Universities United Kingdom University of Sheffield Courses Zoology BSc

Zoology BSc
at University of Sheffield

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Tuition Fee £ 31,100
Country Rank#12
Duration36 Months
Score IELTS: 6.5 TOEFL: 88

Program Overview

Our three-year BSc is about animals, their evolution and their interactions with each other, the environment and biodiversity conservation. It spans microbes, invertebrates, birds, fish, mammals and humans. You’ll learn how they evolved, how their physiology works, how they behave, and how they respond to global change.

You’ll discover how biodiversity is maintained and lost, and use this knowledge to help address important issues such as tropical wildlife conservation, disease outbreaks and maintaining functioning ecosystems.

You'll cover three main themes at Sheffield:

their comparative physiology - the functional characteristics of animals
their evolutionary biology - how animals adapt to their environment
their behaviour, ecology and conservation - how animals interact with their environment and each other to support biodiversity on the planet

Alongside your specialist zoology modules, from your first year you’ll have the freedom to study topics across the breadth of biology to complement your knowledge. Topics range from ecology and molecular genetics that underpin conservation, to pharmacology, neuroscience and even human physiology. This flexibility allows you to study zoology in greater depth, broaden your interests or even switch to another biosciences degree programme.

No matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll develop practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers, including project management, problem solving, communication skills and data analysis.

Course Content
A selection of modules are available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course.

Choose a year to see modules for a level of study:

First year
In your first year, you'll spend your first week on a field course in Sheffield, collecting and analysing data on animals throughout the city's green spaces and out to the edge of the Peak District. Throughout the year, you’ll study topics from physiology, genetics and speciation to behaviour, food-webs, biodiversity, conservation and climate change. You'll develop practical skills in the lab, including microscopy and genetics, complemented by regular field trips to zoos, aquariums and nature reserves. You'll also have lectures and take part in small group tutorials where you'll enhance your writing, data analysis and presentation skills as you learn about the latest research findings from our world-leading academics.

Core modules:
- Principles of Zoology
- Animal Behaviour
- Principles of Evolution
- Skills in Biology
Second year

In your second year, you’ll build on your new skills and knowledge covering more advanced scientific topics and techniques in animal biology, genetics, ecology and conservation. Some students choose to take our science communication module where you'll get the chance to make your own factual science documentaries, with support and advice from professional filmmakers.

All of our zoology students receive training in modern data analysis techniques and get the opportunity to participate in an optional two-week intensive project, designing and carrying out your own research. Depending on your focus, this could be in the field, giving you the chance to develop an understanding of the ecology and biodiversity of different habitats across the globe, or in one of our world-class labs here in Sheffield, dedicated to an area such as molecular biology, genetics or even wildlife forensics.

Core modules:
- Invertebrates
- Behavioural Ecology
- Vertebrates
- Skills in Biology II
Third year

In your third year, you'll complete a research project and dissertation in an area of zoology that interests you alongside your chosen specialist modules.

Conducted under the supervision of one of our world experts, you'll work in a small group to define questions, develop experimental protocols, conduct the research, analyse the data and ultimately produce a written report in the form of a scientific publication.

Core modules:
- Topics in Modern Zoology
- Literature Review
- Research Project
Entry Requirement
Applicants with a minimum aggregate of 75% and 75-80% in key subjects at Standard XII will typically be considered for direct admission to undergraduate degree programmes.
Applicants with a minimum of 3 A levels will be considered for direct admission to undergraduate programmes.
International Baccalaureate diploma holders will be considered for direct admission to undergraduate programmes. Required scores and subjects vary from course to course.

Fees & Scholarships

International Tuition Fees:

£31100 per year

Career Prospect

Biosciences graduates have a growing range of career options available to them. Whether you want to work in industry, join a Top 100 graduate employer, or continue your studies, employers seek out our graduates because of their ability to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences, handle data, and work to deadlines, independently and as part of a team.

Many of our graduates choose to pursue a bioscience research career, working within higher education, for public bodies and charities, or in research and development in leading organisations around the world. Some are saving local biodiversity and developing solutions to global food shortages, others are interested in industrial research, joining pharmaceutical, biotechnology and consumer goods companies like Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Reckitt.

Our graduates are also applying their skills and training from Sheffield working in healthcare, in the NHS or for private healthcare providers or charities.

If conservation or ecological consultancy is something that you’re passionate about, the RSPB, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Wildlife Trusts are just some of the places where our graduates now work. Roles often cover environmental management, sustainable forestry, crop protection and breeding, and climate change mitigation.

Going on to further study in the biosciences, or in areas such as medicine, veterinary science, physiotherapy and teaching is another popular route, with graduates often completing masters courses and PhDs.

A biosciences degree from the University of Sheffield can even take you into roles in marketing, teaching, human resources, IT, science communication and beyond. Each year our graduates apply their transferable skills and begin careers in these areas with Top 100 employers like GSK, Google and Aldi.

Cost Of Studying At University of Sheffield

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

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Zoology BSc at University of Sheffield