Animal Behaviour

Animal behaviour is the scientific study of how and why animals act as they do, a question that touches on evolution, ecology, neuroscience, genetics, and cognition. It is a discipline that has transformed our understanding of life on earth, revealing the sophistication of non-human minds, the complexity of social systems, and the mechanisms by which behaviour evolves and adapts. At the University of St Andrews, which is internationally recognised for its research in this area, the BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour is studied at an advanced, research-led level, covering behavioural ecology, the mechanisms of animal behaviour, the processes of evolution and speciation, adaptive physiology, and animal cognition.

Over four years of full-time study you will engage with the primary literature in animal behaviour, developing your ability to design, conduct, and interpret behavioural research. You will explore topics including communication and signalling, predator-prey dynamics, mating systems, parental care, social learning, and the evolution of intelligence, drawing on field studies, laboratory experiments, and comparative methods. The year abroad gives you the opportunity to study or undertake research in a different country, which is valuable in a field where species diversity and habitat variation are central to understanding behaviour.

St Andrews's coastal location and strong research community give you access to marine mammals and seabirds alongside more conventional study species.

Animal behaviour graduates go on to careers in wildlife conservation, ecological consultancy, zoological collections, animal training, veterinary support, science communication, and education. Many pursue postgraduate study in animal behaviour, ecology, evolutionary biology, or comparative psychology, and the research skills developed on this programme are an excellent foundation for doctoral work in any of these fields.