The Natural Sciences degrees delivered by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Science at Leicester offer an alternative approach to traditional Natural Sciences programmes: a truly integrated, research-led programme of study. The course modules are multi-disciplinary in content and are taught through a Research Based Learning approach. This enables you to tackle cutting edge scientific issues and to acquire a sound basic knowledge across the disciplines. You will learn to become an independent researcher by: Carrying out research to address relevant, current real-world problems Identifying research issues, acquiring new knowledge and applying it in novel contexts Working in groups to exploit the benefits of collaborative learning and to develop high-level employability skills that will distinguish you in the workplace Tackling complex open-ended problems Learning how to present and communicate research outcomes to peers and tutors You study fundamental and advanced scientific concepts from Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences, but in interdisciplinary contexts where the connections between the different disciplines are emphasised. This approach enables you to study much of the core material to the same level as in programmes in the single disciplines. The course thrives on the University’s strong culture of interdisciplinary research: from green chemistry to biophysics, climate change to forensic science, and sustainable development to astrobiology. This approach feeds into the course itself: training in research skills begins from the very start of the degree, and you will be guided to become an active researcher from day one. You become practiced at confronting problems in novel situations in preparation for a career in research or science-related employment.

The three-year BSc course is an excellent route to a wide range of careers in industry, in commerce and in the public sector and has the support of the country’s leading employers. Recent graduates from the Natural Sciences degree have gone into a wide range of careers, including in the defence industry, publishing, web design, management and teaching. Natural Sciences is a highly commended route to science teaching; the Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme mentioned above is particularly good preparation for this. The Natural Sciences programme is ideal preparation for postgraduate study. Recent graduates have gone on to postgraduate programmes in areas such as environmental toxicology, medicine, sustainable development and nuclear engineering. The four-year MSci course is aimed at those who wish to train as professional research scientists and opens up further career possibilities in industrial research and development and academia. It is also a means of specialising in an interdisciplinary field of science, such as Astrobiology, Forensic Science or Complex Systems. Students graduating with an MSci or BSc can apply to continue studying for an MSc or a PhD in a related area. If during the course of your studies you discover a particular passion for a single discipline you also have the opportunity to spend two years studying Natural Sciences, and then to progress into the Second Year of a single-discipline undergraduate degree. Your Natural Sciences modules are selected to give you the best grounding for transfer into Physics, Chemistry or Biological Sciences. This route or ‘pathway’ gives you a broader based science degree compared with students taking just a single-subject degree.