Zoology

Why study Zoology at Aberystwyth?

• You will benefit from fantastic modern laboratories, a microscopy suite, a historic specimen collection and aquaria.
• You will be taught by Zoology experts, some you may have already seen them on TV documentaries or perhaps even listened to them on your favourite science podcast.
• Discover an area of unrivalled wildlife and countryside; Aberystwyth is a stone’s throw away from many internationally recognised habitats including the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere, two RAMSAR wetlands, two marine Special Areas of Conservation, two National Nature Reserves, several Sites of Special Scientific Interest to name but a few, providing you with fabulous fieldwork and recreational opportunities.
• We are a top 10 in the UK for research intensity in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment (2014).
• 78% of research is assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent in the 2014 REF.
• If you are interested in obtaining a Master's degree, then our MBiol Zoology (C309) course will be for you. This sister course is for the first three years identical to BSc Zoology, however you will have an additional year to undertake and complete a Master's qualification.

Want to study in Welsh? 

Students can elect to study a number of IBERS modules in the medium of Welsh. Check the module tab for more information! 

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 opportunities are there for me after I graduate?

Upon graduating you will be qualified for career-paths specifically related to zoology. In addition, your zoology degree will have taught you a broad range of skills such as observation, research, analysis and reflection which are demanded by employers in a variety of graduate professions.

The skills gained include:

• An in depth understanding of zoology and zoology related disciplines, including animal behaviour, physiology, phylogeny, species conservation, ecology etc;
• A range of field and laboratory techniques used by zoology professionals;
• The ability to formulate hypotheses, design statistically valid experiments, undertake data collection, data analysis and critically interpret results;
• The ability to communicate effectively and coherently in written and oral form using citations ensuring academic integrity;
• An appreciation of ethical working practices;
• The ability to work as part of a team and independently;
• A variety of skills for independent lifelong working including time management, organisation, knowledge transfer etc.

What work placements can I do whilst studying?

The University participates in the Year in Employment Scheme (YES) and IBERS students have successfully gained placements with a number of employers including West Midlands Safari Park and Chester Zoo. For more information, please click here.

This course is designed to enable you to tailor your studies into areas of particular interest. You will be able to focus either on the whole animal, population and conservation biology, or on more applied aspects of Zoology such as parasitolon.

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

In your first year you will cover subjects relating to:

• The diversity of life on Earth from unicellular organisms to the multicellular invertebrates and vertebrates, relating form to function and the key evolutionary events that have occurred.
• The fundamental principles of ecology and the relationships between species covering energy transfer, intra and inter-species interactions, resource utilisation etc.
• The importance of plants as primary producers, their morphology, physiology and ecological adaptations.
• The principles of genetics from molecules to populations and species.
• The structure and function of eukaryotic cells and the chemistry of molecules within cells.
• Wildlife forensics utilising forensic entomology and ecotoxicology, and the use of DNA ‘barcoding’ help solve wildlife crime.
• You may also undertake subjects related to the major environmental process on Earth that have influenced flora and fauna, the history of our understanding of Biology and how it has developed over time, and the diversity of microbial life and their importance as pathogens, mutualists and within the ecosystem.

In your second year you will explore:

• Invertebrate and vertebrate biology covering their evolution, physiology, ecology etc.
• Evolution of organisms including speciation, phylogenetics and population genetics.
• Animal behaviour including its function, causation, development and evolution.
• The principles and practice of a range of basic quantitative and qualitative procedures, data analysis, interpretation and evaluation.
• You may also undertake subjects related to species conservation and habitat management, the role of zoological gardens for animal conservation, and a field trip to Peru.
• There are also opportunities to enhance your employability skills by taking your second year at a European institution (ERASMUS + exchange) or North America. Or you can take a year in employment between your second and third years.

In your third year you will be taught detail on:

• Behavioural physiology, detailing the mechanisms which underpin behaviour and advance behaviours including orientation and navigation.
• Population ecology focusing on the models used to account for the distribution and abundance of organisms.
• A compulsory dissertation under the supervision of a member of the Zoology teaching staff.
• You may also undertake subjects related to wildlife conservation and the importance of genetics in conserving species, parasitology covering the diversity of parasites and their potential to cause disease, the current and future threats to species and ecosystems, and animal welfare including the behavioural and physiological traits associated with pain and stress.

Aberystwyth is an amazing place to study, full of friendly faces; both students and lecturers alike- it really is a home away from home.  I was delighted to be walking away from my time in Aberystwyth with a 1st class honours degree in Zoology and a full-time job in my dream career, as a zoo keeper. Aberystwyth has been the most wonderful place to study and I shall forever be pleased I chose this fabulous little town/university to study my degree in! Kathryn Beddie