Biological Sciences

Zoology is the study of animals in all their extraordinary diversity, from single-celled organisms to the largest mammals on earth. It asks how animals are built, how they function, how they behave, and how they relate to other species and to their environments. No matter how these animals fit into their environment, there is an underlying need to understand their behaviour, population dynamics, physiology, and the way they interact with other species and their surroundings.

Zoology sits at the intersection of ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology, genetics, and conservation science, and is driven by some of the most urgent questions in contemporary biology.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time Biological Sciences (Zoology) degree develops your understanding of animal biology from the molecular to the ecosystem level. You will study the mechanisms of life in cells and tissues, the evolutionary processes that produce diversity, the behavioural and ecological strategies animals use to survive and reproduce, and the conservation challenges that face animal populations globally. Laboratory work, fieldwork, and data analysis are integral to the programme, developing your practical and quantitative skills alongside your conceptual understanding.

A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity to study zoology in a different institutional and ecological context. Entry typically requires around 200 UCAS tariff points.

Zoology graduates work in conservation and wildlife management, environmental consultancy, research, veterinary support, science communication, education, government agencies, and international development. Many continue to postgraduate study in ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, or related sciences, often with a view to research or policy careers.