Program Overview

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Animal Behaviour BSc (Honours) 2025 entry

The BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour involves study at an advanced, research-led level and covers behavioural ecology, the mechanisms of animal behaviour, the processes of evolution and speciation, adaptive physiology of animals and animal cognition.

Emphasis is given to current topics like cultural learning, animal communication and molecular ecology. Additional choices include marine biology, marine mammals, neuroscience, and biodiversity and conservation.

UCAS code

C121

Start date

September 2025

End date

September 2029

Duration

Four years full time

School

School of Biology

Entry requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway 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.

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

Students interested in this course may also be interested in the following:

• 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: Animal Behaviour 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.

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.

Course details

The BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour is a four-year course run by the School of Biology. Students are provided with high-tech equipment, laboratories and expertise to facilitate learning and to develop the skillset of a modern behavioural biologist.

Field trips

From first year to Honours, students studying Animal Behaviour will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to gather data. Those who have a particular interest in ecology or marine biology will be perfectly located in St Andrews on the shores of the east coast. In Honours years, students can explore further afield where recent courses have visited places such as the Red Sea and Antarctica.

Modules

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

• First year
• Second year
• Honours

In first year, modules introduce you to core subject material relevant to all biology degree programmes. Both of the following modules are compulsory.

• 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.

In second year, modules are chosen which will best prepare you for your intended degree (or group of possible degrees) and new topics are introduced in some second-year modules. Students on the Animal Behaviour course must take the following modules:

• 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.
• Evolutionary Biology: gives an overview of the history and major principles of modern evolutionary biology.
• 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 groups.

In third year, you will continue to specialise in Animal Behaviour via a wide range of modules covering core topics. Modules that have been offered in previous years include:

• Animal Behaviour: A Quantitative Approach
• Ecosystems and Conservation
• Evolution
• Genes, Cells and Development

In fourth year, you will study your chosen subject area at a deeper scientific level and will also have the opportunity to select from a wide range of small group, specialised modules. These modules are taught by academics at the forefront of their discipline.

In this 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

• Teaching format
• Assessment
• Support

The BSc in Animal Behaviour is taught through a combination of:

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

Typical class sizes include:

• First year: lectures 250 to 300 students, practicals 80 to 100 students
• Second year: lectures 80 to 175 students, practicals 40 to 60 students
• Third year: lectures 20 to 140 students, practicals 20 to 60 students
• Fourth year: 5 to 25 students per module

Students are taught in state-of-the-art teaching laboratories. Alongside the development of practical biological skills, students are also given the opportunity to expand on their presentation and IT skills.

Fourth-year teaching differs from the typical lecture, seminar and tutorial format which students will experience from years one to three. In 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. Working on this project will enable you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees. The project can also lead to your first publication in a scientific journal.

When not attending lectures, tutorials and practical classes you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

• working on individual and group projects
• undertaking research in the library or in PC classrooms
• preparing coursework assignments and presentations
• preparing for examinations

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.

Most examinations are held at the end of the semester during a dedicated exam diet, and revision time is provided beforehand.

The School of Biology aims to provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.

You will be taught by a research-led teaching team with expertise and knowledge of biology and animal behaviour. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken appropriate training may also contribute to the teaching of tutorials under the supervision of the module leader.

You can find contact information for all staff in the School of Biology on the School of Biology website.

The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities.

Fees

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

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Additional costs

There are no additional fees for any of the compulsory modules. However, all students need to cover the costs of a laboratory coat and dissection kit and may be asked to contribute towards the costs of participation in optional residential field trip modules.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take Animal Behaviour as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

• UCAS code C761: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Chemistry
• UCAS code F899: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Computer Science
• UCAS code CFC6: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Earth Sciences
• UCAS code CL11: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Economics
• UCAS code CF18: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Geography
• UCAS code CG11: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Mathematics
• UCAS code CV16: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Philosophy
• UCAS code CC18: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Psychology
• UCAS code CG13: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Statistics
• UCAS code F896: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Sustainable Development

"With" degrees

You can take Animal Behaviour as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in Animal Behaviour:

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology with Arabic - UCAS code CT16
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology with French - UCAS code CCR1
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) Psychology with Biology - UCAS code C8C1
• Biology with French (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code C1R1

"With" degrees taken with Arabic or French are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.

Careers

Graduates from the School of Biology are in high demand and are keenly sought after by institutions including the government, universities, research centres and major companies. Normally around 40% of graduates succeed in their applications to progress to PhD or Masters programmes and a further 30% to 40% engage in graduate employment destinations.

Biology graduates have gone on to find success in a wide variety of careers including:

• professional biologists in biological research, conservation, higher education, and the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries
• researchers and advisers in government
• journalists
• advisers, researchers and managers in the National Health Service
• teachers
• forensic scientists
• management consultants
• marketing and advertising experts

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.