Program Overview

Our integrated Science, Technology and Engineering (STEM) Foundation Year degrees are aimed at students who wish to study a STEM subject, such as physics, but don't have the traditional entry requirements.

The course is run on the University of Leicester campus like any other, and you will be studying alongside other students who applied for, and slightly missed out on, a place on a course similar to yours. In the first year of this course you will all be working towards passing a foundation year (year 0), which will enable automatic progression onto year 1 of any of our BSc (or MSci) Natural Sciences courses.

• By completing the Foundation Year you will automatically progress onto the first year of your chosen degree.
• The course strongly emphasises the development of essential professional and personal skills, which are necessary throughout your studies and beyond.
• During your Foundation Year you will join our student community and be able to enjoy all aspects of the University of Leicester student experience. You will be able to join the Students’ Union, use our academic and leisure facilities, live in our accommodation and access all our support services.
• You will have a personal tutor to support you.

Our multi-award winning Natural Sciences degrees are designed around a core set of bespoke Natural Science modules. You will study fundamental and advanced scientific concepts from the life and physical sciences, enabling you to acquire a sound knowledge across the disciplines.

But our course doesn’t simply teach science - it creates scientists. We use a research-based approach to learning and teaching. Our bespoke Natural Sciences modules are interdisciplinary in content - exploring the connections between traditional science subjects and allowing you to apply your knowledge to tackle cutting-edge scientific issues.

Our Natural Sciences modules use a combination of real-world research questions and authentic assessments (known as problem-based learning) to provide numerous opportunities to practice confronting topical and relevant scientific problems in novel situations, for example forensic science and artificial limbs.

A recent Physics Today (Top US Physics journal) article showcases our Natural Sciences degrees as one of the world’s trail blazing programmes, highlighting the way that they “foster interdisciplinary and personal connections”. The course’s strong research focus reflects the University’s outstanding culture of interdisciplinary research: from green chemistry to synthetic biology; from sustainable development to astrobiology. Our experts in the relevant fields support your learning through interactive sessions. This means that, as well as traditional lectures, your learning will involve interactive problem-solving workshops, regular tailored feedback sessions and one-to-one tutorials with academic staff allowing you to build transferable skills and confidence alongside your scientific knowledge

Following successful completion of your foundation year you will embark on the first year of the BSc/MSci which is designed and delivered solely for Natural Sciences students. This allows you to concentrate on one of the following specialisms in your second and third years, alongside bespoke Natural Sciences interdisciplinary modules:

• Chemical Science
• Molecular and Cellular Science
• Physical Science
• Ecological and Zoological Science

The emphasis on research skills continues throughout the course. You will have the chance to run your own scientific journal and conduct your own scientific inquiry within one of the University of Leicester research labs. This is excellent preparation for a career in academia, scientific industry or other career pathways - having gained a wide range of transferable skills.

We have a diverse, inclusive and vibrant student community in Natural Sciences. Our small cohort size, regular interactive group work activities and dedicated Natural Sciences social learning space means you will get to know your course mates and tutors well. Graduates often remark they have made some of their closest friends through the course.