Program Overview

---

Zoology BSc (Honours) 2025 entry

The BSc (Hons) in Zoology involves a wide-ranging exploration of the animal kingdom, investigating the structure, development, evolution, classification, behaviour, and distribution of all types of animals, both living and extinct.

Overview

The choice of modules provides organismal, cellular, and molecular perspectives, including developmental, behavioural, neurophysiological, and environmental approaches with examples ranging from single-celled animals to marine mammals.

Entry Requirements

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAB, including Biology (or Human Biology) and one other science from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: AABB, including Biology (or Human Biology) and one other science from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Gateway entry grades: Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

• Standard entry grades: AAB, including Biology and one other science from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: ABB, including Biology and one other science from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

IB points

• Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL6 in one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL5 in one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

General Entry Requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

SQA qualifications

• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

GCSE qualifications

• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

Students must have studied Biology (or Human Biology) at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level or equivalent. Preference will be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications over and above the stated minimum requirements.

Alternative study options

Direct entry to second year

Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.

Gateway programmes

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades but meet the University's contextual criteria may be interested in the Gateway to Science programme.

Study abroad

Zoology students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to apply to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The BSc (Hons) in Zoology is a four-year course run by the School of Biology. The programme begins with a broad foundation across the range of biology, and then progresses from modules in molecular, cellular and organismal biology to a choice of options across a range of topics such as animal behaviour, development, evolution, neurobiology, environmental physiology, sea mammal biology, and various more ecological topics.

Field trips

From first year to Honours, students studying zoology will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to gather data. During third year, zoology students participate in a week-long field course involving field-based exercises in a range of aquatic or terrestrial habitats. Students will be able to examine and measure biodiversity, ecophysiological adaptation and community structure with both plant and animal materials.

Modules

In the first two years of your degree (known as Sub-Honours), you will take the required modules in zoology alongside modules in at least one other subject.

Typically, you will take core zoology modules during your first two years, and advanced modules during your third and fourth year (known as Honours).

First year

• Biology 1: provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology. It covers cell diversity and the origins of life, evolution, cellular structures and fundamental processes.
• Biology 2: provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal, behavioural and ecological aspects of life.

Second year

• Animal Behaviour: covers the four ways in which we explain behaviour in a range of animals, including examples from all major taxa and from all habitats.
• Invertebrate Zoology: surveys the major invertebrate groups, emphasising the diversity of body plans while demonstrating how the common functional requirements such as feeding, reproduction, respiration and excretion are achieved.
• Research Methods in Biology: develops essential academic and transferable skills, with major emphasis on problem solving. This is achieved through a combination of interactive lectures, independent data-handling workshops and group work on a mini research project.
• Vertebrate Zoology: explores the diversity of vertebrate animals, providing a detailed look at the defining characteristics of the body plans and lifestyles of the key vertebrate group.

Third year

• Animal Behaviour: A Quantitative Approach
• Biology of Marine Organisms
• Ecosystems and Conservation
• Evolution
• Genes, Cells and Development

Fourth year

• Students can also undertake a substantial final-year research project. This research project is designed to develop skills in experimental design and problem-solving, the evaluation and interpretation of data, and communication skills. The project is offered and supervised by a member of academic staff.

Teaching

The BSc in Zoology is taught through a combination of:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• practical classes
• field work

The practical elements of the course, which are taught in state-of-the-art teaching laboratories and in the field, enable you to learn the wide range of skills required of a modern biologist. Alongside the development of practical biological skills, students are also given the opportunity to expand on their presentation and IT skills.

Assessment

• First-year Biology modules are entirely assessed by coursework.
• During second and third year, most Biology modules are assessed by an equal weighting of coursework and written examinations.
• In fourth year, most Biology modules are entirely assessed by coursework, while some include written examinations in addition to coursework.

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Careers

Graduates from the School of Biology have a wide range of skills sought by employers:

• laboratory and field data collection
• data handling and presentation
• problem-solving
• teamwork
• planning
• organisation and communication skills

Biology graduates have secured employment as:

• academic researchers
• consultant ecologists
• marine mammal scientists
• museum curators
• school teachers

Beyond biology, recent graduates have gained employment in a wide variety of business sectors such as marketing and finance. Others have gone on to study for a wide range of Masters and PhD programmes in the UK and overseas.