Zoology (with Sandwich Year)
Entry requirements
A level
Must include Biology at C
Access to HE Diploma
Must pass all 60 credits, 45 at level 3. Science based
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Science based
Scottish Higher
Must include Biology
T Level
All Science subjects accepted
UCAS Tariff
Must include A Level Biology at grade C or equivalent.
About this course
Wildlife is an important part of all our lives. If you have a passion for learning about animals, animal care and animal management, and are wondering how to become a zoologist, this exciting and hands-on BSc Zoology course will prepare you for a future defending the planet.
Zoology covers all aspects of animal biology and, as such, a fascinating range of topics. Our strong links with animal and wildlife organisations provide excellent work placement opportunities, which means you could be studying anything from brown bears to snow leopards to dolphins.
Our zoology degree course has been designed by professional zoologists with a real understanding of what the world needs and, likewise, what you need to study to launch your career in zoology. With plenty of opportunities for volunteering alongside organisations such as Cumbria Wildlife Trust, your CV will gain the competitive edge it needs to stay ahead.
**Course Overview**
On this zoology degree, you’ll gain an understanding of wildlife monitoring techniques using professional kit, and cover a broad range of topics including evolution, ecology and conservation, with visits to a variety of habitats.
There will be plenty of opportunities for voluntary work with organisations such as Cumbria Wildlife Trust on our zoology course, boosting your CV and giving you hands-on experience across a range of species including butterflies, adders and birds. Our practical focused degree will equip you with not only the knowledge, but the real skills and confidence to become a zoologist.
**On this course you will...**
- Explore local nature reserves, rivers and woodland just a stone's throw from the university. Develop practical skills with first-hand experience.
- Study zoology with access to state-of-the-art labs on campus - a great place to collaborate with course-mates, learn about animals and work with top-quality equipment.
- Benefit from industry links that provide students with placement opportunities across Cumbria.
- Experience practical demonstrations, visits, and feedback from professionals.
- Have a place within the zoology society that meets weekly to assist in local conservation initiatives and discuss current concerns regarding zoology.
**What You Will Learn**
Zoology covers all aspects of animal biology and, as such, covers a fascinating range of often highly diverse topics. The modern zoologist needs to be the master of many disciplines. Our degree course has been designed by professional zoologists with a real understanding of what the world needs from zoologists and what zoologists need to pursue a professional career. It mirrors closely the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Biosciences.
In addition to the formal background knowledge all zoologists require, our degree allows you to explore more specialist areas. To encompass the main patterns of employment, you are given the flexibility to focus on a "whole animal" or a "bits of animals" approach. The latter provides the skills required to pursue laboratory and experimental pathways such as disease research, DNA technologies and wildlife forensics. The "whole animal" pathway trains you to become proficient in the identification and study of wild animals, especially British.
**Year one**
- Vertebrate Zoology
- Invertebrate Zoology
- Ecology for Zoologists
- Animal Form and Function
- Animal Conservation Practice
- Core Zoology
**Year two**
- Exploring Research
- Zoological Monitoring Techniques
- Animal Behaviour
- Evolution and Biogeography
- British Wildlife
- Applied Zoology
- Placement Qualificatory Unit
**Year three**
- Placement Qualifactory Unit
**Year four**
- Dissertation
- Professional Skills in Zoology
- Behavioural Ecology
- Entomology and Parasitology (Optional)
- Behavioural Applications for Conservation (Optional)
- Population and Community Ecology (Optional)
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Carlisle - Fusehill Street
Science and Environment
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Zoology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Zoology
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Unsurprisingly, the most common job for a zoology graduate on leaving is to work in a zoo or similar organisation - but there are a lot of other options available if you take this subject. Nearly a quarter of graduates take some kind of further qualification when they leave — mostly Masters degrees in zoology or related subjects, like biology or ecology — but a graduate from a zoology course can go into pretty much anything, with science, conservation, management, finance and marketing some of the most popular areas. Zoology graduates are also rather more likely than others to get a job overseas so if an international career appeals to you, this might be a degree to consider.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Zoology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£19k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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