Natural Sciences
BSc (Hons)
MSci (Hons)
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
“I thoroughly enjoyed my A-level options and wished
to pursue them all further; the Natural Sciences
programme provided the ideal setting to do just
this. The Masters stream allowed me to develop my
interests to a higher level and helped me to discover
my future research area, whilst also maintaining
a broad knowledge of the Physical Sciences. As a
Natural Scientist you will develop a multidisciplinary
background, one often finds that this enables you to
approach problems in a variety of ways, taking what
you learn in one field and being able to apply it in
another. A lot of emerging research is taking place at
the boundaries between the sciences – being a Natural Scientist thus means
you will be perfectly placed to make a contribution to your chosen field. The
Masters programme has proved to be an ideal stepping-stone towards starting
my PhD in Quantum Optics at the University of Bath.”
Robert Francis-Jones, Natural Sciences graduate
Natural Sciences
Why Natural Sciences?
Why Natural Sciences at Bath?
Modern science is strongly interdisciplinary with the traditional
subjects now overlapping significantly. At the University of
Bath, for example, you can find number crunching biologists,
biochemists and pharmacologists, physicists who are experts
on biomembrane structural determination and chemists whose
passion is working out how to mimic the ways plants harvest
sunlight. The Natural Science degrees at Bath are a great way
to gain a deep understanding of one of the mainstream core
subjects whilst studying other science and supporting subjects
alongside your main subject. If you loved studying chemistry,
biology or physics at school or college, and want to keep that
breadth, Natural Sciences is for you.
The key to a successful Natural Sciences course is balancing
breadth and depth. On one hand you need the in-depth
coverage of science to enable you to go on to pursue a potential
research career, whilst retaining a range of topics and flexibility.
The Natural Sciences course in Bath has developed over twenty
years to allow you to study familiar subjects at university level as
well as experience new areas of science such as pharmacology
and mathematical biology and other subjects as diverse as
Education, Environmental Studies, Psychology, Languages,
Social Sciences and Management. The programmes enable
you to study a broad range of science subjects and at the same
time allow you to design a unique degree to suit your interests
and strengths. The diversity of jobs and research roles of our
graduates over the years have proved the quality and success of
Bath’s Natural Sciences course.
Professional Placements and Studying Abroad
The University is famous for its placement schemes, and all
Natural Sciences undergraduates have the chance to opt for a
year long placement. If you wish to experience a different culture
from your own, and gain a new perspective on academic life in
an international setting, there is also a study year abroad option
in the third year.
Flexibility
The Natural Sciences programmes have the added flexibility
of giving you the ability to transfer between three and four year
degree programmes and an undergraduate Master’s degree.
In addition the opportunity to transfer to Year Two of one of the
single honours degree programmes in Biology, Biochemistry,
Chemistry, or Physics after your first year may be possible.
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
1
Bachelors or Masters?
At Bath you have the choice of a Bachelors (BSc) or Masters (MSci) Natural Sciences degree. The BSc is
a 3-year broadly-based course, allowing you to achieve the wide range of skills and intellectual experience
that many employers desire in graduates. The 4-year Masters allows you to study your preferred subject(s) in
more depth than is possible within the BSc programmes. The undergraduate Masters should be of particular
interest to students considering postgraduate research.
However it is possible in almost all of the streams, to switch from MSci to BSc or vice versa after the first
year and even to swap onto single honours programmes. Both BSc and MSci courses allow a choice of
additional units in years 1-3 to broaden and enhance your major and minor choices, and the possibilities of
placement or international study years.
MSci or BSc in Natural Sciences
The following Natural Sciences streams are available. All are based on 5 blocks per year, with
two taken in the major subject, and two in chosen minor sciences. A further additional unit
which can be in mathematics, a science or a non-science subject, is available to choose every
year, except for Physics streams which require you to take the mathematics block as one of your
choices.
MSci or BSc streams
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Biochemistry major with Chemistry
Biology major with Chemistry
Biology major with Pharmacology
Biology major with Physics
Chemistry major with Biochemistry
Chemistry major with Biology
Chemistry major with Physics
Chemistry major with Pharmacology
Physics major with Biology
Physics major with Chemistry
Physics major with Physical Chemistry and Biology
Pharmacology major with Chemistry
Pharmacology major with Biology
Environmental Science major with Chemistry
Environmental Science major with Biology
Notes: Pharmacology and Environmental Sciences majors can only be taken to BSc level.
Additional Units
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2
Environmental Science
Mathematics
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Biology
Psychology
Education
Modern Languages at a range of levels
Management
Social Sciences
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
Natural Sciences Programme Structures
Science Major:
Biology, Biochemistry
Chemistry, Physics
Pharmacology
Environmental Science
Science Minor
Additional
options or
Mathematics
Year 2
Year 3
Science Major
Science Major
Science Minor
Option
Optional Placement or study abroad year
Year 1
Optional transfer to single honours, or the Natural Sciences MSci
Bachelors (BSc in Natural Sciences) flowchart
Science Minor
and/or Option
Project/
Dissertation
in Major
Masters (MSci in Natural Sciences) flowchart
Biology
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Physics
Science Minor:
Biology
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Physics, Pharmacology
Non-Masters
option or
Mathematics
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Science Major
Science Major
Science Major
Science Minor
Science Minor
Option
Project in Major
Science Minor
Option
Optional Placement or study abroad year
Science Major:
Optional transfer to single honours or the Natural Sciences BSc
Year 1
More information about subject
combinations can be found on the
admissions web pages at
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci/admissions
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
3
Natural Sciences Placement Year
One of the distinguishing features of the University of Bath’s
degree programmes is the integrated placement. For the Natural
Sciences BSc and MSci degrees this takes place in the third year
but you do not have to decide if you want to do a placement until
spring of the first year. Recent placement employers include:
• Central Science Laboratory, York - Food security and environmental health
• QinetiQ - Research and technical advice for defence
industryology
• Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney
• Summit Plc, Abingdon - Medicinal Chemistry
• CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
• Diageo Menstrie Distillery - Alcohol brands including beer,
wines and spirits
• Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Didcot International Science Centre
• Duke University Medical Center (USA)
• RWE npower - Risk management
• Ernst & Young - Global assurance, tax
• Sanofi Aventis - Global pharmaceutical company
• ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility),
Grenoble, France
• Shell Global Solutions - Energy and processing
• Siemens Magnet Technology, Oxford - Designer
• GSK GlaxoSmithKline - Global pharmaceuticals
• Public Health England
• Mercedes-Benz UK
• The Gillette Company
• Natural History Museum, London
• Pfizer UK - Research and development of medicines
for humans and animals
• UK Met Office
• Mawson Institute, Melbourne
• Wessex Water - Flow modelling
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www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
How You
Benefit from Your
Placement Year
• Potential to earn a salary
• Gain real experience in the
professional world putting knowledge into practice
• Improves your final year
performance
• Develops your professional skills
including time management, communication and team work
skills - Invaluable experience of
the recruitment process
• Possibility of securing a graduate
position with the placement
employer after your degree
• Improve your employability
Natural Sciences Placement Year
How the placement scheme works
Once you have decided to do a placement you will be directed to a dedicated Placement Tutor
from whom you will receive individual support and advice throughout the placement process. They
will help you find the most suitable placement from their many established links with prestigious
employers. The placement tutor will remain on hand throughout your actual placement providing
academic and pastoral support. Most placements are in the UK, but a number each year are
abroad. During your year away the placement tutor maintains contact with the placement employer
and yourself. Our placements are an integral part of our degrees and receive formal recognition on
your degree certificate.
Study Abroad Scheme
Some Natural Sciences students wish to expand their academic horizons by spending the third year
of their degree at an overseas university. This may be particularly appropriate for students including
a European language within the BSc degree. A designated Study Year Abroad Tutor is available
to advise and assist students with their applications. Like the Placement Programme, success is
dependent on the number of places available and competition from other students.
Some of the Universities which we exchange students with are:
USA
Purdue
Pennsylvania State
Nebraska
Canada
Dalhousie,
Halifax
SFU Vancouver
Australia
Wollongong near Sydney
New Zealand
Canterbury
Singapore
NUS
Hong Kong City University
Spain
Castellon
Germany
Regensburg
Austria TU Vienna
France Bordeaux
Finland
Helsinki
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
5
Help with choosing and building
your course
There is lots of information available on the University of Bath web site. Specifically you should
look at the Natural Sciences page
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci/admissions/
You can click through to find a web based Course Building Tool at:
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci/mycourse/
where you can build up details of all of the years of your individual course, whilst making sure the
whole programme remains coherent, as the web app automatically checks for pre-requisites such as
appropriate A-level scores. There is a useful help file at
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci/mycourse/resources/mycourse.pdf
You will also find a very detailed explanation of the course structure and the available units in the Course
Selection Guide through the website or at:
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci/admissions/course-selection-guide.pdf
Please note that this is the current year’s guide and may not be identical to the course on entry in 2015.
6
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
Natural Sciences Teaching
and Learning
You can expect a mix of different teaching styles whichever
Natural Sciences course you devise for yourself! You’ll go to
lectures, small group tutorials and workshops for your different
units, as well as practicals and field trips. You’ll use our lecture
capture system, Panopto, to revise and catch up, and can even
finish that essay in the middle of the night on one of our 500 PCs
in the 24 hour library and learning centre.
For almost all of the Natural Sciences courses, you are taught
alongside the students studying the single honours subjects.
For example, in Chemistry units you will go to lectures with
the chemists, and have small group tutorials and workshops
alongside them. In some subjects you will have separate
practical classes.
Support and help while
you’re here
“I enjoyed all of my
A level subjects so
Natural Sciences
at Bath was a
perfect choice for
me. A wide range
of subjects is
available and in addition to lectures, workshops
and tutorials are run throughout the course.
There is also the exciting opportunity to do a
placement, which makes you highly attractive
to employers. The University of Bath provides a
high standard of teaching from supportive staff
and there is a great social scene with many
extra-curricular activities to enjoy. I have had
a very fulfilling four years studying Natural
Sciences at Bath and highly recommend it.”
Sarah Heasman, Natural Sciences graduate
There is a whole team of people to support you during your
time in Bath. When you choose your major subject you will be
allocated a personal tutor from that discipline, whose role is to be
an academic contact throughout your career in Natural Sciences.
They can also help out with any other problems that can arise,
including illness, family and finance. Your personal tutor can also
refer you on to the Student Support Services, where professional
advice is available. Each department contributing to Natural
Sciences has a dedicated academic - the subject convenor
– who can help with any specific questions with that subject,
and the Natural Sciences team comprising the Programme
Administrator, Director of Studies and Chair of the Programme
Committee are always willing to help.
University of Bath Students’
Union
Our Students’ Union is one of the best in the UK - ranked in the
top three by the National Union of Students (NUS) - ensuring
that the student view is represented effectively at all levels of
governance and working with our academic departments and
professional services to make certain that our students receive
high quality welfare, pastoral and academic support.
The Students’ Union also provides you with a wide range of
opportunities for personal development, including award-winning
enterprise education, and engagement with social, recreational
and volunteering activities. It won a national Gold Award in 2011
for the excellent student experience it provides for its members one of only four such accolades across the country.
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
7
Natural Sciences:
Admissions Procedure
Our courses
BSc in Natural Sciences
3 year - CFG0 - 3 year full-time
4 year - FCG0 - with Industrial Placement
4 year - GCF0 - with Study Year Abroad
MSci in Natural Sciences
4 year - GFC0 - 4 year full-time
5 year - GFCA - with Professional Placement
5 year - GFCB - with Study Year Abroad
Places Available: approximately 90 (BSc + MSci)
Course entry requirements
Typical offer: A*AA–AAA including A2 Maths
Minimum of two core sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics*)
Students wishing to take physics options will be required to have a good A-level (B or higher) or
equivalent in mathematics. AS Level(s) may be taken into account, but are unlikely at present to form
part of the offer. Mathematics is needed at A2 level or higher. Appropriate standards at International
Baccalaureate are 38 points overall, with minimum scores of 7,6,6 in three subjects at the Higher Level,
including at least two core sciences. Other qualifications are acceptable; further details available on
request.
Applications are welcome from mature students, students with disabilities, specific learning difficulties,
and additional support needs.
*contact Admissions Tutor before applying if Mathematics is one of your two core sciences
Admissions Enquiries:
Dr Susan Crennell Admissions Tutor
Telephone: 01225 384302 or 386644
email: S.J.Crennell@bath.ac.uk or natsci@bath.ac.uk
8
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci
After Your Degree
It is crucial that you choose a course that has strong evidence of being able
to deliver good postgraduate opportunities. Bath students are consistently
near the top of the table in graduate employment rates, and Natural Sciences
is no exception. Here are some recent examples:
Employment
• Analyst, Bank of America Merill Lynch
• Scientific Publisher, PJB Publications
• Trainee Actuary, Equitable Life
• Graduate Trainee, R & R Ice Cream
(Europe’s largest ice cream manufacturer)
• Scientific Research, Cancer Research Campaign
• Development Technician, Kraft Foods
Programmes
BSc (hons) Natural Sciences
Full Time CFG0
BSc (hons) Natural Sciences with
Professional Placement FCG0
BSc (hons) Natural Sciences with Study
Year Abroad GCF0
MSci (hons) Natural Sciences
Full Time GFC0
MSci (hons) Natural Sciences with
Professional Placement GFCA
MSci (hons) Natural Sciences with Study
Year Abroad GFCB
Information on all of these can be found on
our Department website.
• Graduate Trainee, National Grid
• Associate Accountant, Deloitte
Typical offers
• Field Research Assistant, Henry Doorley Zoo, USA
For detailed and up-to-date
information please check
• Clinical Scientist, King’s College Hospital London
www.bath.ac.uk/study
• Lab Technician, Thatcher’s Cider Company
A levels: A*AA-AAA including A2 Maths
• Graduate Trainee, BP
For BSc, at least two core sciences (from
Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics).
• Project Leader, World Health Organisation
• Environmental Consultant, Enviros
For MSci, two core sciences other than
Mathematics are required.
• Research Assistant, University of Cambridge
International Baccalaureate:
• Quality Control Microbiologist, GE Healthcare
Further Study
38 points overall with 7,6,6 at Higher Level
including at least two core sciences (from
Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and
Physics). 6 in HL Mathematics or 7 in SL is
essential.
Natural Sciences at Bath is a great route to further study both for
Masters degrees and PhDs. Here are some examples of postgraduate
courses our recent graduates have progressed on to:
• PhD Regenerative Medicine - University of Bath
For more information
• PhD in Green Chemistry - University of Bath
Contact:
• PhD in Stem Cell Biology - University of Manchester
• Masters in Environmental Technology - Imperial College London
• Masters in Forensic Science - King’s College, London
Department of Natural Sciences
Tel: +44 (0)1225 386644
Email: natsci@bath.ac.uk
Web: www.bath.ac.uk/study
• MSc in Science Journalism - City University
• MSc Modern Applications of Mathematics - University of Bath
Career destinations of recent Natural Sciences graduates can be
found on the Careers Advisory Service website
http://www.bath.ac.uk/careers
Remember to check our
web pages before you apply:
www.bath.ac.uk/study
Natural Sciences
BSc (Hons)
MSci (Hons)
Natural Sciences
University of Bath
Bath
BA2 7AY
www.bath.ac.uk/nat-sci