BSc Zoology

Zoology is the study of animals. Humans share this planet with millions of other animal species, but our activities and climate changes are transforming natural habitats. Students of zoology study animal diversity, evolution, behaviour, anatomy and ecology to find out how animals live and adapt to their environment. Trained zoologists are needed to conserve animal life, to understand animal and human parasite diseases and to control economically important pests. Zoology graduates are also qualified to follow many of the careers listed earlier in our introduction to the biological sciences.

Zoology students at Aberystwyth benefit from the unique biodiversity in west Wales. An extensive array of coastlines, estuaries, woodlands, and hills provides habitats for the exceptional wildlife. The surrounding area supports rare insects, wildfowl, waders, Red Kite and Chough. Cardigan Bay is renowned for its sea-bird population, and mammals such as Grey Seals, Bottlenose Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises.

The Aberystwyth Zoology degree has been constructed to cater for your own interests in animals and also to provide a dependable foundation for your subsequent employment. In the first year, carefully selected introductory biology modules provide you with an understanding of the key concepts of animal life. The flexibility of your second and third years, with their range of options allows you to focus either on whole animal, population and conservation biology, or on more applied aspects of zoology such as parasitology and immunology. Optional modules offer an opportunity for you to design a degree path to cover the broad spectrum of animal biology, including mammalian biology, animal behaviour, marine and freshwater biology and bird diversity. In the final year, you will undertake a laboratory or field based research project in an area of your choosing, with training provided by zoology teaching and research staff. Field courses can also be an important part of your training in the techniques of modern animal biology.