Natural Sciences

Course details
Natural Sciences is a challenging and rewarding choice for science students who wish to study more than one subject.
The BSc in Natural Sciences is one of our most flexible courses. This well-established, challenging and rewarding degree is ideal if your interests span a range of subjects including at least one science. It offers the opportunity to build on your existing interests and explore new subjects.
Studying across disciplines, you’ll build a breadth and depth of knowledge and skills that you can put to use in a wide range of industries, in the sciences and across a wider range of professions. It also provides a springboard into postgraduate study.
You can find more information about the subjects on offer by scrolling to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.

Why Durham University?
Real-world challenges often require multidisciplinary solutions. Our Natural Sciences degrees allow students to combine either traditional Joint-Honours degrees or transcend traditional subject boundaries, bringing together a range of ideas and disciplinary perspectives.
You can study for a BSc or MSci. Both qualifications allow you to design your own degree, majoring in at least one science subject: Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Earth Sciences; Mathematics; Physics; and Psychology; with the possibility of studying a second science discipline, Anthropology, Business, Economics, Education, Geography, Philosophy or Sport & Exercise Sciences.
You will have access to a wide range of facilities across multiple departments. Facilities will depend on the subject specialism but include laboratories, libraries, project spaces, lecture theatres, study and networking spaces as well as shared social spaces.
You will also benefit from excellent IT facilities including Learn Ultra, Durham’s virtual learning environment. You will have access to up to 1.6 million printed books, 25,000 eJournals and over 850,000 eBooks in the main library.

Rankings
50th in the World for employer reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2024
Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2024
3rd in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
90% of courses are in the UK Top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2024

Careers Opportunities
Graduates acquire a valuable range of subject-specific skills across disciplines with the capacity to make creative connections. They are highly employable in a diverse range of careers and sectors.
Natural Sciences graduates have the academic knowledge, flexibility and technical skills to take on roles including consulting, accounting, banking and investment, research, software engineer, data scientist, international development, and government.

For current information please scroll to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.

All subjects are assessed by examinations, but there may be some element of continuous assessment in modules where there is a practical element. Assessment is designed to evaluate your knowledge and understanding of the material, test your critical thinking and determine your ability to relate your learning to real-world issues.

In your final year, you will be required to study modules where the content is student driven and involves independent thought and personal management of the work’s direction.

In addition to the help provided by your subject lecturers, you can also access extensive support for your assessments through ASC, the Academic Skills Centre. See below for details: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/centres/academic-skills-centre/