Natural Sciences with Foundation Year

Our BSc Natural Sciences is designed so that you can construct your degree around your favourite science subjects, from outer space to the human brain, and everything in between. You will gain a broad science knowledge base and start your journey to becoming a subject specialist, ready to tackle the scientific challenges of the future.

Why choose this course?

• With different pathways to choose and a wide range of option modules from across our Faculty of Sciences, this course is highly flexible in allowing you to tailor it to your interests and career aspirations.

• You will be taught by internationally distinguished experts who work with governments and institutions around the globe to extend the boundaries of knowledge.

• It offers you state-of-the-art, specialist laboratories and facilities for studying sciences in the heart of academic London.

What you will learn

The core curriculum for this course comprises laboratory work, data skills and field classes which aim to foster teamwork and a strong group identity throughout your time at Birkbeck. It also ensures you gain core scientific skills in data analysis and laboratory techniques.

At the start of your degree, you will be able to follow your interests, choosing from one of five pathways comprising compulsory and option modules from the following complementary subject areas:

• Astronomy and Planetary Science + Bioscience

• Astronomy and Planetary Science + Data Science

• Earth and Environment + Bioscience

• Bioscience + Data Science

• Cognition and Neuroscience + Bioscience

How you will learn

This course is available to study full- or part-time and is taught via lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Our teaching philosophy is based around flexibility, allowing you to fit this degree around other commitments. Our core teaching is in the evening and our bioscience modules also offer afternoon classes. Some of our modules may also offer pre-recorded lectures that you can access whenever you need, and classes that you can attend online using our online teaching platform. There are also two daytime field trips.

Foundation Year

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

Highlights

• Natural sciences is a novel interdisciplinary subject that addresses key scientific and societal challenges.

• Birkbeck’s natural science research has played a key role in helping to identify fundamental biological and physical structures and fight disease.

• Birkbeck was rated in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Biological Sciences, Computer Science and Informatics, Earth Systems and Environmental Science, Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Careers and employability

On successful completion of this BSc Natural Sciences, you will have gained key transferable skills valuable in a wide range of employment areas including in

• laboratory techniques

• data analysis and synthesis

• presentation and report writing.

It will prepare you for roles in a range of fields and professions including as a laboratory technician and working in:

• environmental organisations

• museums and galleries

• the pharmaceutical industry

• science communication and teaching.

If you are ambitious to study further, you can also progress on to postgraduate study with one of our Master's degrees in these areas.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

You will be assessed via a mix of examinations, essays, presentations, field and laboratory reports and a dissertation/scientific report.