Cambridge · Natural Sciences · A level and IB
Your decision comes down to three questions: is a broad, flexible science degree right for you, should you apply in the Biological or the Physical Sciences stream, and do your subjects fit? Cambridge says you must tell it which stream interests you when you apply, and that it uses this in admissions. It also says Physical Sciences is the best stream if you have studied Physics and Maths A levels. A note on timing: every fact below comes from Cambridge's course page, worded for 'entry in 2027 or deferred entry in 2028'. We have not verified requirements for normal 2028 entry, so please recheck each point on the official pages before you rely on it.
Key facts
These points are quoted or closely paraphrased from the Cambridge course page as we read it. They are not confirmed for normal 2028 entry. Colleges make admissions decisions, so confirm subject conditions with the Colleges on your shortlist.
To apply to any Cambridge College for Natural Sciences you need A levels or IB Higher Levels (or equivalent) in Mathematics plus two other science or mathematics subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and, for A level only, Further Mathematics. Higher Level subjects will satisfy A level subject requirements.
If you are studying a science that is not listed as your third subject, Cambridge asks you to contact the admissions office at your shortlisted College(s) for advice. It also says you may need specific science subjects to apply to some Colleges and to take certain first-year options.
The page gives the minimum offer as A*A*A at A level, and 41-42 points with 776 at Higher Level for the IB.
For Physical Sciences with Higher Level Mathematics, applicants are expected to take Analysis and Approaches. For Biological Sciences with Higher Level Mathematics, Cambridge recommends Analysis and Approaches for the most competitive application, and says Applications and Interpretations will also be considered.
The page says you must register in advance for the test. It does not tell us more than that here, so check the official ESAT pages for what applies to you and for registration arrangements.
Your choice of application stream, and the courses you are currently studying, will affect the types of questions asked at interview.
You won't usually be asked to submit examples of written work.
Subjects come from 14 departments. You can study purely biological sciences, purely physical sciences or a combination, and you won't choose your subjects within the course until you arrive. You won't usually be able to resit any exams.
Official sources
Source: Cambridge undergraduate course page for Natural Sciences (BA Hons / MSci), read on 9 November 2026. Its wording covers entry in 2027 or deferred entry in 2028. We have not verified normal 2028 entry; recheck everything on the official pages.
The decision
Cambridge describes Natural Sciences as flexible: you can study a range of new and familiar areas in the sciences before choosing a subject, or two, to specialise in. You can study purely biological sciences, purely physical sciences or a combination, and you can change your mind about your specialism as you progress. The page also says you will not choose which subjects to study within the course until you arrive.
This is our interpretation, based on the structure the page describes rather than an official statement. The course seems best suited to students who like several sciences and want to delay specialising, and who are comfortable with mathematics as a working tool, since Mathematics is the one named subject requirement and every first year includes a mathematics-based subject. If you already know you want a single narrow discipline from day one, check carefully whether a broad first year is what you want.
The page says you won't usually be able to resit any of your exams. In our reading, the breadth that makes the course attractive therefore comes with a course in which results matter at the first attempt. That is a reason to think about workload and preparation, not a reason to avoid the course.
Stream
Cambridge says that when you apply you need to say whether you are interested in Biological or Physical Sciences, and that it uses this in the admissions process. It also says your stream and the courses you are currently studying will affect the types of questions asked at interview. For applicants who have studied Physics and Maths A levels, it says it is best to apply for Physical Sciences, because the interview will be on subjects you have already studied.
This sequence is our interpretation, not an official procedure. First, list the subjects you are actually studying and note which stream they sit most naturally in. Second, check that against Cambridge's own guidance above: if you have Physics and Maths A levels, the page points to Physical Sciences. Third, ask which stream's mathematics you would be happy to be examined on, using the Year 1 options named by Cambridge (Mathematics for Biological Sciences or Mathematics for Physical Sciences, given as examples). Fourth, if your answer differs from your subject mix, confirm with your shortlisted Colleges before committing.
Because Cambridge links the stream and your current courses to the interview questions, picking a stream mainly for the subject you find most exciting, when it sits away from what you are studying, may mean being questioned in areas you have had less formal exposure to. The page does not say this will count against you; it is our reading of the interview point. Interest matters, but weigh it against the match between stream and studied subjects.
Subjects
The formal subject requirement on the page is Mathematics plus two other science or mathematics subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and, for A level only, Further Mathematics. Higher Level IB subjects will satisfy A level subject requirements. The page also says there are A level requirements for some first-year options, and that you may need specific science subjects to apply to some Colleges and to take certain first-year options. If your third subject is a science not on the list, Cambridge asks you to contact the admissions office at your shortlisted College(s).
Separate from the subject requirement, the page gives the minimum offer as A*A*A at A level and 41-42 points with 776 at Higher Level for the IB. Treat these as Cambridge's stated lines for the cycle its page is worded for, and confirm the current figures officially.
For Physical Sciences with Higher Level Mathematics, applicants are expected to take Analysis and Approaches. For Biological Sciences, Cambridge recommends Analysis and Approaches for the most competitive application, while Applications and Interpretations will also be considered. 'Expected' and 'recommend' are Cambridge's words; the page does not make either a flat bar. Check the official page for anything beyond these excerpts.
If your subjects are not the standard Maths plus Physics, Chemistry or Biology pattern, do not assume from the general requirement that every College will treat you the same way. The page says Colleges may set specific science-subject conditions and that Colleges make all admissions decisions, so ask your shortlisted Colleges directly and keep their answers in writing where possible.
Course
Cambridge lists 14 departments, from Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Astronomy and Biochemistry to Plant Sciences and Zoology. In Year 1 you choose 3 science subjects from Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology; Biomedical Sciences; Biomolecules and Cells; Chemistry; Earth Sciences; Materials Science; and Physics, and also take a mathematics-based subject. You will usually attend 12 lectures a week with one supervision a week for each of 4 courses. Some subjects may not be combinable because of timetable restrictions. In Year 2 you will typically attend 9 lectures a week and have one supervision a week for each of 3 courses. In Year 3 you can follow a broad subject in Biological or Physical Sciences or specialise, and some Year 3 subjects have limited numbers because of laboratory space. Progression to Year 4 depends on your Year 3 performance, and students are usually expected to have at least a 2.i.
Since combinations in Year 1 can be restricted by the timetable and some Year 3 places are limited, it is sensible to look at the official course pages for the options you are most drawn to, rather than assuming every combination will be open to you. This is our advice, not an official rule.
Next steps
Recheck every point on Cambridge's official pages, because our reading is worded for 2027 entry or deferred 2028 entry and we have not verified normal 2028 entry. Register for the test in advance as the page requires, and use the official ESAT pages for the details, since this guide does not cover the test's content. Then shortlist Colleges, ask their admissions offices about science-subject conditions and any unusual third subject, and decide on your stream using the sequence above. You won't usually be asked to submit written work, so your preparation is best focused on your subjects, the test and the interview.
Questions
Cambridge's page says it is best to apply for Physical Sciences if you have studied Physics and Maths A levels, because your interview will be on subjects you have already studied. Confirm this on the official page for your cycle.
The page says to apply to any College for Natural Sciences you need A levels or IB Higher Levels (or equivalent) in Mathematics plus two other science or mathematics subjects. Further Mathematics counts for A level only.
For Physical Sciences with Higher Level Mathematics, applicants are expected to take Analysis and Approaches. For Biological Sciences, Cambridge recommends Analysis and Approaches for the most competitive application, and says Applications and Interpretations will also be considered.
Cambridge asks you to contact the admissions office at your shortlisted College(s) for advice. It also says you may need specific science subjects to apply to some Colleges.
The page says you must register in advance for the test. For which test elements apply and how to register, check the official ESAT pages; this guide does not cover them.
The page says you won't usually be asked to submit examples of written work.
Yes. Cambridge says your choice of application stream, and the courses you are currently studying, will affect the types of questions asked at interview.
No. The pages we read are worded for entry in 2027 or deferred entry in 2028, and we have not verified requirements for normal 2028 entry. Recheck everything on the official pages.
Students and families
Avandy offers admissions consultation and interview support. We can help you work through your stream choice, your subject mix and what to ask your shortlisted Colleges. We cannot guarantee any outcome.
