Program Overview

Natural Sciences MSci

Overview

The MSci Natural Sciences degree is a four-year program that allows students to study a combination of science subjects, gaining comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge. The program is accredited by the Society for Natural Sciences and provides students with excellent learning opportunities and skills development to prepare them for future careers in research, education, business, or industry.

Course Structure

The program is divided into four years, with the first year split equally between three subjects. Students choose a subject stream in early September and can change streams up to the end of the first week of study, providing they meet stream requirements.

Year One

• Students study modules from each of the subjects in their chosen stream, gaining comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge.
• The majority of modules are compulsory, but there are limited optional choices in a few subjects.
• For indicative modules on each stream, please visit the natural sciences website.

Year Two

• Students choose two of their first-year subjects and continue studying them in greater depth.
• Some subjects allow further specialization within the subject through optional modules and specialisms, allowing students to tailor their program to their interests.
• Students spend more time developing practical skills, putting what they are learning into practice through field work and practical computing and laboratory classes.

Year Three

• Students continue studying their two chosen subjects at a more advanced level.
• They have even more flexibility through optional modules to explore their own interests and focus on specialist areas within each subject.
• Emphasis is put on self-reliance and proactively putting what they have learned in previous years into practice.
• Alongside subject content, students take the 20-credit synoptic project, which provides a broader view of science and its communication and ties together the different subjects through a collaborative group project.

Year Four

• Students spend half their time working on an independent research project to develop the skills needed to pursue a career in research.
• The project is an opportunity to consolidate learning from previous years and to apply that knowledge in a world-class research environment with the support of university staff.
• Alongside their project, students take taught modules that complement their research project, develop their professional research skills, and allow them to explore subjects in more depth.

Entry Requirements

• A*AA
• Required subjects: To include at least two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, either Mathematics or Further Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Geology, Geography, and Environmental Science/Studies.
• Minimum grade A is required in Mathematics or Further Mathematics to study a mathematics stream.
• A Pass is normally required in science practical tests, where these are assessed separately.
• GCSE English and maths at C/4

Alternative Qualifications

• We recognize that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.
• Consequently, we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications, including:
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • Advanced Diploma
  • BTEC HND/HNC
  • BTEC Extended Diploma

Tuition Fees

• £9,535 per year (UK undergraduate students)
• £30,750 per year (International students)

Additional Costs

• Printing: Due to our commitment to sustainability, we don't print lecture notes, but these are available digitally.
• Books: You will be able to access all of the books you'll need through our libraries, but you may wish to purchase your own copies of books you use often. If you do, most books cost around £20-£50.
• Equipment: If your subject stream requires you to work in the laboratory (e.g., Biology and Chemistry), your tuition fees will cover the cost of a protective lab coat and safety goggles. If you lose these, you are responsible for the cost of replacing them (around £25).
• Field trips: Depending on which pathway you choose, there are optional field modules in Earth Science and Ecosystems and Environment, which may incur a cost. These range from £30-£50 for UK-based day trips to as much as £400 for overseas residential trips.

Careers

• The knowledge and skills that you will gain from this course can lead to roles working in many areas within and outside of science.
• Our graduates have gone on to work as:
  • Lab Scientist at Lighthouse Lab Services
  • Commercial Oncology Graduate at Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Bioinformatician at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
  • DevOps/Platform Engineer at Metaswitch Networks

Further Study

• The remainder of our graduates go on to further study, doing a master's or PhD in a science specialization they wish to focus on.
• An understanding of the ideas and approaches across science and how the disciplines fit together is a strong background for further study.

Job Prospects

• 86.40% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Science secured employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.
• The average annual salary for these graduates was £27,834.

Contact

• For more information, please visit the natural sciences website.
• If you have any questions or would like to discuss your application, please contact us.