Develop the scientific training and practical skills you need for a career in wildlife conservation, environmental consultancy or in zoos.
Learn hands-on zoology skills in specialist labs in Cambridge, take part in cutting-edge research, and study zoology in marine and terrestrial systems. You’ll build a skill set in anatomy and physiology, behaviour, genetics, ecology and evolution, and the importance of wildlife conservation.
As part of your studies, you'll go on field trips around the UK and beyond. Learn more about tropical ecology and conservation, zoo design, and field biology.
As well as offering unforgettable experiences, field trips provide essential practical experience.
Royal Society of Biology
Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, our degree course offers an integrated, scientific approach with hands-on experiences.
Explore and understand the diversity of animal biology – from amoebas to zebras, and from world-class zoos to tropical rainforests and beyond.
Why ARU?
Get hands-on using equipment in the SuperLab, part of our Science Centre in Cambridge.
Go on residential trips around the UK, with the added opportunity to study ecology in the tropics, and zoos in the Netherlands.
Study a course developed in line with industry standards, with accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology.
Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; run with local employers such as the Wildlife Trust and Cambridge City Council.
Apply for internships supporting research and gain valuable employment experience, or opt for a placement year.
I realised through my time at ARU how often opportunities arise. [This] 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
This degree will open up a world of careers relating to the biology of animals. You could choose to work in the field, in the laboratory, or both – anywhere in the world.
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 organisations. We’re a member of the Tropical Biology Association, which offers training, support and networking opportunities for professionals working in conservation.
Cambridge is fast becoming a world centre for wildlife conservation. It’s home to Fauna and Flora International, Birdlife International and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. During your time at ARU, you’ll be able to visit specialist museums and libraries, attend lectures, build up your knowledge, and gain industry connections for the future.
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:
We’re here to help you develop your CV and find that all-important role after graduation. Our Employability Service offers tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, help to complete job applications, and much more. You’ll have 24/7 access to an online Careers Centre too, which is packed with useful resources.
The support continues after you graduate, with lifelong access to our Alumni Career Centre.
Zoology: a science journey into the diverse world of animals. Explore physiological adaptations, behaviour, conservation and interactions within ecosystems.
Dr Sarah Hart, Course Director
Study at ARU and cover essential topics such as ecophysiology, ecology, animal behaviour, conservation and biodiversity and genetics.
You'll learn how environmental factors influence animal life and conduct statistical analyses to interpret data.
The curriculum includes hands-on laboratory work and field trips, allowing for real-world observation and study of various species and their habitats. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are integrated to analyse spatial data, enhancing your understanding of animal distributions and ecosystem dynamics.
This comprehensive approach fosters a deeper understanding of animal life and its significance. It will equip you for careers in research, conservation, environmental/wildlife management, veterinary science, and education.
Student experience
Zoology graduate Claire reflects on their university journey and offers advice for future students.
Collect data on a range of species in the UK and abroad.
Learn about tropical biodiversity.
Make friends for life on your travels.
Spend a week on the North Devon coast learning practical ecology skills.
Learn how to survey a range of plants and animals on national and international field trips.
Contribute to conservation monitoring in the UK.
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
Year 1
Animal Physiology and Behaviour (30 credits)
Introduction to Ecology and Conservation (30 credits)
Principles of Biology (30 credits)
Quantitative Techniques and Tools for Biologists (30 credits)
Continuing Professional Development - Level 4
Into ARU
Year 2
Invertebrate Biology (15 credits)
Vertebrate Biology (15 credits)
Principles of Genetics and Evolution (15 credits)
Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Biological Research Skills (15 credits)
Field Skills in Biology (15 credits)
GIS and Spatial Ecology (15 credits)
Professional and Personal Development - Level 5
Animal Health and Disease (15 credits) *
Evolutionary Bases of Behaviour (15 credits) *
Year 3
Undergraduate Major Project (30 credits)
Comparative Ecophysiology (15 credits)
Wildlife Conservation (15 credits)
Population Ecology and Wildlife Management (15 credits) *
Tropical Ecology and Management (15 credits) *
Behavioural Ecology (15 credits) *
Biogeography (15 credits) *
Zoos and Zoo Animal Management (15 credits) *
Professional Field Ecology (15 credits) *
Sustainable Land Management (15 credits) *
Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare (15 credits) *
You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.
We'll assess your progress in a number of ways. These include live briefs where you work with respected organisations to help answer important questions, video presentations, research grant proposals, laboratory reports and field notebooks.
A foundation year prepares you for the rest of your course, and focuses on general skills such as researching and referencing, numeracy and ICT, and communication. We'll also start to look at some more subject-specific topics.
Your placement year is a chance to put everything you’ve learnt in Years 1 and 2 into practice. Spend typically 9-12 months working for an organisation, developing your skills and gaining valuable work experience. Our Placements Team is here to help you secure a placement.
As a student at ARU, you’ll learn from staff who are involved in field and captive studies internationally and in the UK, and have research links with a range of organisations including some of Britain's most respected zoos.
We require a final grade of DMM in the BTEC Extended Diploma in Animal Management.
We require the following eight mandatory units and an additional seven optional units to be completed, with at least four of these to come from the recommended units below.
Mandatory
Unit 1: Animal Breeding and Genetics
Unit 2: Animal Biology
Unit 3: Animal Welfare and Ethics
Unit 4: Practical Animal Husbandry
Unit 5: Animal Behaviour
Unit 6: Animal health and Diseases
Unit 7: Work Experience in the Animal Sector
Unit 8: Investigative Research Project
Recommended
Unit 9: Practical Skills in Animal Science
Unit 10: Animal Metabolism
Unit 11: Advanced Animal Nutrition
Unit 17: Principles of Animal Nursing
Unit 18: Aquatic Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 20: Human and Animal Interaction
Unit 21: Exotic Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 23: Zoological Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 24: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Management
City and Guilds modules
We required a final grade of Distinction in the City and Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Animal Management.
We require you to have studied at least ten of the following modules. Some of these will be compulsory on your City and Guilds course.
Unit 3202: Undertake and Review Work-Related Experience in the Land-Based Industries
Unit 303: Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 304: Animal Feeding and Nutrition
Unit 305: Animal Behaviour and Communication
Unit 306: Biological Systems of Animals
Unit 307: Animal Welfare and Breeding
Unit 308: Wildlife and Ecology Conservation
Unit 309: Wildlife Management and Rehabilitation
Unit 315: Animal Nursing
Unit 316: Zoological Collections
Unit 318: Fundamentals of Science
Unit 319: Inheritance and Genetics
Unit 320: Chemistry for Biology Technicians
Unit 321: Cell Biology and Genetics
Unit 322: Biochemistry and Microbiology
Unit 324: Science Investigation and Report Writing
Unit 328: Ecological Concepts and Application
Unit 329: Population Surveys, Ecology and Conservation
Unit 367: Undertake a Specialist Project in the Land-Based Sector
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
BTEC modules
We require a final grade of DMM in the BTEC Extended Diploma in Animal Management.
We require the following eight mandatory units and an additional seven optional units to be completed, with at least four of these to come from the recommended units below.
Mandatory
Unit 1: Animal Breeding and Genetics
Unit 2: Animal Biology
Unit 3: Animal Welfare and Ethics
Unit 4: Practical Animal Husbandry
Unit 5: Animal Behaviour
Unit 6: Animal health and Diseases
Unit 7: Work Experience in the Animal Sector
Unit 8: Investigative Research Project
Recommended
Unit 9: Practical Skills in Animal Science
Unit 10: Animal Metabolism
Unit 11: Advanced Animal Nutrition
Unit 17: Principles of Animal Nursing
Unit 18: Aquatic Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 20: Human and Animal Interaction
Unit 21: Exotic Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 23: Zoological Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 24: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Management
City and Guilds modules
We required a final grade of Distinction in the City and Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Animal Management.
We require you to have studied at least ten of the following modules. Some of these will be compulsory on your City and Guilds course.
Unit 3202: Undertake and Review Work-Related Experience in the Land-Based Industries
Unit 303: Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 304: Animal Feeding and Nutrition
Unit 305: Animal Behaviour and Communication
Unit 306: Biological Systems of Animals
Unit 307: Animal Welfare and Breeding
Unit 308: Wildlife and Ecology Conservation
Unit 309: Wildlife Management and Rehabilitation
Unit 315: Animal Nursing
Unit 316: Zoological Collections
Unit 318: Fundamentals of Science
Unit 319: Inheritance and Genetics
Unit 320: Chemistry for Biology Technicians
Unit 321: Cell Biology and Genetics
Unit 322: Biochemistry and Microbiology
Unit 324: Science Investigation and Report Writing
Unit 328: Ecological Concepts and Application
Unit 329: Population Surveys, Ecology and Conservation
Unit 367: Undertake a Specialist Project in the Land-Based Sector
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
BTEC modules
We require a final grade of DMM in the BTEC Extended Diploma in Animal Management.
We require the following eight mandatory units and an additional seven optional units to be completed, with at least four of these to come from the recommended units below.
Mandatory
Unit 1: Animal Breeding and Genetics
Unit 2: Animal Biology
Unit 3: Animal Welfare and Ethics
Unit 4: Practical Animal Husbandry
Unit 5: Animal Behaviour
Unit 6: Animal health and Diseases
Unit 7: Work Experience in the Animal Sector
Unit 8: Investigative Research Project
Recommended
Unit 9: Practical Skills in Animal Science
Unit 10: Animal Metabolism
Unit 11: Advanced Animal Nutrition
Unit 17: Principles of Animal Nursing
Unit 18: Aquatic Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 20: Human and Animal Interaction
Unit 21: Exotic Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 23: Zoological Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 24: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Management
City and Guilds modules
We required a final grade of Distinction in the City and Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Animal Management.
We require you to have studied at least ten of the following modules. Some of these will be compulsory on your City and Guilds course.
Unit 3202: Undertake and Review Work-Related Experience in the Land-Based Industries
Unit 303: Animal Health and Husbandry
Unit 304: Animal Feeding and Nutrition
Unit 305: Animal Behaviour and Communication
Unit 306: Biological Systems of Animals
Unit 307: Animal Welfare and Breeding
Unit 308: Wildlife and Ecology Conservation
Unit 309: Wildlife Management and Rehabilitation
Unit 315: Animal Nursing
Unit 316: Zoological Collections
Unit 318: Fundamentals of Science
Unit 319: Inheritance and Genetics
Unit 320: Chemistry for Biology Technicians
Unit 321: Cell Biology and Genetics
Unit 322: Biochemistry and Microbiology
Unit 324: Science Investigation and Report Writing
Unit 328: Ecological Concepts and Application
Unit 329: Population Surveys, Ecology and Conservation
Unit 367: Undertake a Specialist Project in the Land-Based Sector
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
International students
We welcome applications from international and EU students, and accept a range of international qualifications.
This course includes an optional placement year. The placement year fee is:
£1,500 (2025-26)
£1,700 (2026-27)
You will be responsible for covering the cost of travelling to your placement during your placement year. This cost could vary significantly depending on where your placement is located, where you live during your course and how you travel.
Living at university
We understand that affordability is an important issue when you’re thinking about studying at university.
The overall cost of university can vary depending on where you’re studying and which course you’re taking.
Costs may also be lower if you're living at home. However, some of the main costs you’ll want to think about include:
accommodation
bills
internet, mobile phone and calls
travel
food and drink
socialising and going out
study materials.
Most full-time UK students can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help cover living costs. More about maintenance loans.
Our Money Advice Service is on hand if you’d like to chat about living costs, budgets and managing your money. You can also find out more about student finance at one of our Open Days.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university.
If you're eligible for a scholarship, you'll generally receive it automatically – there's no need to apply.
Our campus employment bureau, ARU Temps, can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies. It's a great chance to enhance your CV and boost your income while you study.
Dr Sarah J. Hart
Dr Bas Boots
Dr Jim Littlemore
Dr Dawn Hawkins
Dr Alvin Helden
Dr Hannah White