Durham University
Pre-Application
Natural Sciences
Faculty of Science
www.dur.ac.uk/natural.sciences/
Dr James Blowey
Natural Sciences
∂
Natural Sciences: overview
Talk focuses on the key features of the
structure of the Natural Sciences degree
programme:
∂
Flexibility; Choice; Depth.
Natural Sciences has been in existence
for nearly 40 years and before (in
another name)
Natural Sciences: structure
Degree structure for 2014 entrants
• 3 year (B.Sc.) or 4 year (M.Sci.)
degree
• 120 credits (~6 modules)
a year
∂
• Each module lasts all year
• At least 50% of your modules over the
three or four years must be from the
Faculty of Science
Natural Sciences: depth
• Study the same key modules as single
honours students to give progression in
those subjects.
∂
Study more than one subject to a high
level.
For details of content, see other talks
today or go to
www.dur.ac.uk/natural.sciences/
Natural Sciences: flexibility within
Year of Number of Number of credits
study
subjects
studied at
studied
Maximum
number of
credits studied in
a single subject
2≤
Level I = 120
Year 1 ≤ 4
80
2
2≤
90 ≤ Level II ≤ 120
Year 2 ≤ 3 0 ≤ Level I ≤ 30
80
3
2≤
BSc (100);
MSci (80)
1
∂
Year 3
≤ 3
4
90 ≤ Level III ≤ 120
0 ≤ Level II ≤ 30
1≤
Level IV = 120
Year 4 ≤ 3
120
Natural Sciences: choice
Typical pathways
• Major in one subject and EITHER take new subjects in
your second year OR take the same three subjects in
each year (a B.Sc. or M.Sci. in Natural Sciences)
• Take the same two subjects
∂ in each of the years (JointHonours) – almost all Science Joint-Honours degrees
operate within Natural Sciences
• Possibility of transfer to a single honours degree
• Possibility of transfer between BSc and MSci up a
good way through the third-year.
Natural Sciences: degrees
M.Sci. in Natural Sciences
Available only in the following subjects:
Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science,
Maths, Physics
∂
and Biology (but only with Chemistry and Physics)
B.Sc. in Natural Sciences
Available in all the contributing subjects, with at least
50% of study from the Faculty of Science
Natural Sciences: subjects 1
Subjects within the Faculty of Science (Group 1):
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Biology
Chemistry
∂
Computer Science
Earth Sciences
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
Natural Sciences: subjects 2
Subjects which make a Joint-Honours contribution to
the programme (Group 2):
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anthropology
Archaeology
Business
Economics
Geography
Philosophy
∂
Natural Sciences: subjects 3
Selection of other subjects which contribute to the
programme (Group 3):
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Languages
Theology
∂
Sociology
Classics
English
History
plus more but not Engineering or Law.
Natural Sciences: Joint-Honours
The Joint Honours degrees:
• B.Sc. Honours in A∂ AND B within the
Natural Sciences programme
• M.Sci. Honours in A AND B within the
Natural Sciences programme
MSci/BSc Joint-Honours degrees 2013 entry
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∂
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13
An- Anthropology
Ar - Archaeology
Bi - Biology
Bs - Business
Ch - Chemistry
CS - Computer Science
ES - Earth Sciences
Ec - Economics
Gg - Geography
Ma – Mathematics
Ph - Philosophy
Py - Physics
Ps- Psychology
Natural Sciences: 2013 entry
An
Ar
An
Bi
Bs
Ch
CS
Ec
Gg
Ph
Py
Ps
*
*
*
*
Bs
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Ch
*
CS
*
*
ES
*
*
*
∂
*
Ec
Gg
*
Ma
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Ph
*
*
Py
Ps
Ma
*
Ar
Bi
ES
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
B.Sc Joint Honours Combinations for 2013 entry
Natural Sciences
M.Sci. Joint Honours degrees within Natural
Sciences:
M.Sci. in Biology and Chemistry
∂
M.Sci. in Biology and Physics
M.Sci. in Chemistry and Mathematics
M.Sci. in Chemistry and Physics
M.Sci. in Mathematics and Physics
Natural Sciences: depth
• All students BSc/MSci must undertake
final-year capstone/dissertation
research-led work ∂
– Into Schools;
– Dissertation;
– Project;
Natural Sciences: year abroad
• Possibility of a year abroad year abroad
in a university scheme run by the
International Office,∂ see Section 7 of the
Handbook.
Natural Sciences: cautions
•Choices
of modules are restricted by the
University timetable; sometimes by capacity;
sometimes they are tied to degree programmes.
•Choices need to leave a programme of study
∂
open
•Chemistry has a limited number of bench spaces
•Mathematics with progression to other Maths
beyond Level 2 need and AS-level in Further
Maths.
Natural Sciences: facts
• 1045 applicants for 2013 entry and 50
applicants for 2014 entry.
• 600 offers for 206 places.
• Standard offer: A*AA ∂
• Restriction on numbers of offers to study
Chemistry within Natural Sciences 100 bench
spaces 300 offers.
• Accreditation on certain tightly defined routes
in Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics and
Psychology
Natural Sciences: any questions
∂
www.dur.ac.uk/natural.sciences/