Overview of Undergraduate Genetics Teaching in Cambridge

We believe that as far as possible the teaching of genetics should be integrated with, and stimulated by, research in the subject - firstly because of the educational benefits; and secondly, because we feel this is the best way to interest and enthuse students, and to train and motivate good students for research. We teach genetics in several first (Part IA) and second (Part IB) year Natural Sciences Tripos courses, to Medical and Veterinary students, and to a class of approximately 30 third year (Part II) students, who wish to specialise in Genetics. As of 2010 we also contribute to a new interdepartmental fourth year course, Part III Systems Biology.

Biology teaching in Cambridge is organised across departmental boundaries for the first two years, so if you are, say, a science student with an interest in genetics, you might take Biology of Cells and/or Evolution and Behaviour in the first year, followed by Cell and Developmental Biology and/or Ecology, or perhaps Biochemistry or Pathology in the second year before specialising in Genetics in the third year. The Cambridge course system allows a great degree of flexibility and as a student, you would have a wide choice of possible courses in your first and second years, not just the ones outlined above. As a result, we have students studying Genetics in their final year with a wide range of academic backgrounds.

Use the menu on the left to find out more about each of the courses where Genetics is a major part of the syllabus

The links on the right lead to further information available on the University of Cambridge website

Page updated 5 March 2012

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