Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year

Interdisciplinary science is an approach to scientific education that recognises the artificial nature of the boundaries between scientific disciplines. The major challenges facing science and society, from pandemic preparedness and climate modelling to food security and personalised medicine, are inherently multidisciplinary, requiring scientists who can move fluently between fields and see connections that narrow specialism prevents. An interdisciplinary science degree develops precisely this kind of broad scientific literacy alongside rigorous training in the analytical and quantitative methods that underpin all the sciences.

At the University of Leeds, this four-year full-time programme provides intensive, well-structured support enabling progression onto a degree in science, such as engineering, healthcare, earth sciences, or mathematics. The extended degree structure means that the first year provides a carefully designed transition into university-level science, building the foundational knowledge, mathematical skills, and laboratory competence needed to thrive in the main programme. You will then develop breadth across scientific disciplines before focusing on the areas that most interest you.

The course includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement, giving you professional and international scientific experience across the programme.

Graduates from interdisciplinary science programmes go on to careers in scientific research, healthcare, environmental science, data science, science communication, science policy, engineering, and pharmaceutical industries. The breadth of scientific training the degree develops, combined with the professional and international experience from the placement and year abroad, creates a distinctive graduate profile valued across many sectors. Further study at postgraduate level in any of the constituent sciences or in interdisciplinary fields is available for those who wish to specialise.