Natural Science versus Biology or Physics degree?

[Ritasueandbobtoo9]

Can anyone share views about applying for a Natural Science degrees versus a biology or physics degree? DS not sure what he wants to do but really likes both Biology and Physics. He wants to science research in the future, possibly abroad, with fieldwork involved. He wants to go into space but appreciates that is quite literally a very high aim. He also wants adventure in general.

What kind of field work? At CERN or in a jungle or Antartica? What you wrote is so broad, I'm trying to figure out how one would narrow it down.

How old is he now?

Geology ? Tramping over hills/ mountains mapping stuff.

And there will be great demand for rare metals in the long term.

If he really loves both and can't decide, Nat Sci for the win. Several off my course went on do to MSc's and PhD's in topics of their choice afterwards, which allowed them to specialize at a later date. Just make sure he can do enough modules in the first few years to combine to fairly different subjects in his final year.
Just a warning: I often get assumed to be a biologist tho from my degree title. And I'm clearly not!

Natural sciences is a great choice for someone who is struggling to narrow their choice down, it's worth looking closely at the courses offered as some of them lean towards physics/chemistry rather than physics/biology. Integrated natural sciences at Warwick has a significant biology element. He could also consider courses in human science, biological science, earth science or earth and planetary science.

There are many undergraduage degrees that combine physics and biology that aren't natural sciences. I would suggest he spends time looking at university websites until he finds the degree that excites him most.

Hi, thanks all. Yes, he is 17 and struggling to narrow it down. CERN and Antarctica or the jungle would all appeal! Went to Warwick open day and we could see that the Natural Sciences there was quite biology focused. Again, he has mentioned Earth and planetary science as well. I suppose my question could be rephrased as “what are the downsides (if any) to a Natural Science degree??

Down sides:
*widely assumed to be a biology degree without further explanation
*(Not sure this is a downside, but) stuffed full of incredibly intelligent sciency people with really high grades even if the entry requirements are lower - I'm OLD, but there were very few people on my course with less than 3 As, and most of us had 4 A levels in a time where 3 was standard

• it can be tough - we were sitting final year chemistry courses with the chemists, physics with the physicists etc without all the previous slightly interlinked modules, so there were assumptions made about knowledge

It was great. I don't regret it except I perhaps should have listened to my Dad and done Chem Eng!

@NatSciGrad Thanks, yes, I wondered whether it would be tougher because of the variety.

Lancaster has a good sort of 'build it yourself' Nat Sci degree.

www.lancaster.ac.uk/natural-sciences/pathways-info/

biophysics?

biomechanics?

A colleague is a Nat sci grad from Cambridge and loved it plus had so many options open to him on graduating.

He was in the Cambridge air squadron and did a science show on the Cambridge uni radio so had a huge number of options available to him on graduating such as scientific research, joining the RAF and becoming a pilot, or maybe becoming a scientific journalist or broadcaster.

So many options… all of those could have been available to him on graduating from a single science degree but he loved the natural sciences degree better. They should definitely do what they enjoy the most.

DS had this dilemma. He is interested in both Biology and Physics. He decided to focus more on Physics and get a strong foundation in maths. He will end up with a IoP accredited Physics degree, which leaves open the option of Biophysics in the future but doesn't limit him to that.

His pathway so far:
A-levels: Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry
Natural Sciences degree:
IA: Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Maths
IB: Physics A, Physics B, Maths
II: Physics (BA)

His plan for the next 18 months:
Summer internship: NCCR Physics of Bio-inspired Materials
III: Physics (MSci)

I think biophysics sounds really good and also joining air squadron whilst at university. I suppose i was wondering if IOP accreditation can be obtained through a Natural Science degree?? I’m sure he’ll look himself I want to to just give a bit more help than I got (zero help)!

Natsci is brilliant for good scientists who aren’t sure where they want to end up. Or even if they are sure - but can be lured into other things. I know a physicist who turned into a biochemist after the first year, and I planned to be a chemist and discovered the glories of geology. Earth sciences is top option for field work I reckon - lots of field trips and field work, at university anyway, more varied in work as it obv depends what you do. We took 3 sciences plus maths in first year, then two in second year (but weighted more towards one of them) and specialised fully in 3rd/4th year.

There is a link on the IoP page to the list of accredited Physics courses.

www.iop.org/education/support-work-higher-education/degree-accreditation-recognition#gref

e.g. A student taking Natural Sciences at Cambridge can complete a full Physics degree accredited by the IoP if they choose the requisite Physics modules.

@Ironoaks Thanks, will have a look.

The Royal Society of Biology has an equivalent list of accredited Biology courses.

The Society for Natural Sciences has something similar for more interdisciplinary natural sciences courses.

Accreditation isn't the be all and end all, but it's good for him to have the information so he knows what he is applying for.

I did Natural Sciences, thinking that I would like to specialise in Physics. By the second year I was set ot specialise in Chemistry. My third year was entirely Psychology, which I loved and still find fascinating. I'm so pleased to have had the opportunity to move across, I really think I would have struggled with 3 years of Physics as it seemed to be much the same stuff as school, but with more maths. My only regret was not branching out sooner - I could have taken History and Philosophy of Science in my second year and that looked really interesting.

Amongst DS's friends, everyone who took Earth Sciences in the first year seemed to enjoy it. And there's a field trip, which from the sounds of it would appeal to the OP's DS.

DS's director of studies (tutor who oversees his academic progress) is a physicist who works in the Geography department, doing polar research.

My DD is doing Nat sci at Durham. It is an incredibly flexible degree. She is focussing on physics and maths but her friend is mainly biology and computer science. The open day was really useful explaining that you might start on a Nat sci programme but as your interests change or consolidate your final degree might change. Initially my DD was set to end up with a joint honours in maths and physics but her 4th choices have meant she will now get an MSc in Nat sci. The modules are as diverse as philosophy, economics earth sciences as well as the usual chemistry physics maths and biology. Have a look at the website
. www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/natural-sciences/

>what are the downsides (if any) to a Natural Science degree
As a NatSci grad, I would say absolutely none for more competent students. It gives you the option to decide where to specialize later on based on much better knowledge about what you like and what you are good at. However, I can imagine that if you are marginal dedicating all your time to 1 subject might work better.

For me, I would have hated the specialized course I would have chosen had I not done NatSci - instead it became a small lowlight in my overall degree rather than hating day in, day out for 3 years. And I took courses that broaden my overall skillset like Computer Science and History and Philosophy of Science, and even the minor courses I took that I didn't like I learned some useful stuff.

I just wish more universities did it!

It sounds like Natural Sciences would be a great choice for him. Thanks everyone who has posted and put links for him to explore.

Both my DDs are Natural Scientists. DD1 studied at Cambridge and specialised in Materials Science. She is now studying for a PhD there. She took the Maths/Physics/Chemistry route. DD2 did Maths, Chemistry & Biology and is at a university in the Midlands. She has chosen modules which interest & excite her. Her degree also offered her a year abroad, when she spent time in Japan. Look into the modules available very carefully, although both my DDs have ended up using the science they didn't study at A level, but it hasn't done them any harm.