Zoology

Zoology is the branch of biology concerned with the animal kingdom in all its extraordinary diversity, from the microscopic invertebrates that inhabit soil and water through to the megafauna that define the public imagination of wildlife. It encompasses animal behaviour, physiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and taxonomy, asking both how individual animals work and how they interact with each other and with their environments. In an era of mass extinction and rapid habitat loss, the knowledge that zoologists develop is directly relevant to some of the most pressing conservation challenges facing humanity.

At the University of Gloucestershire, this three-year full-time programme develops your understanding of animal biology from the cellular level upwards, combining theoretical study with practical fieldwork and laboratory experience. You will develop skills in animal identification and ecology, data collection and analysis, laboratory techniques relevant to genetics and physiology, and the scientific writing and communication skills that professional zoologists use throughout their careers. The university's location in Gloucestershire, within easy reach of varied habitats including farmland, wetlands, woodlands, and the Severn Estuary, provides a rich natural environment for fieldwork that enriches the programme considerably.

A typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects a broadly accessible entry standard within a programme that builds genuine scientific rigour progressively.

For students interested in pursuing a placement year, the university provides dedicated support to help you secure an opportunity aligned with your interests, though the standard programme is three years full time.

Graduates of zoology programmes work in conservation, environmental management, wildlife monitoring, zoos and aquaria, science education, government environmental agencies, and research. Many continue to postgraduate study in zoology, conservation biology, ecology, or related biological sciences. The combination of biological knowledge and fieldwork experience is particularly valued in conservation and environmental management roles.