Program Overview

BSc Zoology - 2026 entry

Overview

Explore the fascinating world of animals and gain expertise in evolution, physiology, animal behaviour, ecology and conservation, preparing you for an exciting career in the field of zoology.

Entry requirements

Typical offer

• A-Level: ABB
• IB: 32/655
• BTEC: DDM

Contextual offers

• A-Level: BBC
• IB: 28/554
• BTEC: DMM

Professional Placement/Study Abroad

• A-Level: ABC
• IB: 30/555
• BTEC: DDM

Course content

This programme will provide you with the skills, concepts and experience to understand all aspects of modern zoology. The programme encourages an interdisciplinary approach and you will be exposed to a wide range of theoretical and practical techniques used to study the biology of animals of all types.

Year 1

• 90 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules
• Compulsory modules:
  • BIO1434: Ecology and Conservation (30 credits)
  • BIO1435: Animal Diversity (30 credits)
  • BIO1436: Evolution and Genetics (30 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • BIO1437: Life Processes (30 credits)

Year 2

• 45 credits of compulsory modules, 75 credits of optional modules
• Compulsory modules:
  • BIO2426: Analysis of Biological Data (15 credits)
  • BIO2444: Scotland Field Course (15 credits)
  • BIO2450: Biosciences Penryn Virtual Field Course (15 credits)
  • BIO2458: Scillies St Agnes Field Course (15 credits)
  • BIO2459: Scillies St Mary's Field Course (15 credits)
  • BIO2467: Adaptations to Life on Earth (15 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • BIO2407: Population and Community Ecology (15 credits)
  • BIO2414: Evolutionary Ecology (15 credits)
  • BIO2423: Wildlife Disease (15 credits)
  • BIO2425: Introduction to Ecological Consultancy (15 credits)
  • BIO2461: Conservation Science (30 credits)
  • BIO2462: Marine Ecology (30 credits)
  • BIO2463: Animal Behaviour (30 credits)
  • BIO2465: Wildlife Exploitation (15 credits)
  • BIO2466: GIS for Wildlife Mapping (15 credits)
  • BEP2150: Ecological Economics (15 credits)
  • ECE2001: Oceans and Human Health (15 credits)
  • GEO2441: Remote Sensing for Environmental Management (15 credits)
  • GEO2449: Green Consultants (15 credits)
  • GEO2450: Biogeography (15 credits)
  • ECM2911: Mathematics of the Environment (15 credits)

Professional placement/study abroad year (if taken)

• 120 credits of compulsory modules
• With Professional Placement:
  • LES3002: Professional Placement (120 credits)
• With Study Abroad:
  • BIO3137: One Year Study Abroad (120 credits)

Final year

• 75 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules
• Compulsory modules:
  • BIO3136: Research Project (40 credits)
  • BIO3423: Azores Field Course (30 credits)
  • BIO3429: Northern Spain Field Course (30 credits)
  • BIO3439: Alpine Ecology Field Course (30 credits)
  • BIO3444: Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation in Wild Places: The Forests and Oceans of Yukon and Alaska (30 credits)
  • BIO3445: European Wildlife Conservation Field Course in the Pyrenees (30 credits)
  • BIO3430: Tropical Biodiversity and Conservation: Costa Rica Field Course (30 credits)
  • BIO3440: Global Research Skills Virtual Field Course (15 credits)
  • BIO3407: Literature Review in Evolution and Ecology (15 credits)
  • LES3001: Preparing to Graduate (5 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • BIO3116: Marine Vertebrate Conservation (15 credits)
  • BIO3135: Human Behavioural Ecology (15 credits)
  • BIO3400: Living in Groups (15 credits)
  • BIO3409: Symbiosis in Marine Systems (15 credits)
  • BIO3410: Sensory Ecology (15 credits)
  • BIO3411: Science in Society (15 credits)
  • BIO3413: Animal Life Histories (15 credits)
  • BIO3415: Ecological Responses to Climate Change (15 credits)
  • BIO3420: Evolutionary Biology of Health and Disease (15 credits)
  • BIO3421: Animal Migration (15 credits)
  • BIO3422: Animal Cognition (15 credits)
  • BIO3426: Primate Biology and Conservation (15 credits)
  • BIO3428: The Complexity of Human Societies (15 credits)
  • BIO3433: Ocean Management and Conservation (15 credits)
  • BIO3434: Major Transitions in Evolutionary History (15 credits)
  • BIO3443: The Genome: Applications, Evolution and Ecology (15 credits)
  • CSM3409: Politics, Mining and Sustainable Development (15 credits)
  • ECE3001: Living with Environmental Change (15 credits)
  • ECE3003: Global and Planetary Health (15 credits)
  • BIO3407: Literature Review in Evolution and Ecology (15 credits)

Course variants

BSc Zoology with Professional Placement

• UCAS code: C304
• Why choose a professional placement year?
• Where can I do my placement?
• What support is available during my placement?
• Is the placement paid?
• Does it count towards my degree?
• How does it affect my tuition fee?
• How do I apply?

BSc Zoology with Study Abroad

• UCAS code: C301
• Why study abroad?
• Where can I study abroad?
• What will I study whilst I am abroad?
• Does it count towards my degree?
• Transferring to a Study Abroad programme
• How does it affect my tuition fee?
• How do I apply?

Fees

• Please note: The fees for students starting in 2026 have yet to be set.
• Tuition fees for 2025 entry:
  • UK students: £9,535 per year
  • International students: £30,900 per year
• Year Abroad and Professional Placement:
  • If you spend a full academic year studying abroad you will pay a reduced fee of 15 per cent of the maximum fee for that year.
  • If you spend a full year on a work placement (in the UK or abroad) you will pay a reduced fee of 20 per cent of the maximum fee for that year.

Fieldwork

• Please note, some optional/alternative field courses may incur additional costs.
• When participating in these optional field courses, you will be expected to cover the cost of travel to some locations, which will be outlined clearly beforehand.
• However, field courses with no additional travel costs are available to select in each year.

Learning and teaching

• How will I learn?
  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Fieldwork
  • Laboratory sessions
  • Independent study
  • Regular research seminars, by our staff and visiting lecturers
• Learn from experts
• Academic support
• Peer mentoring
• Facilities

Your future

• Employer-valued skills this course develops
• Supporting your career
• Careers Services
• Career paths
• Recent graduates are now working as:
  • Conservation professionals
  • Biological scientists
  • Environment professionals
  • Laboratory technicians
  • Welfare and housing associate professionals
  • Web design professionals
  • Public relations professionals
  • Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators
  • Archivists and curators
• Recent graduates are now working for:
  • AECOM
  • Cornwall Science Community
  • Darwin Ecology
  • Ecology Solutions
  • Fishtek Consulting
  • Harris Lamb Property Consultants
  • Natural England
  • Society for the Protection of Turtles
  • UKSTEM Ltd
  • World Wildlife Fund
• Further study

Related courses

• Zoology MSci
• Conservation Biology and Ecology BSc
• Evolutionary Biology BSc
• Animal Behaviour BSc
• Animal Behaviour MSci
• Marine Biology BSc
• Conservation Biology and Ecology MSci
• Global Sustainability BA/BSc