Natural Sciences FGC0 September 2025

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Typical offers

Typical offers
A Level	A*AA
International Baccalaureate	38

Course details

The MSci in Natural Sciences is one of our most flexible science courses. This challenging and rewarding four-year degree is ideal if your interests span multiple areas including at least one science. It offers the opportunity to build on your existing interests, explore new subjects and add a research element to your studies.

While following a similar structure to the BSc in the first three years, the MSci gives you the opportunity to study more advanced modules in the final year, to specialise in greater depth and to undertake a project.

Studying across disciplines, you’ll build knowledge and skills that you can put to use in a wide range of industries, both in the sciences and across a wider range of professions. The MSci provides a natural springboard to a career in academia or research.

MSci Joint Honours degrees

The MSci Joint Honours degrees are available in the following combinations:

Biology and Chemistry;
Biology and Physics;
Chemistry and Mathematics;
Chemistry and Physics;
Computer Science and Mathematics;
Mathematics and Physics.

This route allows you to study two preferred subjects in all four years of study (in the first year there may be the opportunity to take modules in a third subject). You will graduate with a MSci Honours degree in two named subjects.

MSci (Honours) in Natural Sciences

MSci (Honours) in Natural Sciences allows you to self-build a degree from a range of subjects. At least one subject must be from

Group A: Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics and Physics

where you specialise in at least one of the subjects in your final year. You may also select subjects from:

Group B includes Biology, Psychology, Anthropology, Business, Economics, Geography, Philosophy, Sport and Education.

which may be taken in the first three years, but not Year 4.

Both degrees routes offer the opportunity to transfer onto the ‘with Placement’ pathway after Year 2 or 3, extending your studies from four years to five.

You can find more information about the subjects on offer on the Natural Sciences webpages.

In Year 1 you can study a minimum of two subjects and no more than four, this provides a solid foundation for second year study. You can choose to specialise by taking up to four modules in one Group A subject (listed above).

If you intend to specialise in a single science subject in your final year, such as Earth Sciences, you will typically need to take three or four core modules from that subject. For example, if you choose the MSci Joint Honours degree in:

Biology and Chemistry, you must take five core modules, which leaves you free to choose one optional module.
Mathematics and Physics, you must take six compulsory modules.

Many MSci (Honours) Natural Sciences students choose two modules from each of three subjects although other combinations are possible. This combination would normally allow progression in any or all three subjects. Subject and module choices will depend on the University’s academic timetable and entry requirements, such as an appropriate level of prior knowledge for progression into a Year 4 subject.

Year 2

Striking a balance between breadth and depth you can study either two or three subjects in your second year. As in Year 1, you can specialise by taking up to four modules in one subject from Group A. For example, if you choose the MSci Joint Honours degree in:

Mathematics and Physics, you must take five core modules, which leaves you free to choose one module from the Mathematics or Physics List to achieve an equal subject balance.
Biology and Chemistry, you must take six core modules equally balanced between the two subjects.

If you are following the MSci (Honours) in Natural Sciences and specialising in a single science subject in the final year, you have considerable freedom which is only limited by progression and the timetable. Typically, you will:

take three or four core modules
build on one or two subjects studied in the first year
have the option of starting a new subject by taking a first-year module.

Year 3

You can choose either two or three subjects. It is possible to specialise in greater depth by taking up to four modules in one subject from Group A. You can also opt to take a second-year module during this year. For example, if you choose the MSci Joint Honours degree in:

Chemistry and Physics, you must take the six core modules.
Chemistry and Mathematics, you must take five core modules plus one module from the Mathematics list.

The MSci in Natural Sciences offers continued freedom in Year 3. You will combine modules in subjects already studied to a higher level.

Year 4

The final year includes a research project designed to consolidate your learning. In addition you will take a selection of taught modules. Module availability can change, but those available to current MSci Joint Honours students are:

Biology and Chemistry: Bioactive Chemistry 4; Biomolecular Analysis.
Biology and Physics: Atomic and Optical Physics; Biological Imaging; Theoretical Physics 4.
Chemistry and Mathematics: Chemical Physics 4; Computational Chemical Physics 4; Modules from the Level 4 Mathematics list.
Chemistry and Physics: Chemical Physics 4; Computational Chemical Physics 4; Atomic and Optical Physics; Theoretical Physics 4.
Mathematics and Physics: Modules chosen from the Year 4 Mathematics and Physics lists.

The MSci (Honours) in Natural Sciences continues to offer freedom of choice in the final year. You will combine modules in subjects already studied to a higher level and the main subjects studied will be listed on the degree certificate. The final year typically involves:

combining advanced modules in subjects already studied

specialising in or combining: Chemistry; Computer Science; Earth Sciences; Mathematics; Physics (please note that Biology can only be studied in Year 4 as part of a Joint Honours degree).

Additional Pathways

Students can apply to be transferred onto either the with Year Abroad or with Placement pathway during the second year. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from three years to four.

Accreditation

Graduates from the MSci have the academic knowledge, flexibility and technical skills to take on a wide range of roles, and the extended knowledge gained through higher level MSci modules can enhance career prospects in a competitive market.

More of our MSci graduates are on a fast-track career path because of the extra investment in their education.

Many recent graduates from the department work for global innovators and leaders in their sector including Build Africa, Santander, PwC and the Houses of Parliament. Some have set up their own businesses while others have continued into postgraduate education.

Take a look at some of the roles taken up by recent graduates from the course:

Graduate Nuclear Physicist at Rolls Royce
Finance Fast Streamer in the Civil Service
Accountant at EY
Graduate Tritium Scientist at the UK Atomic Energy Authority
Hydrogeologist at Arup
Consultant at Kubrick Group
Software Engineer at Loop Technology
Business Analyst at Aetha Consulting
Engineering Geologist at Concept Energy Consultants
Web Developer at Acturis Ltd
Assistant Data Scientist at Optellum

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Fees and funding

Full Time Fees

Tuition fees
Home students	£9,535 per year
EU students	£33,250 per year
Island students	£9,535 per year
International students	£33,250 per year

Full-Time Study

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only; fees for subsequent years will be confirmed not less than 3 months before the start of the academic year to which the increase is intended to apply and will be published on the Finance webpages.

In deciding the annual level of increase, the University will take into account inflationary pressures on the costs of delivery. Tuition fees will rise annually by up to the higher of:

6%, or
the latest annual percentage increase in the Consumer Prices Index.

Part-Time Study

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of part-time study and are charged proportionately to the Full-Time fee. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Scholarships and Bursaries

We are committed to supporting the best students irrespective of financial circumstances and are delighted to offer a range of funding opportunities.

Find out more about Scholarships and Bursaries

Department information

Natural Sciences

Take a Joint-Honours degree or design your own bespoke qualification that allows you to combine subjects beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.

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. Focus on two subjects from the outset, or choose a broader range of modules across three or four subjects. These highly flexible courses include the opportunity to undertake a year abroad or a placement year, to develop additional skills and enjoy new experiences.

Natural Sciences is a challenging and rewarding choice for science students who wish to study more than one subject.

For more information see our department pages.

Rankings

3rd The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see our department web pages.

Facilities

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. Most departments are close to the historic centre of Durham which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.