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Studies & Degrees in Nature Sciences

The natural sciences study the physical world and living things through observation, measurement and experiment. The term covers the life sciences, such as biology and ecology, and the physical sciences, such as physics, chemistry and the earth and environmental sciences, with mathematics as a common tool. In a school directory the label is used in two ways: for a degree actually called Natural Sciences, which combines several of these disciplines, and for the faculty or college that groups a university's science departments.

Students attend lectures and spend much of their time in laboratories and on fieldwork. They learn to design experiments, handle data, use statistics and computing, and write up results. Most programmes end with a research project or dissertation.

Qualifications and levels

  • Interdisciplinary bachelor's degrees. A Natural Sciences degree lets students study more than one science. At Lancaster University the BSc Hons Natural Sciences lasts three years full time. Students choose pathways from 17 subject areas across the physical and life sciences: three pathways in the first year, two in the second, and a major research project or dissertation in the final year.
  • Broad science degrees with a major. Elsewhere the same breadth comes from a general Bachelor of Science in which the student picks a major. At Massey University in New Zealand the Bachelor of Science takes three years full time (360 credits), and the first year is designed to give broad knowledge before specialisation.
  • Colleges of natural sciences. In the United States the name often belongs to a college within the university. Alabama A&M University, for example, has a College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences whose department of biological sciences awards a BS and an MS in Biology. US bachelor's degrees usually take four years.
  • Europe. Under the European credit system, 60 ECTS credits are the equivalent of a full year of study. A bachelor's degree consists of 180 or 240 ECTS credits, and a master's degree usually of 90 or 120.
  • Master's degree and doctorate. Specialisation normally comes at postgraduate level, in one discipline or in a field such as environmental science. Research careers generally require a doctorate.

Admission

Universities expect a strong science background from secondary school. Lancaster University asks for A levels at A*AA, including two science subjects, and an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component from applicants whose first language is not English. Massey University has no specific entry requirements for its Bachelor of Science beyond university admission, but expects a final-year school background in several science subjects (biology, chemistry and physics) and at least one mathematics subject. Requirements change, so check the page of each programme.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 97 active schools for nature sciences. The United States has 36, Germany seven, France and the United Kingdom five each and South Korea three; Finland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Indonesia, Switzerland and Lithuania have two each. Examples from the list are Lancaster University, Massey University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Pittsburgh, Nantes Université, the Université d'Angers, Ajou University and the University of Sarajevo.

Teaching is normally in the language of the country: English in the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, French in France, German in Germany. Many universities in non-English-speaking countries offer some master's programmes in English; ask each school which ones.

Careers

Graduates work as laboratory and field scientists, environmental specialists, technicians, science teachers and science communicators, or continue to a master's degree or doctorate. The entry qualification differs by occupation. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental scientists and specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in natural science or a related field, while biochemists and biophysicists typically need a doctoral or professional degree.

The same source projects that overall employment in life, physical and social science occupations in the United States will grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035, with about 141,900 openings each year. For environmental scientists and specialists it projects growth of 6 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Natural Sciences degree and a degree in biology or chemistry?

A Natural Sciences degree combines two or more sciences, at least in the first years. A single-subject degree goes deeper into one discipline from the start.

How long does a natural sciences degree take?

Three years full time at Lancaster University and at Massey University; four years is usual in the United States. In Europe a bachelor's degree has 180 or 240 ECTS credits, at 60 credits per year.

Which school subjects do I need?

Science and mathematics. Lancaster University requires two science subjects at A level, and Massey University expects biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics from the final school year.

Do I need a master's degree to work as a scientist?

It depends on the job. Some occupations are open to bachelor's graduates, but research posts usually require a doctorate.