Zoology with Foundation Year

Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Zoology with Foundation Year

Why study this course with LJMU?

• Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology
• Optional residential fieldwork (self-funded) at level 5 (possible destination Cairngorms National Park, Scotland) and Level 6 (possible destination Doñana National Park, Spain)
• Option to undertake a 4-6 week placement and/or a 12-month sandwich placement in the UK or overseas
• Easy access to local zoos and diverse habitat sites and ecosystems in North Wales, Lancashire, Snowdonia and the Lake District
• Excellent prospects in a diverse range of animal-related careers, including clinical and veterinary-related science, animal training, ecological consultancy, animal welfare and conservation, wildlife education, teaching and lecturing
• LJMU ranked 18th in the UK for Zoology (The Guardian University Guide 2025)

About your course

The professionally-accredited BSc (Hons) Zoology with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University is the ideal course if you are interested in this subject but lack the necessary qualifications to study it at degree level.

About the Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but don't have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Zoology honours degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

About BSc (Hons) Zoology

Zoology is the scientific study of animals, both living and extinct. It encompasses all aspects of biology, from biochemistry and cell biology to ecology and behaviour, and examines animals in the context of their evolution and their environment, allowing you to specialise in your own areas of interest via placements, projects and modules in levels 5 and 6.

Practical hands-on experience is an important aspect of the course and we have a wealth of local facilities and fieldwork sites on our doorstep. These include three major zoological collections (Chester Zoo, Knowsley Safari Park and the Blue Planet Aquarium) as well as the diverse habitat sites of the North Wales and Lancashire coasts and inland ecosystems in Snowdonia and the Lake District.

One of the real bonuses of this course is the opportunity for residential fieldwork at Level 4 (core), Level 5 (optional) and Level 6 (optional). At Level 6 this is normally overseas and the possible destination is the Doñana National Park, Spain where you can learn ecological and behavioural field work skills.

These are in addition to further extended fieldwork opportunities through work placements of 4-6 weeks and/or a 12-month sandwich placement with a relevant organisation in the UK or overseas.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Please note that your choice of options may be subject to timetabling constraints.

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU's Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Foundation Year

• Skills and Perspectives in Science 1 (20 credits)
• Wildlife Studies (20 credits)
• Skills and Perspectives in Science 2 (20 credits)
• Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits)
• Understanding the Environment (20 credits)
• Building Blocks of Life (20 credits)

Year 1

• Ecology (20 credits)
• Fundamentals of Scientific Research (20 credits)
• Practical Skills for Zoology (20 credits)
• Genetics and Evolution (20 credits)
• Animal Behaviour (20 credits)
• Animal Physiology (20 credits)

Year 2

• Research Skills and Employability (20 credits)
• Animal Evolution and Diversity (20 credits)
• Comparative Animal Physiology (20 credits)

Optional modules

• Behavioural Ecology (20 credits)
• Genes and Genomes (20 credits)
• Marine and Freshwater Biology (20 credits)
• Animal Field Skills (20 credits)
• Developmental Biology (20 credits)
• Animals in Motion (20 credits)
• Sandwich Year - Zoology (120 credits)
• Animal Health and Disease (20 credits)
• Study Year Abroad - Zoology (120 credits)
• Study Semester Abroad - Zoology (60 credits)

Year 3

• Research Project (40 credits)
• Current Topics in Zoology (20 credits)

Optional modules

• Applications of Genetics in Health and Disease (20 credits)
• Advanced Field Skills Expedition (20 credits)
• Animal Learning and Cognition (20 credits)
• Zoo Conservation and Genebanks (20 credits)
• Neurobiology (20 credits)
• Parasitology (20 credits)
• Applied Marine Biology (20 credits)
• Animal Welfare (20 credits)
• Work-Based Learning (20 credits)

Professional accreditation

This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology following an independent and rigorous assessment. Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Support Assessment

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies.

Teaching is mostly via lectures, in-person laboratory practicals and field trips. Additionally, small tutorial sessions provide a forum for discussing course material more informally. You will also have progress review meetings with your personal tutor. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Formal teaching accounts for approximately 14-18 hours of your study time each week; you will be expected to spend the rest of your time in private study.

Work-related Learning

As part of your work-related learning, you have the opportunity to undertake a short (4-6 week) work-based placement or a 12-month placement with a relevant organisation in the UK or abroad.

This work experience will not only give you a chance to put into practice what you have learnt at LJMU, it will also help you develop your personal skills, give you a years break from formal study and add real value to your CV. Many students who undertake placements have gone on to work for the same organisation once they have graduated.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

Throughout your course you will have the support of a personal tutor who will be available to discuss course-related matters in both tutorial sessions and one-to-one progress review meetings. These meetings are to monitor your performance and identify action plans for improvement. A dedicated supervisor will also provide support during your research project and/or work-based learning, including visits to your workplace if you opt for the 12-month work placement.

The school is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and has an Enabling (Disability) Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator and a School EDI Working Group. Personal Tutors also play a vital role in promoting awareness of support services for students.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. Exams may therefore include a range of question types e.g. multiple choice, short answer, interpretative, problem-based learning and essay. Coursework assessment could be in the form of online phase tests, fieldwork/practical reports, data handling, oral presentations, poster presentations, group discussions, essays or the evaluation of your practical skills. Most are based on individual assignments though some require group work.

Feedback on coursework assessments is normally provided within three weeks of submission and may be via Canvas, face-to-face or as written comments. We believe that constructive feedback is vital in helping you identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.

Career paths

Some of our students continue on to postgraduate research degrees after graduation while others enter careers as diverse as embryology, clinical and veterinary science and wildlife conservation. Others choose to go into teaching or lecturing.

Graduates have secured full-time employment in the following roles (some after further study/training):

• Planning and Biodiversity Advisor, Natural England
• Senior Ecologist, United Utilities
• Research and Conservation Officer, Knowsley Safari Park
• Wildlife Consultant, SafeSky
• Team Manager (elephants), Chester Zoo
• Estate Manager, RSPB
• Inspector/Animal Welfare Officer/Rehoming Officer, RSPCA
• Animal Health Officer, Heathrow Animal Reception Centre
• Training Instructor, Dogs for Good
• Lead Conservation Scientist (Behaviour and Welfare), Chester Zoo
• Community Outreach Coordinator (Conservation), Auckland
• Research Assistant, Wellcome Trust, Sanger Institute
• Regulatory Scientist, Health and Safety Executive
• Virology and Stability analyst, AstraZeneca
• Scientist, BAE Systems
• Natural History Documentary Producer/Director, National Geographic
• Research Fellow (Sea Mammal Research Unit), University of St Andrews
• Veterinary Surgeon
• Veterinary Physiotherapist
• Pathology Operations Manager, Medical Research Council
• Project Management, Office for National Statistics

Others have opted for postgraduate study (PGCE, MSc, MPhil, PhD or other competitive undergraduate courses, such as medicine, veterinary science), have set up their own animal-related business or taken non-animal related graduate employment.

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Foundation first year: £9,535
• Second and subsequent years: £9,535
• Placement year: £1,905

International

• Full-time per year: £18,250
• Placement year: £3,910

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

• Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD (72)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

GCSEs and equivalents

• Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/Numeracy.

GCSE Equivalences accepted:

• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

A levels

• DDD
• Minimum Number of A Levels: 1
• Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20
• Must have a level 3 qualification and GCSE Grade 4 or above in Maths and Science

BTECs

• MMP

Access awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

International Baccalaureate

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject

OCR Cambridge Technical

• MMP

Irish awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject

T levels

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.

Further information

• DBS, Occupational Health requirements
• Reduced offer scheme

At LJMU, we are dedicated to widening participation in education. We understand that academic potential isn't always accurately represented by grades alone. Therefore, we consider additional information included in your application. If you meet certain eligibility criteria, we may make an offer lower than our typical entry requirements.

International requirements

• IELTS: 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.

Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.

How to apply

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here.