first to their final year. Small-group teaching and one-to-one attention from the personal academic advisor (provided for all students when they enter the programme) are part of the learning experience throughout, but by the final year classroom time gives way, to some extent, to independent research, including a major project that makes up a minimum of a third of final year credits. In this way, the degree programme systematically transforms the student from a consumer of knowledge in the classroom to a generator of knowledge, ready for professional or postgraduate life. These formal teaching arrangements are supported by “drop-in” surgeries with teaching staff and induction sessions that begin in the week before the start of the programme and continue at key times throughout each year of the programme. Students can also attend an extensive programme of research-focused seminars where staff and visiting scholars in various academic departments present their cutting-edge research.

Provisional subject preferences must be declared in decreasing in order of interest (see here for further details of appropriate abbreviations). Using the first two subject preferences the offer is then augmented with specific grades as outlined above.

All applicants taking A levels will need three A levels with at least one Science (Biology; Human Biology; Chemistry; Mathematics; Physics.) The standard offer is A*AA and you will need specific A level grades to study:

• Biology: A in either Biology or Chemistry.
• Chemistry: A*A in any order in Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Computer Science: A in Mathematics.
• Economics: A in Mathematics.
• Mathematics: Either A*A in any order in Maths and Further Maths at A level or A* in Maths plus A in AS Further Maths for students unable to take A2 Further Maths.
• Physics: A*A in any order in Maths and Physics.
• We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking A levels as part of our offer.

All applicants wishing to study Psychology will need to have achieved Grade 5 (or grade B) in Mathematics at GCSE, or equivalent.

All applicants taking the International Baccalaureate will need a score of 38 points overall including either 766 or 666 at the Higher Level with at least one of these in a Science (Biology; Chemistry; Mathematics (maths analysis & approaches); Physics.) You will need specific Higher Level grades to study:

• Biology: 6 in either Biology or Chemistry.
• Chemistry: 76 in any order in Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Computer Science: 6 in Mathematics.
• Economics: 6 in Mathematics.
• Mathematics: 7 in Mathematics.
• Physics: 76 in any order in Mathematics and Physics.
• If the augmented offer includes a 7 at the Higher Level in any subject, then the offer will be 766 at the Higher Level, otherwise, it will be 666 at the Higher Level.

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or who may have had a break in their study.
• There is no advantage in applying for both MSci and BSc degrees.
• Entry requirements are the same for both MSci and BSc degrees.
• We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking as part of our offer.
• We are pleased to consider applications for deferred entry.

Entry requirements are the same for both Natural Sciences programmes.

We are pleased to consider applications for deferred entry.

Science A levels

Applicants taking Science A levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This applies only to applicants sitting A levels with an English examination board.

Alternative qualifications

• Other UK qualifications

• EU qualifications

• International qualifications

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

English language requirements

Country specific information

Full Time Fees

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Of those students who graduated in 2019:

• 91% are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation across all our programmes

Of those in employment:

• 91% are in high skilled employment
• With an average salary of £31,000.

(Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk)

Studying a Combined degree at Durham can provide considerable flexibility and choice across Durham University’s breadth of world-renowned, research-led education. It allows you to create an academically ambitious degree, suited to your individual interests, strengths and career plans.

This is a long-standing, challenging and rewarding degree course for science students who wish to study more than one subject. We offer the option of 20 BSc and 6 MSci Joint Honours degrees provided by 12 departments. This gives you the opportunity to design your own BSc or MSci degree, majoring in at least one science, with a wide choice of subjects in science, social sciences and philosophy.

For more information see our department pages.

Rankings

• 90% of courses are in the UK Top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2022
• 54th in the World for employer reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2022
• Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2022.

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Natural Sciences pages.

Find out more:

Methods of learning will vary according to subject choice but are likely to include a blend of lectures, tutorials, workshops and practical classes. Using the latest resources, practical sessions provide hands-on experience of the type of work performed by professionals in the various disciplines.

We place great emphasis on high-quality small-group teaching. The small-group format and guidance from your academic advisor help get more out of your studies.

As you progress to the final year there's an increased focus on self-directed learning and independent research, including a major project, as you begin to prepare for professional or postgraduate life.

Assessment

All subjects are assessed by examinations, but there may be some element of continuous assessment in modules. Assessment is designed to evaluate your knowledge and understanding of the material, test your critical thinking and determine your ability to relate your learning to real-world issues.

In your final year, you will also complete a project which is assessed by a combination of report and presentations. You will be expected to think independently and take greater control of the direction of study.

Provisional subject preferences must be declared in decreasing in order of interest (see here for further details of appropriate abbreviations). Using the first two subject preferences the offer is then augmented with specific grades as outlined above.

All applicants taking A levels will need three A levels with at least one Science (Biology; Human Biology; Chemistry; Mathematics; Physics.) The standard offer is A*AA and you will need specific A level grades to study:

• Biology: A in either Biology or Chemistry.
• Chemistry: A*A in any order in Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Computer Science: A in Mathematics.
• Economics: A in Mathematics.
• Mathematics: Either A*A in any order in Maths and Further Maths at A level or A* in Maths plus A in AS Further Maths for students unable to take A2 Further Maths.
• Physics: A*A in any order in Maths and Physics.
• We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking A levels as part of our offer.

All applicants wishing to study Psychology will need to have achieved Grade 5 (or grade B) in Mathematics at GCSE, or equivalent.

All applicants taking the International Baccalaureate will need a score of 38 points overall including either 766 or 666 at the Higher Level with at least one of these in a Science (Biology; Chemistry; Mathematics (maths analysis & approaches); Physics.) You will need specific Higher Level grades to study:

• Biology: 6 in either Biology or Chemistry.
• Chemistry: 76 in any order in Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Computer Science: 6 in Mathematics.
• Economics: 6 in Mathematics.
• Mathematics: 7 in Mathematics.
• Physics: 76 in any order in Mathematics and Physics.
• If the augmented offer includes a 7 at the Higher Level in any subject, then the offer will be 766 at the Higher Level, otherwise, it will be 666 at the Higher Level.

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or who may have had a break in their study.
• There is no advantage in applying for both MSci and BSc degrees.
• Entry requirements are the same for both MSci and BSc degrees.
• We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking as part of our offer.
• We are pleased to consider applications for deferred entry.

Entry requirements are the same for both Natural Sciences programmes.

We are pleased to consider applications for deferred entry.

Science A levels

Applicants taking Science A levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This applies only to applicants sitting A levels with an English examination board.

Alternative qualifications

• Other UK qualifications

• EU qualifications

• International qualifications

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

English language requirements

Country specific information

The tuition fees for 2024/25 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Combined Honours graduates acquire a range of subject-specific skills coupled with adaptability and the capacity to make creative connections. They are highly employable in a diverse range of careers and sectors.

Natural Sciences graduates have the academic knowledge, flexibility and technical skills to take on roles including international development, UK Government, R&D or accounting and investment.

Of those students who graduated in 2019:

• 91% are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation across all our programmes

Of those in employment:

• 91% are in high skilled employment
• With an average salary of £31,000.

(Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk)

Real-world challenges often require multidisciplinary solutions. Our Combined Honours degrees transcend traditional subject boundaries, bringing together a range of ideas and disciplinary perspectives. Focus on two subjects from the outset, or choose a broader range of modules across three or four subjects. These highly flexible courses include the opportunity to undertake a year abroad or a placement year, to develop additional skills and enjoy new experiences.

Natural Sciences is a challenging and rewarding choice for science students who wish to study more than one subject. You can study for a BSc or MSci. Both qualifications allow you to design your own degree, majoring in at least one science, and choosing from a wide range of science, social sciences and philosophy subjects.

(Choices are subject to eligibility and timetable compatibility).

For more information see our department pages.

Rankings

• 90% of courses are in the UK Top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2023
• 56th in the World for employer reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2023
• Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Natural Sciences pages.

Facilities

Durham University’s departments and services are spread across the historic city. As a Combined Honours student, you will have access to a wide range of facilities across multiple departments. While these will vary according to your choice of subjects, all of our departments are equipped with high-quality teaching and research equipment.

You will also benefit from excellent IT facilities including Learn Ultra, Durham’s virtual learning environment. You will have access to up to 1.6 million printed books, 25,000 eJournals and over 850,000 eBooks in the main library as well as specialist collections and archives that support teaching across the departments.

Find out more: