Natural Sciences
Durham University
UCAS Code: CFG0 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Durham University
UCAS Code: CFG0 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
The standard offer is A*AA and you will need specific A level grades depending on subject choices. Biology: A in either Biology or Chemistry. Chemistry: AA in any order in Chemistry and Mathematics. Computer Science: A in Mathematics. Economics: A in Mathematics. Mathematics: Either AA in any order in Maths and Further Maths at A level or A* in Maths plus A in AS Further Maths for students unable to take A2 Further Maths. Physics: A*A in any order in Maths and Physics. All applicants wishing to study Psychology will need to have achieved Grade 5 (or grade B) in Mathematics at GCSE, or equivalent. Information: Specific subjects may be required depending upon the combination of subjects to be studied. Please see the website for more information. Applicants taking Science A-levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This refers only to English A Levels.
Access to HE Diploma
A Levels may be required in addition to this qualification to meet subject specific requirements- please see A Level requirements section for more information
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
All applicants taking the International Baccalaureate will need a score of 38 points overall including either 766 or 666 at the Higher Level with at least one of these in a Science (Biology; Chemistry; Mathematics (analysis & approaches); Physics.) You will need specific Higher Level grades to study: Biology: 6 in either Biology or Chemistry. Chemistry: 76 in any order in Chemistry and Mathematics. Computer Science: 6 in Mathematics. Economics: 6 in Mathematics. Mathematics: 7 in Mathematics. Physics: 76 in any order in Mathematics and Physics. If the augmented offer includes a 7 at the Higher Level in any subject, then the offer will be 766 at the Higher Level, otherwise, it will be 666 at the Higher Level.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Specific subjects may be required depending upon the mix of subjects to be studied.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
Subject specific A Levels may also be required. Other level 3 Cambridge Technical qualifications are also accepted in combination with each other or with other qualifications. See our website for more information on our Cambridge technical qualification equivalencies.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
A Levels may be required in addition to this qualification to meet subject specific requirements- please see A Level requirements section for more information Other BTEC level 3 qualifications are also accepted in combination with each other or with other qualifications. See our website for more information on our BTEC qualification equivalencies.
Scottish Advanced Higher
Specific subjects may be required depending upon the mix of subjects to be studied.
Scottish Higher
We normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. If you’ve not been able to take three Advanced Highers, then we’ll consider a combination of Advanced Highers and Highers, or just Highers (if your school doesn’t offer Advanced Highers at all). Advanced Highers may be required to meet subject specific requirements.
T levels will be considered on a case-by-case basis where the subject area aligns with the course applied to. Please note that additional A levels or equivalent may be required to study certain courses. If you’re interested in applying, then please Ask Us and we’ll see if we’re able to consider this for you: www.durham.ac.uk/study/ask-us/
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
**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.
Modules
For current information please scroll to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.
Assessment methods
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/
Extra funding
Durham University offers a range of scholarship opportunities to academically well-qualified and highly motivated students. For further details, including deadlines for application, please visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/scholarships/
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Natural sciences (non-specific)
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Explore these similar courses...
Lower entry requirements
Nearby UniversitySame University
Higher entry requirementsThis is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
