Natural Sciences is a broad course that gives you the opportunity to study physical and biological sciences from 16 different departments.  

The course is flexible, which means you can study a range of new and familiar areas in the sciences before choosing a subject, or two, to specialise in.

Key information

Minimum offer level 

A level: A*A*A

IB: 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level

UCAS code 

BCF0

Course length 

BA (Hons) or MSci 3 or 4 years, full-time

Start date 

October 2025

Study at 

All Colleges

Applicant numbers 

2023 cycle:

Applications per place: 4

Accepted: 547

Department website 

www.natsci.tripos.cam.ac.uk

Contact email 

natsci@Admin.cam.ac.uk

Related courses 

Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, BA (Hons) and MEng

Engineering, BA (Hons) and MEng

Geography, BA (Hons)

Mathematics, BA (Hons) and MMath

Psychological and Behavioural Sciences, BA (Hons)

Number 3 in the World for Natural Sciences (QS World University Rankings 2023)

Natural Sciences at Cambridge

You’ll have the option to study a wide range of physical and biological science subjects from 16 different departments: 

Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics 
Astronomy 
Biochemistry 
Biology (faculty) 
Chemistry 
Earth Sciences 
Genetics 
History and Philosophy of Science 
Materials Science and Metallurgy 
Pathology 
Pharmacology 
Physics 
Physiology, Development and Neuroscience 
Plant Sciences 
Psychology 
Zoology 

During your first and second year you will study a variety of subjects, some of which may be completely new to you.  

You can change your mind about which subject to specialise in as you progress through the course.  

You can choose to study purely biological sciences, purely physical sciences or a combination of both.  

If you discover a passion for a new subject, such as Earth Sciences or Materials Science, you will be able to continue with it after your first year.

Choosing between Natural Sciences Biological and Physical

When you apply, you’ll need to tell us whether you’re interested in Biological or Physical Sciences. We use this information in the admissions process.

Your choice of application stream, and the courses that you are currently studying, will affect the types of questions that are asked at interview.

It is best to apply for Physical Sciences if you have studied Physics and Maths A levels. This is because your interview will be on subjects that you have already studied.

On the course, you can take physical and biological science options. But you won’t choose which subjects to study within the Natural Sciences course until you arrive.

There are A levels requirements for some of the first year options. Check the requirements for Year One options.

Teaching and facilitiesTeaching

We have some of the world’s best scientists, teaching and researching at the very forefront of current scientific knowledge. They are working on tackling some of the most important challenges of our times. 

We’ll teach you to become a scientist who progresses their area of science, someone with their own ideas and opinions. 

Some of our research includes: 

searching for life’s origins on Earth and attempting to discover it on planets beyond Earth 
using newly developed microscopy method to see for the first time how protein clusters form in living cells 
understanding astronomical forcing of climate change records as recorded in oceanic sediments 
understanding how adverse environments experienced in early development leave a lasting legacy with impacts on later and intergenerational health 
facilitating the early detection of hard-to-diagnose diseases using new sequencing technology that spots the changes in the genes that mark the onset of these diseases Facilities

The 16 departments that contribute to the Natural Sciences course have a variety of teaching and research facilities. 

These include: 

lecture theatres, classrooms and seminar rooms 
teaching laboratories 
Libraries 
a wide variety of study and social spaces 

In your final year, you can access active research labs for your project work.

Course costs

When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).

Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students – you can find details of these costs here.

Other additional course costs for Natural Sciences are detailed below. If you have any queries about these costs, please contact the course team.

Equipment

University approved scientific calculator - estimated cost £25
Lab coat - estimated cost £13 to £16
Safety glasses - estimated cost £4 to £7Field trips

Year 1 Earth Sciences field course (required) - estimated cost £105
Year 1 Evolution and Behaviour field course (optional) - estimated cost £50 plus travel

For years 2, 3 and 4, any additional costs will depend on the options taken. You can find details on the course website. 

Your future career

You’ll be well prepared for life beyond Cambridge, whichever pathway you choose. 

This course prepares students well for the challenges of research, especially in emerging, interdisciplinary areas. Around half of our graduates continue with further study or research, based on the Graduate Outcomes survey. 57% of Natural Science graduates who completed their studies between August 2020 and July 2021 responded to the survey. 

The other half of our graduates go directly into a broad range of careers, including: 

teaching 
product development 
investment banking 
management consultancy

Teaching

You will be taught through lectures and practical laboratory classes. You'll also have supervisions and complete projects, coursework and field work for some courses. 

In your first year, you will usually attend 12 lectures a week and have 1 supervision a week for each of your 4 courses. As well as this, you’ll take part in practical labs. 

In your second year, you will typically attend 9 lectures a week and have 1 supervision a week for each of your 3 courses. 

Depending on the courses you choose, you’ll also take on practical labs, project work and/or coursework. The frequency of your practical labs will depend on your courses. 

The organisation of teaching in the third and fourth years will vary depending on the course. 

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques. These include: 

unseen written examinations 
assessed practicals 
assessed coursework 
experiment write-ups 
literature and experimental reports 
marked essays 
oral examinations 
project reports and presentations 

You won't usually be able to resit any of your exams. 

Year 1 (Part IA)

You can study a range of different subjects in your first year. However, you may need to have certain A levels or IB to study some of them. 

Check the entry requirements for the Year 1 subjects you’d like to study. 

You will choose three science subjects from these areas: 

Biology of Cells 
Chemistry 
Earth Sciences 
Evolution and Behaviour 
Materials Science 
Physics     
Physiology of Organisms 

You can also choose to take Psychology, subject to timetable restrictions and student numbers.  

You will also take one of the two mathematics subjects: 

Mathematics focusing on Physical sciences  
Mathematics focusing on Biological sciences Year 2 (Part IB) 

You will take three subjects, from the following areas: 

Animal Diversity 
Biochemistry 
Cell Biology 
Chemistry A: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry 
Chemistry B: Organic, Inorganic and Biological Chemistry 
Conservation 
Developmental Biology 
Earth Sciences A: Igneous and metamorphic processes, mineralogy and planetary differentiation 
Earth Sciences B: Climate, geobiology, geophysics and the sedimentary record 
Ecology 
Environmental Sciences: Quantitative Approaches 
Evolution 
Genetics 
History and Philosophy of Science 
Materials Science 
Mathematics 
Mathematical and Computational Biology 
Microbiology 
Molecular Biology 
Neurobiology 
Pathology 
Pharmacology 
Physics A: Waves, Quantum Mechanics, Condensed Matter Physics 
Physics B: Dynamics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics 
Physiology 
Plant Sciences Year 3 (Part II) 

You can choose to follow a broad subject in Biological or Physical Sciences, or you can choose to specialise in one of these areas: 

Astrophysics  
Biochemistry 
Chemistry 
Earth Sciences  
Ecology 
Genetics 
History and Philosophy of Science  
Materials Science 
Neuroscience 
Pathology 
Pharmacology 
Physics 
Physiology, Development and Neuroscience 
Plant Sciences 
Zoology 

Please note that some Year 3 subjects have limited numbers due to the size of the laboratory space.  

Year 4 (Part III) 

These subjects offer a fourth year option, which lead to an MSci degree: 

Astrophysics  
Biochemistry  
Chemistry  
Earth Sciences 
History and Philosophy of Science  
Materials Science 
Physics 
Systems Biology 
Quantitative Climate and Environmental Science 

For further information about studying Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge see the Natural Sciences course website. 

Changing course

It’s really important to think carefully about which course you want to study before you apply. 

In rare cases, it may be possible to change course once you’ve joined the University. You will usually have to get agreement from your College and the relevant departments. It’s not guaranteed that your course change will be approved.

You might also have to:

take part in an interview
complete an admissions test
produce some written work
achieve a particular grade in your current studies
do some catch-up work
start your new course from the beginning 

For more information visit the Natural Sciences course website.

You can also apply to change to:

Management Studies at the Judge Business School

You can't apply to this course until you're at Cambridge. You would usually apply when you have completed 1 year or more of your original Cambridge course.

You should contact your College’s Admissions Office if you’re thinking of changing your course. They will be able to give you advice and explain how changing courses works.

The entry requirements listed are for entry in 2025 or deferred entry in 2026. Entry requirements for future years will be published in due course. Check our guidance on choosing high school subjects.

Minimum offer level

A level: A*A*A
IB: 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level
Other qualifications: Check which other qualifications we accept.

Subject requirements

To apply to any of our Colleges for Natural Sciences, you will need A levels/IB Higher Levels (or the equivalent) in: 

Mathematics 
2 other science or mathematics subjects (please see lists below for College specific requirements). 

Colleges may require you to achieve A*/7 in Chemistry and/or another science or mathematics subject. 

Please note, ‘science/mathematics subjects’ refers to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and (A Level only) Further Mathematics. If you’re studying a science not listed above as your third subject, please contact the College you wish to apply to for advice. 

Some Colleges have specific requirements beyond the minimum offer level and subject requirements listed above.

College specific requirements: Biological Sciences 

Christ’s: Chemistry
Churchill: A*/7 in Further Mathematics or Mathematics and A*/7 in Biology and/or Chemistry   
Corpus Christi: A* in Biology 
Emmanuel: Chemistry 
Jesus: A* in Biology 
Lucy Cavendish: A* in Mathematics and A* in Chemistry 
Pembroke: Biology 
Robinson: Biology College specific requirements: Physical Sciences 

Christ’s: 2 of Chemistry, Physics or Further Mathematics
Churchill: A Level, A* in Further Mathematics, if available at school/college (otherwise A* in Mathematics), and A* in Chemistry and/or Physics; IB, 7 in Higher Level Mathematics and 7 in Higher Level Chemistry and/or Higher Level Physics 
Corpus Christi: A*/7 in Mathematics and A*/7 in Chemistry or Physics 
Fitzwilliam: Physics 
Jesus: A*/7 in Chemistry or Physics 
King’s: Chemistry or Physics. A*/7 in Mathematics
Lucy Cavendish: A* in Mathematics 
Robinson: 2 of Chemistry, Physics or Further Mathematics Subject requirements for Year 1 options 

Your subject choices at A level (or equivalent) may restrict your Year 1 subject choices. The more useful subject combinations are: 

A level Chemistry, A level Mathematics and A level Physics 
A level Physics, A level Mathematics and A level Further Mathematics 
A level Biology, A level Chemistry and A level Mathematics 

Please note that some subjects have essential or desirable subject requirements in order for you to be allowed to take them. Details of these requirements can be found on the Natural Sciences website.

International Baccalaureate 

The advice above about A level subject combinations also applies to the IB. 

Higher Level subjects will satisfy A level subject requirements 
For Natural Sciences (Physical), if taking Higher Level Mathematics, applicants are expected to take Analysis and Approaches. If this option is not available at your school, please contact the College that you wish to apply to directly for further advice and guidance. 
For Natural Sciences (Biological), if taking Higher Level Mathematics, we recommend Analysis and Approaches for the most competitive application, however Applications and Interpretations will also be considered.  

What Natural Sciences students have studied

Natural Sciences (Biological)

Most Natural Sciences (Biological) students (who had studied A levels and started at Cambridge in 2018, 2019 and 2023) achieved at least A*A*A* (76% of entrants).

Nearly all of these students took Mathematics (99%). Please note that Mathematics is now a required subject.

Other common subjects were:

Biology (98%)
Chemistry (97%)
Further Mathematics (36%)
Physics (29%)

In addition to Mathematics A levels, the percentage of entrants taking:

all 3 of Biology, Chemistry and Physics was 23%
2 of the sciences 74% (of which 95% took Chemistry and Biology)
only one of the sciences was 1%. Please note that two sciences are now a requirement.

The majority of students who studied IB achieved at least 43 points overall and/or grades 777 at Higher Level.

Natural Sciences (Physical)

Most Natural Sciences (Physical) students (who had studied A levels and started at Cambridge in 2018, 2019 and 2023) achieved at least A*A*A* (97% of entrants).

All of these students took Mathematics. Other common subjects were:

Physics (97%)
Further Mathematics (92%)
Chemistry (89%)
Biology (9%)

In addition to Mathematics A levels, the percentage of entrants taking:

all 3 of Biology, Chemistry and Physics was 8%
2 of the sciences 81% (of which 98% took Physics and Chemistry)
only one of the sciences was 10%. Almost all of these students took Further Mathematics. Please note that it is now a requirement to study Mathematics and two other science or mathematics subjects.

The majority of students who studied IB achieved at least 43 points overall and/or grades 777 at Higher Level.

Check our advice on choosing your high school subjects. You should also check if there are any required subjects for your course when you apply.

Admissions test

All applicants for Natural Sciences for 2025 entry are required to take the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) at an authorised assessment centre. You must register in advance for this test.

Please see the admissions test page for more information.

Submitted work

You won't usually be asked to submit examples of written work. You may be asked to do some reading prior to your interview, but if this is required the College will provide full details in your interview invitation.

Offers above the minimum requirement

The minimum offer level and subject requirements outline the minimum you'll usually need to achieve to get an offer from Cambridge.

In some cases, you'll get a higher or more challenging offer. Colleges set higher offer requirements for a range of reasons. If you'd like to find out more about why we do this, check the information about offers above the minimum requirement on the entry requirements page.

IB offers

Some Colleges usually make offers above the minimum offer level. Find out more on our qualifications page.

All undergraduate admissions decisions are the responsibility of the Cambridge Colleges. Please contact the relevant College admissions office if you have any queries.

Discover your department or faculty

Visit the Natural Sciences website - The Natural Sciences website has more information about this course, facilities, people and research.

Explore our Colleges

Find out how the Colleges work - A College is where you’ll live, eat and socialise. It’s also where you’ll have teaching in a small group, known as supervisions.

How to change a Cambridge College that's right for you - If you think you know which course you’d like to study, it’s time to choose a College.

Visit us on an open day

Book an open day - Get a feel for the city and the University.

Find an event - We offer a range of events where you can find out more about Cambridge, Colleges, and your course. Many of our events have hybrid options so you can join us virtually.

Find out how to apply

Find out how to apply and how our admissions processes work - Our admissions process is slightly different to other universities. We’ve put together a handy guide to tell you everything you need to know about applying to study at Cambridge.

Improve your application - Supercurricular activities are a great way to engage with your chosen subject outside of school or college.

Discover Uni data

Contextual information

Discover Uni allows you to compare information about individual courses at different higher education institutions.  This can be a useful method of considering your options and what course may suit you best.

However, please note that superficially similar courses often have very different structures and objectives, and that the teaching, support and learning environment that best suits you can only be determined by identifying your own interests, needs, expectations and goals, and comparing them with detailed institution- and course-specific information.

We recommend that you look thoroughly at the course and University information contained on these webpages and consider coming to visit us on an Open Day, rather than relying solely on statistical comparison.

You may find the following notes helpful when considering information presented by Discover Uni.

Discover Uni relies on superficially similar courses being coded in the same way. Whilst this works on one level, it may lead to some anomalies. For example, Music courses and Music Technology courses can have exactly the same code despite being very different programmes with quite distinct educational and career outcomes.

Any course which combines several disciplines (as many courses at Cambridge do) tends to be compared nationally with courses in just one of those disciplines, and in such cases the Discover Uni comparison may not be an accurate or fair reflection of the reality of either. For example, you may find that when considering a degree which embraces a range of disciplines such as biology, physics, chemistry and geology (for instance, Natural Sciences at Cambridge), the comparison provided is with courses at other institutions that primarily focus on just one (or a smaller combination) of those subjects.You may therefore find that not all elements of the Cambridge degree are represented in the Discover Uni data.

Some contextual data linked from other surveys, such as the National Student Survey (NSS) or the Destination of Leavers in Higher Education (DLHE), may not be available or may be aggregated across several courses or several years due to small sample sizes.  When using the data to inform your course choice, it is important to ensure you understand how it has been processed prior to its presentation. Discover Uni offers some explanatory information about how the contextual data is collated, and how it may be used, which you can view here: https://discoveruni.gov.uk/about-our-data/.

Discover Uni draws on national data to provide average salaries and employment/continuation data.  Whilst starting salaries can be a useful measure, they do not give any sense of career trajectory or take account of the voluntary/low paid work that many graduates undertake initially in order to gain valuable experience necessary/advantageous for later career progression. Discover Uni is currently piloting use of the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) data to demonstrate possible career progression; it is important to note that this is experimental and its use may be modified as it embeds.

The above list is not exhaustive and there may be other important factors that are relevant to the choices that you are making, but we hope that this will be a useful starting point to help you delve deeper than the face value of the Discover Uni data.

原文連結：https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/natural-sciences-ba-hons-msci