Animal Behaviour (with integrated year in industry)

Why study BSc Animal Science at Aberystwyth University? 

• You will be taught and mentored by enthusiastic teaching staff that conduct research across the spectrum of animal species and behavioural responses.
• All students will have access to fantastic laboratories & equipment, including radio-tracking equipment, nest boxes, laboratories & aquaria, plus a historic specimen collection. Amazing local habitats including coastlines, estuaries, woodlands, and hills, allowing access to species such as red kites, chough, grey seals, bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises. And if you still have more appetite for field work, you can take the residential field course in animal behaviour too.
• Undertake an integrated year in industry that is assessed and will count towards your final degree classification. Note that students must organise their work experience under the guidance of our Director for Employability and that it must be relevant to Animal Behaviour. If students cannot secure a placement they are required to transfer to BSc Animal Behaviour C120.
• Although work experience may not be paid. Students will pay a discounted fee during your year in industry. Full details available here.

Our Staff

The majority of teaching staff at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active. Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry.  The Institute has a large number of research only staff with whom students may have contact.

What professions do our students go into?

Many of our students go on to postgraduate study at Masters or PhD level, aiming for careers in pure or applied science, or science communication. Others have gone on to careers as scientific animal technicians and medical laboratory assistants. During their studies, many of our students have volunteered for conservation projects such as the Pine Martin Recovery Project and Iberian Lynx captive breeding program, or for organisations such as the RSPB.

Your year in industry:

Make no mistake, you will develop confidence and gaining experience in the industry will stimulate your enthusiasm for the subject.

Completing a year in industry will allow you to:

• apply the learning from your course to the work environment;
• make industry contacts;
• develop practical skills related to your area of study;
• apply your practical skills and technical knowledge after returning to study;
• enhance your CV and better prepare yourself for a job after graduating.

Students on this scheme should note that the department institute does not have automatic placements for every applicant. You will be responsible for finding securing the work experience, however, you will have the assistance of our institute Work Experience Coordinator and our dedicated careers advisor (James Cuffe, jpc11@aber.ac.uk). If you fail to find work experience you will be able to convert your course to the three-year version of your subject.

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four-year degree scheme.

Your first year will provide a broad grounding in biology, and training in the skills needed to succeed in your studies. Subject areas will include:

• The evolution and diversity of life
• Animal physiology
• Diagnosis and control of animal diseases
• Wildlife forensics
• Study and communication skills, and many others.

In your second year you will undertake specialist modules in animal behaviour, and gain essential scientific skills. Subject areas will include:

• Ethology, the scientific study of animal behaviour
• Modern zoo science
• Veterinary health
• Quantitative and qualitative procedures for data analysis
• Good research design and planning

In your third year you will undertake your work experience in an industry that is relevant to the field of Animal Behaviour.

In your final year, subject areas will include:

• The behaviour and welfare of domesticated animals
• The physiological mechanisms behind animal behaviour
• A compulsory dissertation research project
• Optional modules chosen from a selection including Wildlife Conservation, Behavioural Neurobiology, and two residential field courses. Students on this degree currently have the option to study the Animal Behaviour Field Course in the UK, and the Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Conservation Field Course in Borneo.

Further information:

• Synthesize information from scientific literature
• Understand and explain the implications of developments in subjects such as parasitology
• Scrutinise data in terms of quality and quantity
• Respond to new data through laboratory investigation
• Develop your practical skills in animal handling which augment your theoretical knowledge

How will I be taught?

Your course will be delivered through lectures, workshops, tutorials and practicals.

You will receive training in concepts, research and methodology relating to science of animal behaviour. This will be undertaken by laboratory research and experimentation, as well as hands on exercises.

You will be assessed through:

• Essays
• Practical exercise
• Oral presentations
• Worksheets
• Reports
• Statistical exercises
• Dossiers
• Posters
• Portfolios
• Wikis
• Reflective diaries
• Literature reviews
• Magazine articles
• Filed notebooks
• Exams