MSci/BSc Natural Sciences

Prof. Geoff Nash

Joint Programme Director

Get to know us

Get your questions answered

Give you a flavour of the range of scientific

research at Exeter

Meet current students

Help YOU decide where to spend 3/4 years

Purpose of the OHVD

Overview

Course Structure

Natural Sciences at Exeter

Other Information

Course Structure

120 credits of study in each year

A mix of compulsory and optional modules

Teaching • Lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials

• Personal tutor, project mentors

Assessment • Summative and formative

• Coursework and examination

• Split depends on module

Teaching and Assessment

At least 15 hours of direct contact with

lecturers and tutors in the first year: • Typically 2 hours of lectures per week per module

• Up to 3 hours of workshops per week per module

• Regular drop-in surgeries

Study resources and dedicated office hours

Tutor group meetings

Contact time

BSc degree overview Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Foundations in Natural Sciences

Maths and Computer

Science

4 Core Modules

2 Elective Modules

Group Project

3 Elective Modules

Research Project

Frontiers in Science

Frontiers in Science

MSci degree overview Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 (MSci)

Foundations in Natural Sciences

Maths and Computer

Science

Frontiers in Science

4 Core Modules

2 Elective Modules

Group Project

3 Elective Modules

4 Elective Modules

Research Project

Frontiers in Science

NSC1001 Frontiers in Science Scientific skills Seminars Laboratories

NSC1003 Foundations in Natural Sciences

Biology

Physics Chemistry

Degree structure: year 1

Multidisciplinary 1st year

NSC1002 Mathematics and Computing Integrative tools for natural sciences

Frontiers in Science

Key skills required to become a successful

scientist • Laboratories (6 physics, 6 biology, 6 chemistry),

seminars, workshops

Opportunities to engage with leading

researchers from across the University

What is science, how does it progress and what

it means to be a scientist

No examinations, assessment includes science

blog

Maths and Computer Science

Fundamental mathematical and computational

techniques • Linear algebra, complex numbers, vectors and vector

calculus, series and sequences, differential equations,

probability and statistics

• Programming using Python, leading to Matlab

Computer Science, not IT

Foundations

Biology • Biological diversity, evolution, the genetic basis of life

• Fundamental principles underlying these systems, at

the level of the biochemical reaction, the cell, the

tissue, the entity, the population and the environment

Foundations

Chemistry • Energy quantisation atomic and molecular

orbitals physicochemical properties of substances

chemical reactivity and bonding

• Thermodynamics position of chemical

equilibrium. Theories of reaction kinetics

experimental reaction rates

• Nomenclature, structural representations and

reaction mechanisms of organic chemistry

Foundations

Physics • Atoms, molecules, quantum mechanics, light, gravity

etc

• Apply the principles of physics in new situations and

manipulate mathematical formulae to build

quantitative physical models

• Strategies for identifying and remedying missing

knowledge

Degree structure: year 2

Frontiers in Science II (NSC2001)

Core modules • Choose at least four, two from one topic area and

two from a second area

• Work closely with personal tutor

Elective modules

• E.g. The Physics of Living Systems, Introduction to

Biological Psychology, Frontiers of Computing etc

Year 2 core modules Energy, forces and fields

Matter and Materials

Complex Dynamic Systems

Electromagnetism Thermal Physics Physical Chemistry Differential Equations Systems, Series and Transforms

Quantum Mechanics Condensed Matter Organic Chemistry Differential Equations Systems, Series and Transforms

Ecology and the Environment Environmental Feedbacks to Climate Change Observing the Universe Numerics and Optimisation Systems, Series and Transforms

Living Systems

Advanced Cell Biology Molecular Biology of the Gene Genomics and Biotechnology Analysis of Biological macromolecules Elements of Chemistry in Biological Systems

Degree structure: year 3

Research project (NSC3001/NSC3002)

Group project (NSC3003)

• Work together in a group of between five and eight and

undertake a significant challenge (could be technical, or

outreach related)

Elective modules • Including international study instead of Group project

• E.g. Mathematical Biology and Ecology, Fluid Dynamics,

Mathematics of Climate Change etc

Degree structure: year 4

Research project (NSCM001)

Elective modules • Opportunity to extend the research project with the

aim of publishing your results

• E.g. Dynamical Systems and Chaos, Pattern

Recognition, Stars etc

Research projects

Real research project in one of the University’s

research groups

Runs over two years (MSci)

Develops your analytical and problem-solving

skills

My research

Aim to investigate electronic and optical

properties of graphene (2D sheet of carbon

atoms)

Research group consists of postdoctoral

researchers, postgraduate students and 6

undergraduate project students

My project students

Current density approx.

10,000 x higher than in a

100W tungsten filament

bulb!

Natural Sciences at Exeter

Developed for students who have a genuine

passion across different branches of science

Scientific research at its core • Opportunity to work alongside leading scientists

Inspired by the University’s interdisciplinary

science research

Natural Sciences at Exeter

Science at Exeter

> £230 million investment in science, medicine

and engineering

Bringing researchers together to tackle some of

the big issues of our time • Climate change, water, food and energy security, an

ageing society etc

Want Natural Science students to be part of this

Other Information

Today’s Programme

Student life talks

Research Speed Updating

Small Group Research Discussions

• Offer holders only

3pm Tea and coffee

• All

Any questions?

naturalsciences@exeter.ac.uk

www.exeter.ac.uk/naturalsciences