Permissible Subject Combinations
BBS and timetable constraints
It is essential for BBS students to be able to attend ALL lectures offered by both their Major and Minor Subjects. For this reason, only combinations of subjects which have compatible timetables are permitted.
Permissible combinations
Please note the following information applies to those considering NST Part II BBS in 2025-26:
The Faculty office has prepared a detailed table of incompatible combinations for each Major Subject module and each Minor Subject for 2025-26.
25_26 Incompatible Combinations table in PDF format (last updated: 17/06/2025)
25_26 Incompatible Combinations table as Excel File (allows sort/filter) (last updated: 17/06/2025)
Link to information about building your timetable
The Faculty Board of Biology gives notice, in accordance with Regulation 30 for the Natural Sciences Tripos that the following combinations of Major and Minor Subjects will be offered in the Natural Sciences Tripos, Part II (Biological and Biomedical Sciences) in 2023–24.
Subject to any restrictions announced in a particular year by the Faculty Board under the provisions of Regulation 30, candidates are required to offer in the examination for Part II Biological and Biomedical Sciences of the Natural Sciences Tripos:
(a) The examination requirements of one Major Subject;
(b) The examination requirements of one Minor Subject;
(c) A dissertation of not more than 6,000 words, excluding tables, figures, and references.
All subjects make provision for candidates to offer a dissertation.
The subject’s available and permissible combinations are listed below. Some subjects have restrictions on the number of candidates that can be accepted. Where possible this is indicated below - further information will be available as part of the Part II Subject Allocation process. A module taken as part of a Major Subject cannot be taken as a Minor Subject.
Permissible combinations for 2025-26:
Disclaimer: Please note the information below is given to the best of our knowledge of subject timetables, which occasionally change from year on year.
| Major Subject | Permissible Minor Subjects |
| 402 - Pathology | 107, 108, 114, 129 and 137 |
| 408 - Pharmacology | 107, 108, 109, 111, 113, 114, 120, 126, 127, 129, 132, 137, 142, 143, 144, 146, 147, 148, 149, 151 and 154 |
| 409 - Psychology Students must have taken MVST Part IB or NST Part IB Experimental Psychology to take this Major Subject. | 108, 124 - Students may choose additional Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Psychology modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 411 - Biochemistry | Students may choose additional Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Psychology modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 412 - Plant Sciences (Choose two from PLM1, PLM2, PLM3 and Zoology ZM2, and two from PLL1, PLL2, PLL3 and Zoology ZL3, ZL4 and ZL5) | 126, 134 and 137 - Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Plant Sciences modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 414 - Genetics | 107, 108, 113, 144, 145, 147, 151 and 152 – Students to choose a minor subject that does not have lecture clashes with the Genetics modules – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 415 - Physiology, Development and Neuroscience | A fifth PDN module can be taken as a Minor Subject. Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the PDN modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 427 - Zoology (Choose two from Zoology modules ZM1, ZM2, ZM5, ZM6, ZM7, ZM9 and ZM10, Plant Sciences M3, and two from ZL1 to ZL7 | 143 and 149 - A fifth Zoology module can be taken as a Minor Subject. Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Zoology modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 429 - Human Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour | 108, 137, 143, 144, 146, 147, 149 and 152- Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Human Evolution modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 430 - History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine | 105, 108, 109, 120, 121, 126, 134, 135, 143, 145, 146, 148, 149, 152 and 153 |
Timetables
Using Timetable.cam.ac.uk is the easiest way to build your personal timetable, combining your Major and your Minor Subjects.
Major Subjects can be found by selecting the corresponding subject.
All Minor Subjects have been brought together under the area of study "Biological and Biomedical Sciences".
Over the summer vacation, timetable.cam.ac.uk leads to a place holder page but you can continue to view the previous or current year's timetable by adding the year in the web address, such as 2024-25.timetable.cam.ac.uk. This might help you when choosing your Major and Minor Subjects. However, note that a number of Subjects change their timetables from one year to the next.
The list of permissible combinations and the detailed incompatibility table given above include all changes communicated to the Faculty of Biology Office and are therefore better suited to help you choose your Major and Minor Subjects for the following academic year.
Please note the information below applies to those considering NST Part II BBS in 2024-25:
The Faculty office has prepared a detailed table of incompatible combinations for each Major Subject module and each Minor Subject for 2024-25.
24_25 Incompatible Combinations table in PDF format (last updated: 17/04/2024)
24_25 Incompatible Combinations table as Excel File (allows sort/filter) (last updated: 17/04/2024)
Permissible combinations for 2024-25:
Disclaimer: Please note the information below is given to the best of our knowledge of subject timetables, which occasionally change from year on year.
| Major Subject | Permissible Minor Subjects |
| 402 - Pathology | 107, 108, 114, 128, 129 and 137 |
| 408 - Pharmacology | 107, 108, 109, 111, 113, 114, 120, 124, 126, 127, 128, 129, 132, 137, 142, 143, 144, 146, 147, 148, 149, 151 and 154 |
| 409 - Psychology Students must have taken MVST Part IB or NST Part IB Experimental Psychology to take this Major Subject. | 108, 124 - Students may choose additional Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Psychology modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 411 - Biochemistry | 107, 108, 114, 128,129 and 137 - Students may choose additional Minor Subjects depending on their module choice in Lent Term. Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have clashes with the Biochemistry modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 412 - Plant Sciences (Choose two from PLM1, PLM2, PLM3 and Zoology ZM2, and two from PLL1, PLL2, PLL3 and Zoology ZL3, ZL4 and ZL5 and Bioinformatics) | 126, 134 and 137 - Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Plant Sciences modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 414 - Genetics | 107, 108, 113, 128, 144, 145, 147, and 151 – Students to choose a minor subject that does not have lecture clashes with the Genetics modules – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 415 - Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (4 out of 15 modules) | A fifth PDN module can be taken as a Minor Subject. Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the PDN modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 427 - Zoology (Choose two from Zoology modules ZM1, ZM2, ZM5, ZM6, ZM7, ZM9 and ZM10, Plant Sciences M3, N3 (PDN), PS3 (Psychology), and two from ZL1 to ZL7, N6 (PDN), PS2 (Psychology) and Bioinformatics) | 126, and 149 - A fifth Zoology module can be taken as a Minor Subject. Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Zoology modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 429 - Human Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour | 108, 137, 143, 147, 149, 152- Students may choose Minor Subjects that do not have lecture clashes with the Human Evolution modules chosen – please consult the relevant lecture timetables. |
| 430 - History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine | 105, 108, 109, 120, 121, 126, 134, 135, 141, 143, 145, 146, 148, 149, 152 and 153. |