Courses available to third-year Medical, Veterinary and Natural Sciences Students

Every year the Faculty Board of Biology organises a Fair to inform second-year students of the options open to them in their third year. In 2012-13 it will be held on

Many of the subjects mentioned below will be sending representatives of the teaching staff to the Fair, who will be happy to answer any questions.

General Information

In making your choice for your third year, it is essential that you consult your Director of Studies. Further details of courses are available from the relevant Department's website. Details of NST courses can be found here.

An enormous range of courses is available in year three. You may take in-depth courses in many of the subjects studied in your first two years; these are offered in the NST Part II courses. Alternatively, you may wish to combine depth with breadth and the opportunity to study new subjects by taking advantage of the broad range of options in NST Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS). Finally, you may choose to take courses in something rather different, such as Anthropology, Law, Management Studies or Philosophy.

Affiliated students and students who have transferred to medicine after their first year are normally able to proceed directly to clinical courses after taking MVST Part IB: again, check with your Director of Studies.

Courses available in 2013-14

1. NST Part II Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)

NST Part II BBS is open to all students, whether Natural Scientists, Medics, or Vets. It offers students the opportunity both to continue existing subjects and to take up new ones, providing an exceptionally broad range of possibilities across the biogical and biomedical sciences. This is a particularly valuable opportunity for students who do not wish to continue in experimental science after their first degree. Students take a Major Subject and a Minor Subject. Instead of a lab project, all BBS students write a dissertation of not more than 6,000 words on a subject associated with either the Major or Minor subject taken.

Some combinations of Major and Minor subjects are prohibited because of timetable clashes.

2. Natural Sciences Tripos, Part II

Entry in certain Part II subjects is limited and departments publicise their own selection procedures. The courses available to students with a biological/medical/veterinary background are

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Neuroscience
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology, Development & Neuroscience
• Plant Sciences
• Psychology (including Cognitive Neuroscience)
• Zoology
• History and Philosophy of Science

NOTE:

There are various routes through Neuroscience at Part II level. For an overview, please click here.

3. Another Tripos

Other subjects that have proved popular with Medics and Vets in the past include:

Archaeological and Anthropological Tripos Part II A or Part II B (Archaeology, Biological Anthropology or Social Anthropology)
• Part II A Humanities, Social and Political Sciences Tripos or courses leading to Part II B under Regulation 21 of the HSPS Tripos
• Management Studies Tripos
• Philosophy Tripos Part II
• Part II of the Geographical Tripos

You might also consider another Tripos such as Computer Sciences, Engineering, Modern and Medieval Languages, or English if you are suitably qualified. Your Director of Studies, and the Director of Studies at your College in the subject, will be able to advise you.