Part II

Students take one subject from:

  • Astrophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological and Biomedical Science
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Sciences
  • Genetics
  • History and Philosophy of Science
  • Materials Science
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Physical Sciences
  • Physics
  • Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience
  • Plant Sciences
  • Zoology 

Many subjects offered at Part II require specific knowledge of particular Part IB courses; in some cases, there may be a specific requirement to have studied these courses at Part IB. Some subjects have a restricted number of places due to lab capacities. Students compete for a place based on agreed Departmental selection criteria and collaborative procedures.

Subject Overviews

Astrophysics

Astrophysics provides a rigorous and intellectually stimulating foundation in the scientific reasoning that underpins modern astronomy. It is ideally suited to those with a background in Mathematics or Physics, offering a deep dive into the fundamental principles of physics - such as relativity, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics - that govern the cosmos.

You will explore a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, from stellar structure and galactic dynamics to cosmology and fluid dynamics. The emphasis is on understanding concepts from first principles with lectures focus on deriving key results logically, helping you build a robust and intuitive grasp of the subject.

In addition to lectures, you will undertake a coursework component that encourages independent research. This may take the form of an extended essay on a contemporary astrophysical topic or a series of  computational projects involving simulations or data analysis, offering valuable hands-on experience with real-world astrophysical challenges.

Biochemistry

Biochemistry delves into the molecular and cellular aspects of living organisms, serving as a cornerstone for biological sciences. This course will open doors to various cell/molecular biology fields in research or careers. Biochemistry is valued by recruiters across industry, government, investment management, regulatory authorities, and industrial law for its breadth and diversity of biological knowledge.

You’ll study advanced modules in various topics including Structural and Chemical Biology, From Genome to Proteome, Signalling and Cancer, The Dynamic Cell and either Molecular Microbiology of Infectious Disease or Bioenergy.

Emphasises is placed on the teaching of transferable lab and communication skills and you’ll write an extended critical essay focusing on communication between scientists and society. You’ll embark on an eight-week research project offering hands-on experience in a diverse choice of areas, working closely with a research team. 

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Our Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) is an interdisciplinary course that offers you the chance to shape your academic journey by selecting a Major Subject from a wide array of biological disciplines, like Pathology, Pharmacology, or Zoology, while also choosing a Minor Subject in another field to broaden your scientific outlook. This structure is designed to give you both depth and breadth, encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and a more holistic understanding of life sciences.

Rather than specialising in a single subject in your third year, the BBS course offers the flexibility to explore a range of disciplines while maintaining academic depth. You'll complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice, which may involve a literature review, data analysis, or theoretical exploration, guided by an expert supervisor. This structure allows you to pursue your interests while developing strong research and critical thinking skills.

Throughout the course, you’ll benefit from lectures, seminars, and small-group supervisions led by leading researchers. It’s intellectually demanding but incredibly rewarding, equipping you with critical thinking, scientific writing, and project management skills. Whether you’re aiming for postgraduate study or a career in research, healthcare, or biotechnology, BBS offers a flexible and robust foundation.

Chemistry

This dynamic program spans a rich spectrum of topics—from advanced inorganic and organic synthesis to high-resolution spectroscopy, theoretical and computational chemistry, and the chemistry of life and the environment. You'll have the opportunity to explore the reactivity of f-block elements, master retrosynthetic strategies, unravel molecular structures through NMR and diffraction, and investigate the chemistry behind future energy solutions.

Practical work is at the heart of the course, enhancing your skills through sophisticated, open-ended experiments that challenge your creativity and problem-solving. You can specialise in chemical biology or chemical physics or explore a broad range of topics across all areas of chemistry. Optional subjects allow you to tailor your studies, while opportunities to develop programming skills, or strengthen mathematical foundations prepare you for advanced research in your final year and beyond.

Earth Sciences

Understanding our planet is crucial for addressing global challenges like climate change and environmental hazards. By studying Earth Science, you can contribute to solutions for a sustainable future. The Earth Sciences programme offers a comprehensive geological education, and you’ll choose from modules such as Geophysics and Tectonics, Ancient Life and Environments, Vertebrate Evolution, Petrology, Climate, and Mineralogy.

Field trips are an integral part of the curriculum, providing practical experience in geology and geophysics. These trips, both in the UK and abroad, help you apply your classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Previous trips have included a 12-day trip to the Isle of Skye, a four-week independent mapping project over the summer, and a nine-day excursion to Greece during the Christmas break.

The department is also connected to the Sedgwick Museum, which houses over 2 million rocks, minerals, and fossils. This unique resource enhances your learning experience, offering you unparalleled access to geological specimens.

Genetics

Genetics is a rapidly evolving field, driven by advancements in genomics and its applications to disease and genetic manipulation of organisms. It offers a unique perspective and experimental approaches integral to biological research. The study of genetics focuses on how DNA specifies the form and function of organisms, traditionally using genetic variants (mutants) to investigate and understand cellular processes. Techniques like high throughput sequencing, genomics and gene replacement are powerful tools for looking at the way genes make us what we are.

Our Genetics course aims to equip you with comprehensive knowledge of genetic principles and their applications. It covers a wide range of topics, from molecular genetics of microorganisms to evolutionary genetics and population studies. You’ll learn to evaluate scientific papers, analyse experimental data, and engage in discussions on the social and ethical implications of genetics. This broad scope will ensure you gain a deep understanding of the role of genetics in health, disease, and evolution.

Graduates of our Genetics course are highly sought after, easily transitioning between scientific disciplines. Career opportunities remain robust in research and beyond, fuelled by genome projects, agricultural and medical genetics programs, and environmental applications. The course will prepare you for diverse roles, leveraging molecular genetic approaches to address complex biological problems.

History and Philosophy of Science

The History and Philosophy of Science course is intellectually rich and interdisciplinary exploring the historical development and philosophical foundations of science. It offers a global perspective on the evolution of science and medicine from antiquity to the present. You’ll address questions about the nature of scientific knowledge, and critically examine the social authority given to scientific expertise.

You’ll choose from a diverse selection of topics, such as Early Science and Medicine, Sciences and Empires, Modern Medicine and Life Sciences, Philosophy and Scientific Practice, Epistemology and Metaphysics of Science, and Ethics and Politics of Science, Technology and Medicine. Primary source seminars encourage you to engage directly with historical texts to produce an extended essay focused on a primary source. You’ll also write a dissertation giving you the opportunity to explore, in depth, a topic of your choice. By the end of the course, you will be equipped with the essential intellectual resources to understand some of the most important aspects of modern society and culture. 

Materials Science

From medical devices and sports equipment to energy systems and electronics, breakthroughs increasingly rely on enhancing material performance rather than just new designs or theories. As a result, there’s a growing global demand for experts who understand how processing, microstructure, and properties interact to shape material behaviour.

This course offers a comprehensive foundation in Materials Science, combining core lectures with hands-on practicals and examples classes. You’ll also choose a transferable skills module (computing or a language) to broaden your expertise. Key projects have included disassembling and analysing a household item in the Materials Manufacturing Project, and designing, producing, and testing a custom alloy in the Alloy Design Project.

Industrial context is woven throughout the course, with guest lectures from trained industrialists and strong encouragement to gain real-world experience. The department supports students in finding summer placements, and the course is accredited towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, making it an excellent launchpad for a dynamic and impactful career.

Pathology

The Pathology course explores the complex mechanisms that regulate cells and tissues at the genetic, molecular, and cellular levels, and how these are disrupted in disease processes. It offers a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from a wide array of scientific disciplines. A strong grasp of the molecular basis of disease is essential for developing clinical insight and scientific understanding.

You’ll have the opportunity to shape your learning by choosing from modules grouped into three main areas: Immunology, Infection Biology, and Cancer Biology and Genetics of Disease. This flexibility allows you to personalise your academic journey, aligning with your individual interests and career aspirations. Each module is designed to challenge and inspire, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills.

In addition to lectures, you’ll take part in research seminars, supervisions, and data-handling classes, and complete an independent research project. These experiences will sharpen your analytical skills and deepen your understanding of cutting-edge biomedical research.

Pharmacology

Pharmacology explores the mechanism of drug action at the molecular and cellular level, revealing how chemical substances trigger biological responses. You’ll delve into topics like drug design, ion channels, intracellular messengers, neurobiology, cancer treatments, and the pharmacology of epithelial and endothelial systems. The course also looks ahead to future drug development and clinical applications. A recurrent theme is the recognition of chemical substances by biological structures and how this recognition produces a biological response.

You’ll engage in lectures, technique talks, and discussion groups where you’ll present both literature-based and project-based seminars. You’ll complete a drug review, undertake a research project, and write a short dissertation, giving you the chance to sharpen your analytical and presentation skills in a collaborative environment.

Studying pharmacology opens doors to a wide range of careers. The course offers flexibility, allowing you to tailor your learning to your interests while gaining a deep understanding of how drugs work and how they’re developed.

Physical Sciences

Our Physical Sciences course offers a unique opportunity to study science in a broad and flexible way. Ideal if you thrive on variety and interdisciplinary thinking, this course allows you to combine subjects that spark your interest, tailoring your studies to suit your interests and career goals.

Instead of focusing narrowly on a single discipline, you’ll gain a wide-ranging scientific foundation, perfect for careers that demand versatility and cross-disciplinary insight. You’ll choose one from Chemistry, Physics, or Earth Sciences and combine it with a second-year subject not previously taken.

Through a mix of lectures, practicals and small-group supervisions, you’ll develop both theoretical understanding and hands-on skills. Writing a dissertation will further enhance your research and communication abilities. Whether you’re aiming for a role in industry, education, policy, or beyond, this course equips you with the knowledge and adaptability to succeed in a rapidly evolving scientific world.

Physics

Our flexible physics course is designed to deepen your understanding of core topics while allowing you to specialise in areas that spark your curiosity. Through core lectures, you’ll complete essential instruction in advanced quantum physics, statistical mechanics, relativity, and electrodynamics and optics, laying a strong foundation in theoretical physics.

You’ll then tailor your learning through optional lectures in fields such as particle and nuclear physics, quantum condensed matter, and astrophysical fluid dynamics. A dedicated computational physics course equips you with valuable numerical and programming skills, essential for modern research and industry applications.

Further work offers you the chance to explore your interests in greater depth. You can choose from experimental investigations, theoretical courses, or a blend of both. Alternatively, you might undertake a computational physics project, write a research review, or take a course in physics education, gaining experience of developing and presenting teaching material at the secondary-school level. You’ll also have an opportunity to explore cutting-edge research at the renowned Cavendish Laboratory.

Physiology, Development, & Neuroscience

Our Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience (PDN) course offers a dynamic and flexible structure, allowing you to tailor your studies to your interests. Whether you’re drawn to development and reproductive biology, integrative physiology, or neuroscience, you can specialise in one theme or explore a broader combination across all three. This adaptability ensures a rich and personalised academic experience.

You’ll be taught by leading experts from the PDN Department, alongside distinguished researchers from across the University of Cambridge and renowned institutions such as the Babraham Institute, Cancer Research UK, the Gurdon Institute, the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Addenbrooke's and Papworth Hospitals. This diverse teaching body brings cutting-edge research directly into the classroom, enriching your learning with real-world insights and discoveries.

At its core, the PDN course delves into the fundamental mechanisms of life; how cells, tissues, and organs develop and function in both humans and animals. With a strong emphasis on recent scientific breakthroughs, the course challenges you to think critically about health, disease, and the future of biomedical science.

Plant Sciences

Our Plant Sciences course offers a dynamic exploration of how plants function, from the cellular level to entire ecosystems. Plants are at the heart of pressing global challenges like food security, carbon capture, and sustainable energy. In the coming decades, plants will be central to solving global issues like feeding billions more people and preserving biodiversity amid climate change.

You’ll engage with experimental approaches that span molecular biology to ecological modelling, allowing you to tailor your degree with a mix of physiological, ecological, and molecular modules. Topics include plant signalling, microbial evolution, ecosystem dynamics, synthetic biology, responses to global change, and plant metabolism. You’ll conduct one or two research projects, write a critical review essay, and may opt to embark on a tropical field course in locations such as Panama or Borneo.

Nearly half of recent graduates have pursued postgraduate research at Cambridge or beyond, often in biochemistry or environmental science. Others have launched careers in agriculture, education, environmental consultancy, publishing, law, and industry. This reflects the exceptional breadth and depth of our course, preparing you for a wide range of exciting future paths.

Zoology

Zoology is a dynamic and interdisciplinary subject that explores life from the cellular and molecular level to whole organisms and entire ecosystems. This course is structured around six major themes: Behaviour, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Developmental Biology, Ecology and Conservation Science, Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, and Palaeobiology. These themes are united by the central concept of evolution, giving you a broad yet cohesive understanding of the animal kingdom.

You’ll enjoy a flexible and varied curriculum, allowing you to tailor your studies to your own interests. Topics range from animal behaviour and conservation to cutting-edge cell and developmental biology. The course encourages you to explore the interconnectedness of life and the processes that shape biodiversity.

Hands-on practical experience is a key feature, and you’ll undertake one or two research projects, gaining practical skills in both lab and field settings. You’ll also work on a research project proposal, plus there’s an exciting opportunity to join a tropical field course in Borneo.