BSc Human Sciences

at University of Exeter

The study of human behaviour, culture and society is often set apart from the natural world. Yet humans, like other animals, have an evolutionary history and evolutionary forces continue to shape the way we live today. Important insights can therefore come from studying humans in the same way as we study other animals. Many of the problems we currently face, such as the biodiversity crisis, climate change, or the conflicts which occur within or between countries, relate to how humans create, shape and interact with their natural and social environments. Solutions to these problems will come from insights generated from a number of different disciplines.

Bridging the gap between the natural and social sciences, our Human Sciences programme allows you to combine exciting disciplines to make connections between biological processes, social patterns and political and environmental issues. It will enable you to understand relationships between science and policy and show how you may be able to facilitate decision-making in this context.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Year 1
 

• Evolution    
• Introduction to Human Sciences    
• Skills and Careers
• The Geography of Cornwall

Year 2
 

• Analysis of Biological Data    
• Development of Behaviour
• Behavioural Ecology
• Evolution of Human Societies

Professional placement/study abroad year (if taken)

with Professional Placement
 

• Professional Placement

with Study Abroad
 

• One Year Study Abroad

Final year
 

• Research Project
• The Complexity of Human Societies    
• Preparing to Graduate    

A-Level
 

• AAB-ABB
• AAA-AAB (with Professional Placement/Study Abroad)    

IB
 

• 34/665 - 32/655
• 36/666 - 34/665 (with Professional Placement/Study Abroad)    

BTEC 
 

• DDD-DDM
• DDD (with Professional Placement/Study Abroad)

GCSE    
 

• C or 4    
• English Language

Access to HE    
 

• 24 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade
• 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade (with Professional Placement/Study Abroad)    

Contextual Offer    
 

• A-Level: BBB - BBC
• IB: 30/555 - 28/554
• BTEC: DDM - DMM

Prof. Placement/Study Abroad:
 

• A-Level: ABB - BBB
• IB: 32/655 - 30/555
• BTEC: DDM

• UK students: £9,250 per year
• International students: £25,000 per year

The breadth of career opportunities open to graduates of Human Sciences is vast, such as health, conservation, education, third sector work, culture and heritage and community work. With training in both biological and social sciences, your options are likely to be broader than from a more narrowly focused subject. Further study is another popular choice for a number of students following graduation. Human Sciences is ideal preparation for a Master's degree in anthropology, biosciences, human geography or psychology.

Whatever you choose to do after graduation, your Human Sciences degree will stand you in good stead, with excellent employment prospects and transferable skills.

Below are a few examples of initial jobs undertaken by graduates from our Biosciences, Geography and Environmental Sciences undergraduate programmes*. 

Recent graduates are now working as:
 

• Business and related research professionals

• Conservation professionals

• Biological scientists

• Laboratory technicians

• Property, housing and estate managers

• Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators

• Secondary education teaching professionals

• Data analysts

• Estimators, valuers and assessors

• Information technology professionals

Recent graduates are now working for:
 

• AECOM
• Darwin Ecology
• Environment Agency
• European Space Agency
• Harris Lamb Property Consultants
• Natural England
• Society for the Protection of Turtles
• UK Hydrographic Office
• Unilever PLC
• UKSTEM Ltd