| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-23 | 2023-07-04 |
| 2024-01-23 | - |
Program Overview
Gain the benefits of studying across different scientific disciplines with the flexibility to shape your degree to your career aspirations.
This is the course for you if you love science and want to study more than one science subject at university.
You will choose your own pathway to suit your interests and strengths. You’ll be able to take your existing scientific skills further, explore new areas and apply what you’ve learnt in practical and relevant ways.
Employers will value your ability to bring problem-solving skills from a variety of different angles. You’ll graduate with the breadth of knowledge and practical skills to prepare you for a career in industry or for postgraduate research.
If you decide your interests fit better within a single science, you may be able to transfer to biology, biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacology or physics after year one.
Pathways
When you start your course, you can shape your degree to your interests by choosing a combination of two main subjects based on your previous qualifications. You can choose two mains from this list:
Your two mains can be complemented by an additional subject, including maths, management, psychology or education. Note that not all main subject combinations are possible, so biology can't be combined with biochemistry, and physics can't be combined with pharmacology or biochemistry.
You will follow your own path, developing lab skills and an understanding of the interdisciplinary relationship between the core sciences.
Supporting your studies
You'll have a personal tutor who'll normally stay with you throughout the course, and a current student will be your peer mentor to help you with everything from study choices to social life.
The Natural Sciences Society organise events throughout the year, so you'll be able to meet and share experiences with fellow students. In fact, with the subjects on offer, you'll get to meet a wider range of students than on single-honours courses.
Put your learning into practice
As well as teaching, our academics carry out their own research in all branches of science, so you’ll always be up-to-date with the latest developments. You’ll have the option to work alongside them on your own research project and apply your knowledge to current challenges.
Develop your professional skills
Our Natural Sciences courses are designed to develop a wide range of professional and scientific skills that you'll need as a graduate scientist. We have teams of specialist staff in the Faculty of Science, and the University who will work with, and support you in your search for graduate career opportunities. The support available includes skills workshops that are designed to prepare you for the recruitment process.
Specialist facilities
At Bath, you’ll learn alongside single-honours students in the subjects you choose, so you'll be able to access all the specialised facilities offered by that department, giving you a great depth of practical experience. Depending on your chosen subjects, you will have access to a range of well-equipped undergraduate teaching laboratories, characterisation facilities (including NMR, mass spectrometry, diffraction, and chromatography and microscopy), and our high-performance computing facilities.
Get ready for your future career
Having the experience of solving problems from multiple angles ensures Natural Sciences graduates are suitable for a wide range of challenges in modern science, from atomic research to epidemiology, sustainable technology or environmental science. You'll also have skills for careers built on a scientific background, such as working in scientific and manufacturing industries or roles in management, marketing, sales, lecturing, purchasing or patenting.
Recent employers include:
Many of our graduates also choose to go on to postgraduate study in preparation for academic or industry-based research careers.
Learn more on our Virtual Experience page
You can learn more about studying Natural Sciences at Bath by visiting our Natural Sciences Virtual Experience page to hear from staff and students.
Gain the benefits of studying across different scientific disciplines with the flexibility to shape your degree to your career aspirations.
This is the course for you if you love science and want to study more than one science subject at university.
You will choose your own pathway to suit your interests and strengths. You’ll be able to take your existing scientific skills further, explore new areas and apply what you’ve learnt in practical and relevant ways.
Employers will value your ability to bring problem-solving skills from a variety of different angles. You’ll graduate with the breadth of knowledge and practical skills to prepare you for a career in industry or for postgraduate research.
If you decide your interests fit better within a single science, you may be able to transfer to biology, biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacology or physics after year one.
Pathways
When you start your course, you can shape your degree to your interests by choosing a combination of two main subjects based on your previous qualifications. You can choose two mains from this list:
Your two mains can be complemented by an additional subject, including maths, management, psychology or education. Note that not all main subject combinations are possible, so biology can't be combined with biochemistry, and physics can't be combined with pharmacology or biochemistry.
You will follow your own path, developing lab skills and an understanding of the interdisciplinary relationship between the core sciences.
Supporting your studies
You'll have a personal tutor who'll normally stay with you throughout the course, and a current student will be your peer mentor to help you with everything from study choices to social life.
The Natural Sciences Society organise events throughout the year, so you'll be able to meet and share experiences with fellow students. In fact, with the subjects on offer, you'll get to meet a wider range of students than on single-honours courses.
Put your learning into practice
As well as teaching, our academics carry out their own research in all branches of science, so you’ll always be up-to-date with the latest developments. You’ll have the option to work alongside them on your own research project and apply your knowledge to current challenges.
Develop your professional skills
Our Natural Sciences courses are designed to develop a wide range of professional and scientific skills that you'll need as a graduate scientist. We have teams of specialist staff in the Faculty of Science, and the University who will work with, and support you in your search for graduate career opportunities. The support available includes skills workshops that are designed to prepare you for the recruitment process.
Specialist facilities
At Bath, you’ll learn alongside single-honours students in the subjects you choose, so you'll be able to access all the specialised facilities offered by that department, giving you a great depth of practical experience. Depending on your chosen subjects, you will have access to a range of well-equipped undergraduate teaching laboratories, characterisation facilities (including NMR, mass spectrometry, diffraction, and chromatography and microscopy), and our high-performance computing facilities.
Get ready for your future career
Having the experience of solving problems from multiple angles ensures Natural Sciences graduates are suitable for a wide range of challenges in modern science, from atomic research to epidemiology, sustainable technology or environmental science. You'll also have skills for careers built on a scientific background, such as working in scientific and manufacturing industries or roles in management, marketing, sales, lecturing, purchasing or patenting.
Recent employers include:
Many of our graduates also choose to go on to postgraduate study in preparation for academic or industry-based research careers.
Learn more on our Virtual Experience page
You can learn more about studying Natural Sciences at Bath by visiting our Natural Sciences Virtual Experience page to hear from staff and students.
Program Outline
Course structure
This course lasts 3 years. It starts in September 2023 and ends in 2026. Welcome week starts on 25 September 2023.
Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
Units
To make up the required credits for your degree, you'll select two main subjects based on your previous qualifications. Alongside these, you’ll study core Natural Sciences units and you can take an additional unit in a range of subjects including maths, management, psychology or education. In the final year, you'll undertake a project or dissertation in one of your main subjects.
Main subject choices
Choose two main subjects from these options:
Note that biology can't be paired with biochemistry, and physics can't be paired with pharmacology or biochemistry. Environmental science is available as a main subject in year 3.
Units and credits
At Bath, our courses are made up of units of study. Compulsory units cover core concepts that you'll need to understand as part of your degree programme. Some of our courses also offer the opportunity for you to study optional units. These allow you to specialise in particular areas of knowledge that interest you.
As an undergraduate, you will be expected to take 60 credits (ECTS) in each academic year. For Natural Sciences, these will usually be made up of 20 credits in each main subject with the rest made up from a Natural Sciences unit and one additional subject.
Sixty credits are the equivalent of 1200 notional hours of study; this includes contact time with staff and your own independent learning.
Units listed here are intended to give you an idea of the scope and flexibility of the course. We will assist you in making your final course choices, including detailed explanation of what choices are available on which paths.
All students: Natural Sciences units
Core Natural Sciences units are studied alongside your other subject choices, developing skills appropriate to your main subjects and an understanding of the interdisciplinary relationship between the sciences.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry requires an A Level or equivalent in chemistry. In years 2 and 3 you can take 20 credits with an additional subject, or 30 credits without.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Final year project
You can read more details of unit contents on the Biochemistry course page.
Biology
Biology requires an A Level or equivalent in biology. In years 2 and 3 you can take 20 credits with an additional subject, or 30 credits without.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Final year project
You can read more details of unit contents on the Biology course page.
Chemistry
Studying chemistry requires an A Level or equivalent in chemistry.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Final year project for chemistry majors
Choose one option (15 credits):
You can read more details of unit contents on the Chemistry course page.
Environmental Science
Environment units are available in years 2 and 3 as a minor subject and you can make it one of your main choices in year 3. You must have A Levels or equivalent in chemistry and maths for these units.
Year 2
Year 3
Final year dissertation
Pharmacology
Pharmacology requires an A Level or equivalent in chemistry. Note that some year 3 options are dependent on units studied in year 2.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Final year dissertation
You can read more details of unit contents on the pharmacology course page.
Physics
Physics requires A Levels or equivalent in physics and maths. Physics must be taken with the maths units in years 1 and 2 and is therefore not available as a minor subject.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Final year project for physics majors
Choose one option (15 credits):
You can read more details of unit contents on the Physics course page.
Optional course units
Additional subjects
You may choose these alongside your main choices to make a total of 60 credits in each year. Maths options require an A Level or equivalent in maths.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Learning and assessment
You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.
Learning
Assessment
Assessment breakdown
You will be assessed by a range of methods designed to develop and test your skills and knowledge. These may include closed and open book examinations, essays, reports, presentations and groupwork.
Because to the numerous possible routes through the programme, it is not possible to give detailed assessment percentages. In your final year you will complete a project or dissertation. You will primarily be assessed as an individual but may also be assessed as part of a group.
We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities, take a look at our Disability Service’s pages for information.
Contact hours and workload
Contact hours
Timetabled contact hours, which may be made up of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes, vary throughout your course and between courses but are typically between 15 and 20 hours a week in your first year.
Independent learning
In addition to timetabled contact hours, you are expected to undertake independent learning and assessment activities. Typically, this might be around 15 to 25 hours per week in your first year, and include individual research, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing course working assignments, presentations, or revising for exams. After your first year, the emphasis on independent learning becomes greater, for example in a final year project.
Recognition of professional qualifications
As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).
The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.
The United Kingdom currently subscribes to The Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (MRPQ) Directive. The MRPQ Directive provides a reciprocal framework of rules which enables European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals to have their professional qualifications recognised in a state other than the one in which the qualification was obtained. In the event of a no deal Brexit, from 1 January 2021, the MRPQ Directive will no longer apply to the UK. However, it is anticipated that there will be a new system for recognising professional qualifications between the UK, EEA, and Switzerland.
