Natural Sciences at Cambridge

Discover the Natural Sciences course at Cambridge, its broad curriculum, expert teaching, and diverse career paths.

Key Takeaways

The course combines broad scientific study with later specialization.
Teaching includes personalized supervisions with top academics.
Strong support systems are in place for academic and personal welfare.
Practical experience in labs is essential and highly valued.
Graduates have versatile career options both inside and outside science.

What the video covers

Natural Sciences at Cambridge offers a broad curriculum including subjects like Earth Sciences, Pharmacology, and Chemistry.
Students study multiple science subjects in the first two years before specializing in the third year, with some courses offering a fourth year.
Teaching methods include lectures, practicals, and small group supervisions with world-leading experts.
Students receive strong academic and welfare support through Directors of Studies and tutors.
Practical lab work in modern facilities is a key part of the learning experience.
Typical student life balances academics with extracurricular activities such as sports and societies.
Graduates pursue diverse careers including research, teaching, consultancy, banking, and science writing.
Interviews focus on understanding students' thinking rather than catching them out.
Students are encouraged to work hard and engage fully to make the most of their degree.
The course prepares students for both scientific and non-scientific career paths.

Chapters

What subjects can I study in the Natural Sciences course at Cambridge?

You can study a wide range of subjects including Earth Sciences, Pharmacology, Chemistry, and many others, with the opportunity to specialize in your final years.

How is teaching delivered in the Natural Sciences course?

Teaching includes lectures, practical laboratory work, and small group supervisions where students engage closely with leading academics.

What career options do Natural Sciences graduates have?

Graduates pursue careers in research, teaching, banking, consultancy, science writing, and more, reflecting the versatility of the degree.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

(upbeat electronic music) - I chose to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge because it allowed me to explore subjects like Earth Sciences and Pharmacology, but it also allowed me to specialise in Chemistry, which is something that I really enjoy.

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- The Natural Sciences course at Cambridge is a very broad course. It involves studying several different subjects in the first and second year, before finally specialising in a single subject in the third year, and then some subjects will offer a fourth year as well.

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- In your first year, you'll take three science courses and one mathematics course, and in your second year, you'll choose from roughly 20 different topics, and you'll take three of those, and then you narrow, so that by the time

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you reach your final year, you have the opportunity then to specialise and join a single department.

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- The combination of the breadth and depth was something that really appealed to me.

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(uplifting melodic music) - The standard modes of teaching are the lectures and the practicals.

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In addition, Cambridge has small group teaching, or what we call supervisions. - Two-on-one, or three-on-one groups, where we can go into more depth with people who are at the top of their field.

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- We also have a Director of Studies, who's responsible for our academic life at university, and a tutor who's responsible for anything non-academic, such as finances or welfare.

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So, I have never felt like I was on my own; I always had people who would be able to help me out with anything.

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- One of the special aspects of the Natural Sciences at Cambridge is that students are taught by world-leading research experts.

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- These are senior academics, world-class thinkers, highly acclaimed professors. The opportunity to really engage with these people has been amazing.

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- My favourite parts of the course have been the practicals. I think it is really interesting to learn things in lectures, to learn them on paper, but seeing them in real life, applying them in real-life situations is just why I studied science in the first place.

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And being able to do them in modern, well-equipped laboratories is really important. - A typical day begins with a few lectures in the morning, followed by going to the lab to work on my fourth-year research project.

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I'll also find some time to work on my supervision work. After that, I'll leave the department, head back to college, get some food, and then I'll head to the University gym to train with my friends.

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- Because I like to keep myself busy, I tend to do a lot of societies in my spare time.

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Rowing, choir, steel pans, kung fu, and a little bit of kickboxing. - The Natural Sciences prepares students for any career opportunity.

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We see students go on, not only to do postgraduate research but also to become teachers, bankers, consultants.

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- Some might stay in research; that might be academic research or industrial research. Some go into things like science writing or teaching, and then some will do something completely unrelated, like banking or management consultancy.

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- After graduating, my first option would be to join a pharmaceutical company and become a research scientist there.

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- I want to become a management consultant, and although I will be leaving science, I will still be using the skills that I have gained throughout my time here.

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(upbeat electric pop music) - When you come for interview, we're looking to get to know the students and see how they think.

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We're not trying to catch students out or make them feel uncomfortable. - Just show them what you can do, think out loud, and you'll be okay.

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- Remember, you miss every opportunity which you don't take. - Your degree and your experience here is what you put into it and what you make of it.

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- If you want to work hard, and if you love science, go for it.

Topics:Natural SciencesCambridge UniversityScience degreeChemistryEarth SciencesPharmacologySupervisionsResearchCareer pathsStudent life

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