Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences 

Admissions overview for Downing College 

Why study Natural Sciences at Cambridge?

At Cambridge, the Natural Sciences course begins broadly, giving you the chance to study a range of subjects before you decide upon a specialist for your 3rd year. Some people discover science options that perhaps they hadn’t been aware of; others become confident in their pre-arrival choices through ‘trying out’ other fields; but all gain immensely by being exposed to teaching in the different science courses, learning from those at the cutting-edge of their subject, and gaining an invaluable scientific foundation.

Much of today’s important and exciting science happens at the interfaces between traditional subject areas, and all science depends to some extent upon interdisciplinarity. The University of Cambridge, and the integrated teaching within the Natural Sciences program it offers, is perfectly set up to exploit this; you get to see inside, and work in, different departments, with those who are driving current scientific research. It’s a fantastic opportunity to discover what sciences you best enjoy and where you want to advance your work in subsequent years.

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Why study Natural Sciences at Downing?

Downing has always had a strong tradition in Natural Sciences. The College admits about 18-22 Natural Scientists each year, for a total of around 70 Natural Sciences undergraduates in the College at any time.

At Downing, there are many Fellows involved with teaching within the Natural Sciences courses, and we have links with all of the teaching departments involved. The Natural Science Fellows at Downing work collaboratively to support all our students, ensuring that they can take full advantage of what’s on offer. Your application to Cambridge will either be for ‘Biological’ or ‘Physical’ Natural Sciences, but this delineation is only to help us in choosing the most appropriate team to interview you and assess your application. Your subsequent choices are remarkably flexible and you will be able to get advice and guidance from us in choosing your 1^st year options well before you arrive. Students who originally applied as Biological Natural Scientists, sometimes change their plans and become Physical Natural Scientists and vice versa – there is no fixed dividing wall, and we encourage those whose interests span disparate areas to take advantage of the choices on offer within the Natural Sciences program.

The Downing Fellows directly involved in teaching and Direction of Studies for Natural Sciences, along with their subject areas are:

• Professor Zoe Barber (Material Science)
• Professor Marta Correia (Mathematical Biology)
• Dr Neda Farahi (Pharmacology)
• Professor Chris Haniff (Physics)
• Professor Amy Milton (Neuroscience)
• Dr John Morgan (Chemistry)
• Professor Nick Rawlinson (Earth Science)
• Dr Hamish Symington (Plant Science)
• Professor Guy Williams (Mathematics)

Professor Zoe Barber is Director of Studies for all first–year Physical Natural Scientists. Zoe is here to help new students choose their options, to guide them and ensure they are happy with their choices and are making good progress.

After the 1st year, people focus on their particular areas of interest, until deciding on their final subject for years 3 and, usually, 4. As they move on, they are assigned a Director of Studies closest to their own field.

Dr Marta Correia and Dr Neda Farahi and Dr Alice Sowton look after the Biological Natural Scientists. Marta, Neda and Alice provide academic support for the biologists and arrange their supervisions during Part I, the first two years of the Natural Sciences degree, in addition to conducting some of the supervisions themselves.

They also meet regularly with students, in groups and individually, throughout the year to monitor progress, check that the students are happy with their chosen subjects, and to advise on what to do after the degree, whether that means graduate study or employment.

Supervisions are the small group teachings for which Cambridge is famous. At Downing you will generally find yourself being supervised weekly in groups of two or three students for each of the subjects you are taking.

Supervisions usually last for an hour, and your supervisor may be a fellow of the college, an academic staff member from the relevant department, a post–doctoral research worker, or a post graduate student.

Whilst it is a fantastic opportunity to be taught on this basis by an eminent professor, students often enjoy being supervised by graduate students who sometimes become good friends and, being closer in age and experience, can empathise and relate closely to specific issues.

Whoever your supervisors are, they will be in close contact with your director of studies, to ensure that things are going well, and to be able to make any required changes to your course choices or teaching requirements.

As with all subjects at Downing, there’s plenty of mixing between students in different years. So, those in later years can report on their own experiences and offer advice on subject choices to the newer students. And, of course, there’s plenty of advice on offer from fellows and others associated with the college.

Students run the Downing Science Society, The Danby Society. It holds regular meetings, and dinners, often with invited speakers from various walks of life. The club is run on very informal and friendly lines and anyone is welcome to join, at whatever level of involvement they prefer. Science thrives in Downing and the enthusiasm shown for the Danby Society reflects the excitement the subject generates in the College.

Who is Natural Sciences looking for?

The study of the natural world relies upon varied and complementary skills, many of which you learn and develop during your time with us. On entry, then, we look for candidates who are passionate about better understanding the natural world, are inquisitive, and who enjoy the cycle of critical evidence-based theory-building that characterises scientific enquiry. Being numerate and being able to present and justify your ideas logically and effectively are also valuable skills.

Detailed information about entry requirements can be found at the top of this page. Some option courses require you to have taken certain subjects to A-Level/IB Higher Level, or equivalent. Please refer to the Natural Sciences website for more details. Applicants for Natural Sciences (Biological) who are taking IB Higher Level Mathematics, should note that, while the Applications and Interpretations option is acceptable, the Analysis and Approaches option is recommended for a strong application.

What Natural Sciences students have studied 

Natural Sciences (Biological)

Most Natural Sciences (Biological) students (who had studied A levels and started at Cambridge in 2018, 2019 and 2023) achieved at least A*A*A* (76% of entrants).

Nearly all of these students took Mathematics (99%). Please note that Mathematics is now a required subject.

Other common subjects were:

• Biology (98%)
• Chemistry (97%)
• Further Mathematics (36%)
• Physics (29%)

In addition to Mathematics A levels, the percentage of entrants taking:

•  All 3 of Biology, Chemistry and Physics was 23%
• 2 of the sciences 74% (of which 95% took Chemistry and Biology)
• Only one of the sciences was 1%. Please note that two sciences are now a requirement.

The majority of students who studied IB achieved at least 43 points overall and/or grades 777 at Higher Level.

Natural Sciences (Physical)

Most Natural Sciences (Physical) students (who had studied A levels and started at Cambridge in 2018, 2019 and 2023) achieved at least A*A*A* (97% of entrants).

All of these students took Mathematics. Other common subjects were:

• Physics (97%)
• Further Mathematics (92%)
• Chemistry (89%)
• Biology (9%)

How can I find out more about Natural Sciences?

The reading list on the Faculty website is given as a guide to help applicants gain a better understanding of the subject matter. They are not intended as preparatory reading and interviewers will not necessarily expect candidates to have read any of these titles:

Further details about the Natural Sciences course can be found at the University of Cambridge website.