Faculty of Science and Technology

What will you study?

Unlike traditional science degrees, Natural Sciences at Lancaster allows you to pick from a wide choice of scientific areas and study two or more science subjects throughout your degree course. This is a challenging programme as you will be taught to the same depth of understanding as single honours students in each subject. Although primarily a science degree, it is possible to study up to one quarter of your degree in a non-science subject.

All students begin their degree studying three subjects. You can choose three sciences or two sciences and a non-science subject. Subjects include Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Communications, Computing, Engineering (Electronic and Mechanical), Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology and a wide range of humanities and social sciences.

At the end of this year, you can continue studying all three subjects- selecting the part of each single honours degree scheme that suits your abilities and ambitions. Alternatively, you can drop one subject and continue with a two subject degree.

In your second year, you begin to specialise. In each of your chosen subjects you can select from a series of themes, with a considerable variety of modules. For example, Biological Sciences themes include Cell Biology, Microbiology/Biomedicine, Biochemistry and Genetics and Environmental Biology.

If you are taking our North America degrees, you spend either the second or third year of your course at a prestigious North American university. Recent exchanges have been with the universities of Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Miami, Oregon, British Columbia, Calgary and Toronto. The marks gained in this year count towards your final degree assessment.

On the BSc programme, you continue into your third and final year studying the themes you chose in your second year. Students on our MSci Hons course can choose to complete their studies after three years, and graduate with a BSc degree, or proceed to the fourth year of the MSci degree.

The fourth year of the MSci is aimed at students seeking a career in research and development and contains higher level courses plus a major research project component.

Where could it take you?

Lancaster's Natural Sciences degree develops skills in data handling, evaluation and interpretation, problem solving in an analytical and logical way, numeracy, IT and project management. These interdisciplinary skills create varied opportunities in many science-related careers.

Previous graduates have entered an extremely varied range of careers, from science-based roles, such as medicine, forensic science and public health, to management, journalism, consultancy and information technology. Many of our graduates have continued on to postgraduate education, both at Lancaster and at other institutions. Recent graduates are now studying Biomedicine and Ecology and the Environment.

Typical entry requirements

For courses starting in 2013:

A-level: AAA. Specific subject requirements depend on combination of science subjects to be taken. We normally expect three A-levels.

General Studies: Accepted as one of 3 A-levels

Preference: Balance of AS/A-levels depends on individual science subjects to be taken in first year.

Key skills: Not included in offer

GCSE: Maths essential (C or higher)

Scottish Highers: AAABB

Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information

International Bacc: 36 ptsoverall with 16 pts from best three HL courses

BTEC: DDD grades overall

IELTS: 6.0

Financial Support

Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. In addition to government maintenance loans, grants and national scholarships, Lancaster University offers a range of financial support for full time UK Undergraduate students from lower-income backgrounds. Many students each year will be entitled to bursaries or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses.

The Lancaster Scholarship package is designed to reward the hard work and natural ability of full-time UK students applying to study with us regardless of their household income. Students achieving A*, A, A in their A-level examinations (or equivalent academic qualifications) will receive a £1,000 per year Lancaster Scholarship during their undergraduate studies if they place us as their firm choice institution. Continuation of the Lancaster Scholarship is subject to satisfactory academic progression.

Our combined £5,000 bursary package will help students from England whose household incomes are less than £25,000 per year with fees and living costs.

Students from England eligible for our £5,000 bursary package will also be awarded a £3,000 Lancaster Scholarship if they achieve A*, A, A in their A-level examinations (or equivalent academic qualifications). This totals £8,000 of support for students during their studies.

For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page.