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Natural Sciences at UCL aims at both creating the scientific talent of the future and equipping the next generation of graduate with the skills to move comfortably between different environments. The programme offers a balance of scientific breadth and specialism, by enabling students to undertake the detailed study of two science subjects and associated researcher activities. Our ambition is to create the new generation of agile scientific thinkers, who can tackle relevant challenges in modern society. We want our graduates to be capable and confident of making connections across fields of expertise and in diverse contexts. Our programme begins with coverage of selected scientific topics and perspectives, mathematical “know-how” and computer practice. The content mirrors specialist research, so offers focussed coverage rather than an overview of an entire discipline, whilst most classes are taken alongside students who are only studying for a single discipline and you will be challenged to produce work comparable to the best students in these disciplines.
By offering a large range of stream combinations and further pathways of choice within the stream, students can exercise their diverse interests. Although there are restrictions on taught content within the streams to ensure that all students can achieve the required depth and breadth of subject knowledge, academic staff will aim to assist you in developing your individual curriculum, particularly in the latter years of study after essential subject foundations have been acquired. After completing the second year of studies, you can designate one stream as the “major” and undertake a greater proportion of your studies in that stream. A core framework of interdisciplinary, research-based activity is also built into the curriculum, and students who take the integrated Masters programme will conduct their own research in the final year alongside some Masters-Level taught courses.
Who are we looking for?
If you feel you are the kind of student who:
- excels in and enjoys more than one area of science,
- appreciates different perspectives, for instance looking at quantum chemistry vs quantum physics or molecular cell biology vs organic biological chemistry or condensed matter physics vs materials chemistry,
- can synthesise understanding at the interface between traditional subjects, rather than just keeping each science "in its own corner" like at school,
- is “technically-minded” and wishes to become a specialist in a scientific discipline,
- is resilient, resourceful, motivated and enjoys a challenge,
then consider applying for UCL Natural Sciences!
You can find out more information about how our programme works and how it may differ from other Natural Sciences programmes by looking at the courses on offer each year. You may want to find more information on each of the core scientific streams offered on the programme as well as the entry requirements for the programme and each stream. If you are interested to know more about the kinds of careers Natural Science students go into after the programme, both professional and academic, we have some careers case studies. Finally if you would like more information, please email us natsci@ucl.ac.uk or speak to one of the key programme contacts.