Admissions - Subjects Admissions - SubjectsSUBJECTS Chemistry Biology Mathematics SUBJECTS
|
These notes describe the admissions procedure and the teaching of Natural Sciences at Queens', and should be read in conjunction with the relevant sections of the Cambridge University Undergraduate Prospectus. The Course The Cambridge Natural Sciences Tripos is unique, in that no other British University offers within one course such a wide variety of subjects in all the physical and biological sciences. Each individual course is designed to be up-to-date and interesting. Overall, the Tripos is extremely flexible and suits the individual needs and interests of almost every student. The Cambridge Admissions Prospectus gives a good description of all the courses offered under the umbrella of the Natural Sciences Tripos. One feature of note is that students are encouraged in their first year to read at least one subject which they have not studied at school. It is, for example, quite usual for physical scientists to study a biological subject and vice versa. The first year (Part IA of the Tripos) is accordingly a broad course of study, with students taking three experimental subjects and an appropriate course in mathematics. During the second year (Part IB) students read three subjects (selected from a total of some 20 subjects). In this way, students have plenty of time to select one subject to study in depth. Specialisation is accordingly deferred to the third year, when Part II is taken in one of the following subjects: Anatomy, Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Genetics, Geological Sciences, History and Philosophy of Science, Materials Science and Metallurgy, Neuroscience, Pathology, Pharmacology, Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Physiology, Physiology with Psychology, Plant Sciences, Psychology and Zoology. Alternatively, third year students may take a general course for Part II. After one year of Natural Sciences it is normal for some students to transfer to Chemical Engineering although it is also possible to defer this transfer to the end of a student's second year. Alternatively, some change to Computer Science or Electrical and Information Sciences or Management Studies after two years. There are many examples of students changing their Tripos to take up Natural Sciences: perhaps the most frequent is that of a mathematician, a computer scientist or engineer moving over at the end of his or her first year to study double Physics and Mathematics in Part IB, followed by Part II in either Experimental and Theoretical Physics or Electrical and Information Sciences. Some subjects (Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Geology, Materials Science and Metallurgy and also Experimental and Theoretical Physics) can be studied in a student's fourth year for Part III the Natural Sciences Tripos; the fourth year courses are intended particularly for students who hope to pursue a research career in these subjects. Admissions In recent years Queens' has taken about 32 students each year to read Natural Sciences. There is no preference for students in any particular science. Queens' welcomes post A-level applicants who wish to take advantage of, for example, a year in industry or abroad between school and university. It is of course not possible to lay down one set of grades as constituting a permanent, minimum requirement because, as with other universities, the offer depends on many factors, such as age, school, Head Teacher’s report and interview. A typical conditional offer is A,A,A at A-level (with appropriate equivalents in other examinations). STEP or S-level papers are not required, except in unusual circumstances. College Teaching Undergraduates reading Natural Sciences at Queens' are normally supervised in pairs. During the first year, supervisions are mainly given by Fellows of the College, but by the third year this pattern inevitably changes as a student begins to take specialised options for a Part II course. Supervisions are then usually given by Fellows who may be from other Colleges depending on their specialisation. Queens' is fortunate in having a large number of Natural Sciences Fellows. At the time of writing these are Dr Bryant (Pharmacology), Dr Challinor (Physics), Dr Clarke (Molecular Cell Biology), Dr Field (Pathology), Dr Glover (Evolution and Plant Sciences), Professor Hall (Chemistry), Professor Hayhurst (Chemistry and Fluid Mechanics), Professor Jackson (Earth Sciences), Dr Johnstone (Biochemistry and Plant Sciences), Dr H.R.N Jones (Chemistry), Dr R. L. Jones (Chemistry), Professor Lasenby (Physics), Dr Priestley (Mathematics), Dr Sage (Physiology), Dr Walker (Mathematics), Dr Ward (Physics) and Dr Spring (Chemistry) and Dr Terentjev (Physics). Although success in examinations is not everything, it might be mentioned that the Natural Scientists at Queens' do perform well in their University examinations and significantly better than the average performance in the University as a whole. The student-run Isaac Milner Society, named after the eminent Natural Scientist who was President of Queens' College from 1788 - 1820, organises talks and social events for Queens' scientists. In addition, the scientists at Queens' contribute energetically to the wider life both of the College and the University, from acting and music through to sport, politics, running student newspapers organising Rag Days and much more................., all of which enrich a student's time at Queens'. Further information can be found on the faculty website via: www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/undergrad/natscitripos
January 2004 |