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Zoology

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,B

including Biology and a second science subject (second science subjects include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science or Geography)

Access to HE Diploma

D:36,M:9,P:0

Award of Access to HE Diploma in Science, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction (to include Biology and a second science), and 9 at Merit

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths grade 4/C

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

34

with 6, 5 in Higher Level Biology and a second science subject (second science subject include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science or Geography)

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H2,H2,H2,H2,H3

including Biology and a second science subject (second science subject include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science or Geography)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DD

DD in Applied Science or Forensic and Criminal Investigations + A at A Level

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

in Applied Science or Forensic Science with Distinctions in all Biology units

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,B

in Biology and a second science subject + AABBB in Scottish Highers (second science subject include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science or Geography)

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

B

+ AA in Biology and a second science subject at A Level (second science subject include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science or Geography)

UCAS Tariff

104-136

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Zoology

Zoology is the study of animals at every scale. We study everything from anatomy and physiology to behaviour and evolution, whilst also studying the impacts of biodiversity, conservation and trade.

Our courses in Zoology span microbes, invertebrates, birds, fish, mammals and humans and allow you to focus on tropical, urban, terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems.

You’ll learn how all kinds of animals evolved and why there are so many species, how their physiology works, how they behave, and how they respond to global change. You’ll discover how they transmit disease and how their biodiversity is maintained and lost. You’ll use this knowledge to help us to address important issues such as global wildlife trade, the conservation of biodiversity, disease outbreaks and maintaining ecosystems that deliver freshwater, recreation and food to humans.

You'll cover three main themes at Sheffield:
- Comparative physiology - the functional characteristics of animals;

- Evolutionary biology - how animals adapt to their environment, and their genetics,

- Behaviour, ecology and conservation - how animals interact with their environment and each other to support biodiversity on the planet.

Alongside your specialist zoology modules, you’ll have the flexibility to study topics across the breadth of biology to complement your knowledge. These modules are available from your first year. Topics range from ecology and molecular genetics that underpin conservation, to pharmacology, neuroscience and even human physiology. This flexibility allows you to study zoology in greater depth, broaden your interests or even switch to another biosciences degree programme.

Whether you choose to focus solely on zoology, or study a range of topics across the biosciences, your personal tutor will support you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals.

As a zoology student you'll learn in lots of different ways, from lectures and small group tutorials to learning by doing during field work, practical lab sessions and research projects.

Our staff are committed to great teaching and you'll have lots of opportunities throughout your degree to be creative, think independently, and express your ideas. You’ll be in the lab completing in-depth practicals, out in the Peak District conducting your own research projects, visiting zoos, aquariums and other scientific spots around the country and embarking on a once-in a lifetime field course in the UK or abroad. All giving you plenty of chances to gain new transferrable skills and experience to put on your CV.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
International
£29,110
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Sheffield

Department:

Biosciences

Read full university profile

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.

79%
Zoology

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Zoology

Teaching and learning

84%
Staff make the subject interesting
100%
Staff are good at explaining things
87%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
78%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

72%
Library resources
79%
IT resources
93%
Course specific equipment and facilities
71%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

90%
UK students
10%
International students
38%
Male students
62%
Female students
96%
2:1 or above
9%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
A

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

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.

£15,600
med
Average annual salary
87%
low
Employed or in further education
38%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

13%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
9%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
9%
Other elementary services occupations

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.

£20k

£20k

£25k

£25k

£30k

£30k

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.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
Bangor University | Bangor (Wales)
Marine Biology and Zoology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-144
Lower entry requirements
University of Derby | Derby
Zoology with Foundation Year
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 72
Nearby University
University of Derby | Derby
Zoology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-120

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here