Program Overview

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BSc Zoology with Foundation

The BSc Zoology with Foundation degree is a four-year program that includes a foundation year, leading directly into the three-year BSc Zoology course. This program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed at university, with a focus on the science of animals.

Overview

The foundation year will provide students with core skills in academic study, writing, and research, as well as subject-specific studies in biology, chemistry, ecology, sustainability, and mathematics. Students will learn through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes, and workshops.

Foundation Year

The foundation year is more than just a stepping stone to a degree. It provides students with:

• Access to the university's full range of facilities and resources
• Full integration into university life before the degree year begins
• Experience of an academic environment and the ability to work independently
• Specialist support and guidance

Learning

After completing the foundation year, students will progress onto the three-year BSc Zoology degree. The program will cover the breadth of the animal world, including:

• Populations
• Ecosystems
• Animal behaviour
• Evolution
• Biodiversity
• Conservation

Students will have the opportunity to study animals from day one, with enthusiastic academics from the School of Biological Sciences teaching about animal life at all levels.

Field Courses

Field courses are a popular aspect of the degree, offering unique opportunities for real-world, experiential learning. Students will develop practical experience of lab and field research techniques, equipping them with essential skills and confidence.

In the second year, field courses may take students to various locations across the UK and beyond, including:

• Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada
• South Africa
• Devon, UK

Specialist Facilities

The program is based in the Ł60m Health and Life Sciences building, which features:

• Research and teaching laboratories
• Seminar rooms
• Study and social space
• A cafe

The building is also home to the Cole Museum of Zoology, which provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community.

Placements

The degree offers placement opportunities, either as a one-year option or as a short summer module. Placements are available across the UK and around the world, with past students traveling to regions such as Canada, New Zealand, and Iceland.

Build Your Skills Portfolio

Through an exclusive partnership with The Living Rainforest, students will gain employer-verified evidence of their skills in a real-world setting. This will boost their portfolio's impact with future employers.

Study Abroad

Students can apply to study for a year abroad at one of the university's partner universities across the world. All classes are conducted in English, and bursaries are available to help with travel and accommodation costs.

Entry Requirements

• A Level: BBB for applicants without Biology and a second science, CCC for applicants with Biology and a second science
• International Baccalaureate: 30 for applicants without higher level Biology and a second science, 24 for applicants with Biology and a second science at higher level
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
• GCSE: Grade 4 (C) in Science if not studying science at A level
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

Structure

The program consists of:

• Foundation Year
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Compulsory Modules

• Ecology and the Environment
• Environmental Sustainability
• Mathematics Foundation
• Foundation Biology
• Foundation in Academic Skills
• Cellular and Molecular Principles of Life
• Animal Form and Function
• Our Changing Planet
• Fundamentals of Evolution
• Fundamentals of Ecology
• History of Life on Earth
• Comparative Vertebrate Zoology
• Quantitative and Professional Skills
• Invertebrate Zoology: Spineless Wonders
• Research Project

Optional Modules

• UK Biodiversity Field Course
• Advanced Studies in Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Advanced Ecology
• Marine Biology and Conservation
• Animal Behaviour
• Palaeobiology
• Conservation Science in Practice
• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
• Ecology and Conservation Field Course
• Marine Biology Field Course
• Venoms and Poisons: From Pharmacology to Therapeutics
• Epidemiology of Zoonotic Diseases
• Forensics
• Ecology of Urban Areas
• Paleoecology Research Field Course
• Evolution in Health and Disease

Fees

• New UK/Republic of Ireland students: Ł9,790 for 2026/27 Foundation year, then rising to the standard course fees for the duration of the bachelor's level study
• New international students: Ł23,000 for 2026/27 Foundation year, then rising to the standard course fees for the duration of the bachelor's level study

Careers

Overall, 90% of graduates from the School of Biological Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation. Past BSc Zoology graduates have gone on to work for employers such as ECUS, Jacobs, Macquarie Group, RSK Group, and the Civil Service.

The program has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, containing a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and establishing a profile of key skills that bioscience employers can recognize in accredited graduates.

Graduates enter a variety of careers, including:

• Conservation
• Ecotourism
• Animal welfare
• Education
• Consultancy
• Pharmaceuticals
• Wildlife management
• Agriculture
• The civil service
• Local government conservation units
• Animal charities

If you're interested in postgraduate study, the university offers a number of zoology master's courses.