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BSc (Hons) Zoology

  • Placement year available
How to apply Come to an Open Day

Introduction

Studying Zoology at ARU

Explore and understand the diversity of animal biology – from amoebas to zebras, and from world-class zoos to tropical rainforests and beyond – with our Zoology BSc (Hons) degree in Cambridge.

Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2023 logo

Study at an award-winning university

We're the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Why Zoology at ARU?

  • Study in Cambridge – a hub of expertise and wildlife institutions headquarters, and home to our £45m Science Centre.
  • Get hands-on using world-class equipment in our 200 seat SuperLab, as well as on residential trips around the UK, with the added opportunity to study ecology in the tropics, and zoos in the Netherlands.
  • Study on a course developed in line with industry standards, with accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology.
  • Engage in innovative ‘Live Briefs’, designed, developed, and run with local employers such as the Wildlife Trust and Cambridge City Council, giving you exposure to ‘real life’ problem-solving.
  • Gain valuable employment experience by applying for internships supporting research, or opt for our placement year with a range of exciting employers.

Our Zoology BSc (Hons) course will see you joining the likes of Charles Darwin, Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall and David Attenborough in exploring and explaining the diversity of animals from all over the globe.

You’ll build an understanding and skill set in anatomy and physiology, behaviour, genetics, ecology and evolution, and the importance of wildlife conservation.

As part of your studies, you’ll get the opportunity to learn hands-on zoology skills – with plenty of time in our labs in Cambridge, as well as on field trips around the UK and beyond. Develop the scientific training and practical skills you need for a career in wildlife conservation, environmental consultancy or in zoos.

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Course options

Key facts

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Entry Requirements

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Fees and Paying for University

Facilities

Outstanding facilities and opportunities

As a student at ARU, you’ll be able to take advantage of:

  • state-of-the-art laboratory facilities including a 200-station biosciences laboratory in our Science Centre
  • the chance to gain experience and build your employability skills on an optional placement year
  • award-winning IT and library facilities.

Take a guided tour and meet our students

Field trips

Field trips are a central part of our Animal Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation, and Zoology degrees. You'll have the chance to learn more about tropical ecology and conservation, Dutch zoo design, and wildlife in the UK and further afield. As well as offering unforgettable experiences, field trips provide essential practical experience.

Accreditation

Royal Society of Biology

Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, our degree course offers an integrated, scientific approach with hands-on experiences.

Tropical Biology Association

We’re a member of the Tropical Biology Association, which offers training, support and networking opportunities for professionals working in conservation.

Careers

Our BSc (Hons) Zoology degree will open up a world of professional careers relating to the biology of animals. You could choose to work in the field, in the laboratory, or both – anywhere in the world.

ARU ranked in the top 15% in the country for graduates in employment and/or further study (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023), and ranked third in the country for graduates who are employed as managers, directors, or senior officials 15 months after graduating. We are also in the top 15% in the country for graduates that agreed they are using what they learnt during their studies.

After graduating, you might want work for a zoo, a wildlife conservation organisation or even an education or research establishment. Our students have gone to work as:

  • Animal Keeper
  • Animal Technician
  • Ecological Consultant
  • Hydrologist
  • Woodland Officer
  • Invasive Species Surveyor
  • Conservation Research Consultant
  • GIS Consultant
  • Postgraduate Researcher
  • Teacher

Our graduates have gone on to work at:

  • RSPB
  • RSPCA
  • Colchester Zoo
  • Shepreth Wildlife Park
  • Environment Agency
  • Flora and Fauna International
  • Birdlife International
  • University of Cambridge
  • Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
  • Forest Research
  • Benthic Solutions
  • Ecology Resources

As a graduate of this course, you’ll be able to apply for membership of the Zoological Society of London, the Royal Society of Biology, and other professional organisations.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our renowned MSc Applied Wildlife Conservation or our MSc Animal Behaviour: Applications for Conservation. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

"My placement [at The Wildwood Trust, Kent] allowed me to gain invaluable skills of animal husbandry on a wide range of small mammals. This experience expanded my confidence and ability to apply textbook knowledge into the practical field of conservation.

"Working in a highly connected organisation helped me determine the direction for future opportunities for my career in animal conservation and rewilding."
Maddie Ballantine-Morris, BSc (Hons) Zoology graduate

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Olivia

"I realised through my time at ARU how often opportunities arise. I grabbed everything I could to develop my CV, which has worked wonders as I now work at my dream job at Woburn Safari Park! I love being a keeper. It really does bring me so much joy."

Olivia

BSc (Hons) Zoology graduate

Olivia's story

Rupert Sharrock

"Having just got back from two weeks in the Amazon in Peru, I have not only fulfilled a lifelong dream, but learnt so many skills and lessons ... The lecturers and guides were second to none, and the adventures we shared together will never be forgotten."

Rupert Sharrock

BSc (Hons) Zoology student (photo credit: Rupert Sharrock)

Apply now for BSc (Hons) Zoology

Life in Cambridge

Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

Explore Cambridge

Want to talk to someone?

Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.

We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.

Placement year available

You have the option to take a placement year as part of this course. It’s a great chance to get hands-on experience in the industry you want to work in.

Your guide to placements

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