Natural Sciences with Foundation Year

Natural sciences is a programme designed for students who cannot or do not want to restrict themselves to a single scientific discipline. The natural world is divided into biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and earth sciences for the convenience of academic organisation, but many of the most important scientific questions sit at the boundaries between these fields. A natural sciences degree allows you to construct a scientific education that spans two or more disciplines, developing genuine breadth of scientific understanding alongside the depth that comes from taking each component seriously.

At Birkbeck College this four-year programme includes a foundation year, giving students who are returning to study, entering university later in life, or coming from non-traditional academic backgrounds the preparation they need before the main degree. Birkbeck's distinctive evening and flexible delivery model makes natural sciences accessible to students who are working or have other daytime commitments, and the programme is designed so that you can build your scientific education around your interests, from outer space to the human brain. You will develop a broad scientific knowledge base while also beginning the process of specialisation that the degree supports, preparing you for careers or further study that require scientific literacy across disciplines.

Graduates of natural sciences programmes are valued precisely for their cross-disciplinary thinking. Careers in science communication, policy, environmental management, healthcare, education, research, and technology all benefit from graduates who can move fluently between scientific domains. The foundation year route makes this accessible to students who might not have followed a conventional school science pathway.

Postgraduate study in a specific scientific discipline, science education, or science policy is a natural progression for those who want to develop specialist expertise or pursue research careers.