Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Zoology Program Details

The BSc (Hons) Zoology program offers students the opportunity to engage in comprehensive fieldwork, exploring diverse ecosystems and developing essential skills in zoological research and practice.

Fieldwork Options

• Southern Spain: In the second semester of the first year, students visit Zahara de los Atunes, a town situated on the beach overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. This location provides a rich Mediterranean flora and fauna, excellent weather, and diverse habitats, ideal for a wide range of field activities.
• Mpala Research Centre, Kenya: In the second year, students have the opportunity to visit the Mpala Research Centre, located in the central part of Kenya. This area is characterized by semi-arid savannah habitat, home to over 550 species of birds and more than 100 species of mammals, including rare species such as Grevy's zebra and African wild dogs.

Fieldwork Activities

Mpala Research Centre, Kenya

• The field course focuses on expanding zoological training, including methods for monitoring populations, habitat preferences, distributions, and home ranges of species.
• Students explore techniques for assessing individual and population characteristics, such as invertebrate survey techniques, acoustic analysis, animal tracking, camera trapping, and species identification during numerous game drives.
• A highlight of the trip includes visiting Mt. Kenya for a hike and exploration of an alpine ecosystem (weather dependent) and Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to a diverse range of species, including the last remaining northern white rhinoceros.

Zahara de los Atunes, Spain

• The field course in Spain focuses on learning to identify plant and invertebrate species, developing skills to gather reliable field data, and keeping accurate field notebooks.
• Activities include ecological sampling methods, habitat investigations in diverse habitats for flora and fauna, and ecology and conservation of coastal habitats.
• Students design and conduct their own field-based research studies, with past projects covering a broad range of subjects, such as the diurnal behavior of beetles, the effect of invasive species on native flora and fauna, and the association between parasitic plants and their hosts.

Trip Information

• Mpala Research Centre, Kenya:
  • When: Approximately early June
  • Where: Mpala Research Centre, Kenya
  • Length: Approximately 10 days
  • Cost: Fieldwork costs (details not specified)
• Zahara de los Atunes, Spain:
  • When: April in the second semester of the first year
  • Where: Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucia, Spain
  • Length: Nine days and eight nights (residential)
  • Cost: Fieldwork costs (details not specified)
  • Accommodation: Shared rooms in a hotel in Zahara
  • Food: Breakfast and dinner provided by the hotel, with options for packed lunch or eating at local tapas restaurants, including vegetarian and vegan options.

Note

Please note that field trip locations are subject to change year on year, and the provided information gives an overview of previous field trip locations and itineraries.