Zoology BSc (Hons)

Zoology is the study of animal life, from whole animals and populations through tissues to their cells and molecular structures.

Zoologists are concerned with the conservation of biodiversity. They also look at the behavioural patterns of animals, animal diseases and how they survive in their natural habitats. Zoology graduates find work for example in zoos, in wildlife conservation and management, in wildlife documentary or they go on to study Veterinary Science.

Programme in detail

We aim to provide you with a broad base of animal knowledge, with the opportunity to specialise later on. Specialist topics include animal behaviour, conservation biology, ecology and animal physiology.

In addition, students will develop core transferable skills (spoken and written communication, team working, project management and computing) and carry out a major research project.

You will visit zoologically rich locations during field courses and fieldwork projects. Fieldwork projects can be carried out in a wide range of habitats including the Wirral and Chester Zoo. Residential field courses are part of the Year One and Year Three syllabus. These are held in the southern Lake District and in the South of France. In addition, you have the opportunity to take a tropical field course to Uganda in Year Two.

Fieldwork opportunities

Compulsory field courses take place in year 1 and year 3.  In addition, you can choose to go on the year 2 tropical field course (see above).

Department Key Facts

Number of first year students

405 Year One undergraduates in 2018

UK league tables

95% are employed or in further study within six months of graduating (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Report 2016/17)

National Student Survey

• 100% satisfaction for Genetics and Anatomy and Human Biology (National Student Survey 2017)
• 91% satisfaction for Microbiology (National Student Survey 2017)

Why this subject?

Shape your study with real flexibility and choice

You’ll study in one of the largest Schools of Life Science in the UK, meaning you can shape your studies by choosing modules from across the entire spectrum of the life sciences. You’ll also enjoy links to our Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science, and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Enjoy excellent career prospects

You’ll benefit from our excellent international reputation for research in growth areas such as the biotechnology, post-genomic and pharmaceutical industries. 

Strengthen your employability through overseas study

Boost your future prospects by choosing to study or take part in field courses abroad. Our networks stretch as far afield as Uganda, Thailand and China.

Work in leading-edge facilities

Over £30 million has recently been invested in our facilities, such as our Biology Teaching Centre, the state-of-the-art Biosciences Building, the Biomedical Sciences Building and the Human Anatomy Resource Centre. This ensures your studies are fully supported by the very best in teaching and research equipment.