Program Overview

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Natural Sciences (Placement Year) BSc Hons

The Natural Sciences degree at Lancaster University offers students the opportunity to design their own degree from a wide range of science pathways. This flexible program allows students to choose pathways from 17 subject areas across the physical and life sciences, connecting with staff and students at the cutting-edge of these disciplines.

Top Reasons to Study with Us

• 3rd for Student Experience in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
• A Natural Sciences degree gives you versatile skills and broad career opportunities across science and beyond
• Design your own degree from a wide range of science pathways

What to Expect

Year 1 starts with your choice of three pathways, allowing you to discover and develop your passion for the scientific discipline and build core fundamentals. In Year 2, your study becomes more focused, continuing with two pathways and the introduction of optional modules as you start to specialize. After returning from your placement year, your final year will allow you to delve deeper into the topics you have been studying and apply the skills and experience you have acquired to undertake a major research project or dissertation.

Your Placement

Although it's up to you to find your placement, the university will support you all the way. The Careers team will provide guidance on CVs, applications, interview techniques, and creating a digital profile.

Personal Development

Working across different scientific disciplines gives you a unique perspective on how they overlap, and as a result, you will develop a broad skill set, including abilities in maths and statistics, critical analysis, reasoning, logic, solving complex problems, data handling, and project management.

3 Things Our Natural Sciences Students Want You to Know

• You'll be immersed in science and technology communities designed to challenge the most highly motivated students and world-leading researchers.
• You're uniquely placed to boost your employability by making the most of opportunities within each department you are linked to.
• Natural Sciences degrees make you highly employable by showing you can think and work across the conventional boundaries of science.

Your Department

• Natural Sciences
• Faculty of Science and Technology

How Our Pathways Work

A pathway is a defined selection of modules taken from a range of degree programs. We offer pathways in:

• Biology
• Biomedicine
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Computing and Communications
• Earth and Environment Science
• Ecology
• Electrical Engineering
• Human Geography
• Human Physiology
• Mathematics (Statistics)
• Mathematics of Artificial Intelligence
• Mechanical Engineering
• Pharmacology
• Physical Geography
• Physics
• Psychology

Careers

A Natural Sciences degree ensures that you graduate with a broad and multidisciplinary set of skills, meaning you benefit from the widest range of career opportunities. The flexibility of the degree and the breadth of subjects that you can study allow you to transition into a career from any scientific discipline.

Entry Requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course:

• A levels: A*AA, including two science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology.
• Access to HE Diploma: Considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales: We accept this in place of one A level.
• BTEC Extended Diploma: D*DD to include sufficient science.
• International Baccalaureate: 38 points overall with 17 points from the best 3 HL subjects, including two HL science subjects at grade 6.
• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers: We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers.
• GCSE requirements: Mathematics grade 6/B, English Language grade 4/C.
• English language requirements: We require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component.

Course Structure

Natural Sciences students create their own individual degree program by following pathways with a selection of modules. For detailed information on pathways and modules, please visit the Natural Sciences web page and explore the groupings.

Fees and Funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session:

• Home: È9,790
• International: È30,770

Scholarships and Bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply. You may be eligible for:

• Lancaster Bursary: È1,000 in each year of study
• Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship Home: È3,000 in your first year of study
• International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship: È3,000, as a tuition fee reduction, per year of study
• Undergraduate International Regional Scholarship: È3,000, as a tuition fee reduction, per year of study

Similar Courses

• Natural Sciences BSc Hons: GFC0
• Natural Sciences MSci Hons: FCF3
• Natural Sciences (Study Abroad) BSc Hons: CFG2
• Natural Sciences (Study Abroad) MSci Hons: CFG1
• Natural Sciences (with a Foundation Year) BSc Hons: GFCF

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year, and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication. The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described but reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses.