BSc Hons Animal Biology

at University of Stirling

Semesters 1-4 cover a range of core modules – including Cell Biology, Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Biodiversity and Practical Skills – plus additional modules in other disciplines.
 

Semesters 5-6 cover three core advanced modules - Animal Physiology, Behavioural Ecology and The Animal Cell – plus three optional modules.
 

In Semesters 7-8, you’ll work on an independent research project and take several advanced modules. Your options for these will include the field courses in southern Europe, as well as Immunology and Disease; The Evolution of Sex; Conservation Biology; Cell Birth, Life and Death, Geomatics, and Advanced Statistics.
 

Research projects reflect the active interests of academic staff. These include:
 

• Assessing the impact of bumblebee parasites on their host populations.

• Reconstructing growth trajectories for wild scandinavian populations of the invasive Pacific oyster.

• Sexually transmitted disease and ladybird immune competence.

• Sexual selection, sexual conflict and mate choice in seaweed flies.
   

Do agri-environment schemes provide any benefits to foraging bats?
 

Year 1, Semester 1

Compulsory module

• Ecology: An Introduction (BIOU1IE)    20 credits

• prior to 2021/2 BIOU1EC was taken instead
   

Compulsory module

• Introduction to Cell Biology (BIOU1CE)    20 credits

• Prior to 2021/2 BIOU1CB was taken instead, prior to 2020/1 SCIU1LS was taken in year 1
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from any semester 1 (exc BIOU1CE) list
 

• Accounting and Finance for Managers (ACCU7M1)    20 credits

• Our Blue Planet (AQUU1OP)    20 credits

• Ecology: An Introduction (BIOU1IE)    20 credits

• Introduction to Computing Science (CSCU9P1)    20 credits
   

Year 1, Semester 2

Compulsory module

• Introduction to Physiology (BIOU2PH)    20 credits

• Prior to 2021/2 BIOU2IP was taken instead.
   

Compulsory module

• Practical Science Skills II: Field Skills (SCIU2PS)    20 credits

• prior to 2021/2 SCIU2FS was taken instead
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from list
 

• Introduction to Management Accounting (ACCU9A2)    20 credits

• Our Thirsty Planet: Man and the Aquatic Environment (AQUU2TP)    20 credits

• Introduction to Physiology (BIOU2PH)    20 credits

• Making the Most of the World Wide Web (CSCU9F2)    20 credit
   

Year 2, Semester 1

Compulsory module

• Evolution and Genetics (BIOU3GE)    20 credits

• prior to 2021/2 BIOU3EG was taken instead
   

Compulsory module

• Practical Science Skills I: Laboratory Skills (SCIU3LS)    20 credits

• prior to 2021/2 BIOU1CB was taken in year 2
   

Compulsory module

• Biology Field Course (SCIU3FB)    20 credits
   

Year 2, Semester 2

Compulsory module

• Biodiversity (BIOU4BD)    20 credits
   

Compulsory module

• Statistical Techniques (SCIU4T4)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from list
 

• Introduction to Management Accounting (ACCU9A2)    20 credits

• External Reporting (ACCU9A4)    20 credits

• Our Thirsty Planet: Man and the Aquatic Environment (AQUU2TP)    20 credits

• Science of Diving (AQUU4DS)    20 credits

 

Year 3, Semester 1

Compulsory module

• Animal Physiology (BIOU9AP)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 40 credits from Biology Options list

• Microbiology (BIOU5MB)    20 credits

• Population and Community Ecology (BIOU9PC)    20 credits

• Environmental Policy and Management (ENVU5EP)    20 credits

• Habitat Management and Restoration (ENVU9MR)    20 credits

 

Year 3, Semester 2

Compulsory module

• The Animal Cell (BIOU6AC)    20 credits
   

Compulsory module

• Behavioural Ecology (BIOU6BE)    20 credits
   

Option module

Select 20 credits from Biology option list

• Changing Oceans (AQUU6MB)    20 credits

• Plant Ecology (BIOU6PE)    20 credits

• Infectious Disease (BIOU9IN)    20 credits
   

Year 4, Semester 1

Dissertation

• Biology Project (BIOU9PR)    60 credits

• Continued in semester 8.
   

Option module

Select 30 to 50 credits from semester 7 Animal Biology list
 

• Conservation Biology (BIOU7CB)    10 credits

• Biological Control Mechanisms (BIOU7CM)    20 credits

• Phylogenetics, Bioinformatics and Omics (BIOU7SB)    20 credits

• The Evolution of Sex & its Consequences (BIOU7SX)    10 credits

 

Students must select 60 credits of options across autumn and spring semesters and cannot choose to do more than one module from the following list BIOU7FC, BIOU8FC and BIOU8GA as they are mutually exclusive.
 

Year 4, Semester 2

Option module

Select 10 to 30 credits from semester 8 Animal Biology list
 

• Changing Oceans (AQUU6MB)    20 credits

• Plant Ecology (BIOU6PE)    20 credits

• Biology Field Course (BIOU8FC)    20 credits

• Immunology and Evolution of Infectious Disease (BIOU8ID)    10 credits

 

Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
 

SQA Highers

• AABB - by the end of S5

• AABBB - by the end of S6
   

GCE A-levels

• BBB
   

IB Diploma

• 30 points
   

BTEC (Level 3)

• DDM
   

Widening access students

• Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

• Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
   

Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
 

SQA Advanced Highers

• ABB – one sitting
   

GCE A-levels

• ABB
   

IB Diploma

• 35 points
   

Essential subjects

• To include Sociology 
   

  Direct Entry to 1st Year:
   

  Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 65% and above from the following state boards:
   

• CBSE

• ISC/ICSE

• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

• Students from other state boards will require Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 75%.
   

  Advanced Entry to 2nd Year:
   

  Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 75% and above from the following state boards:
   

• CBSE

• ISC/ICSE

• Advanced entry is possible on a range of courses. Student applications will be considered on a case by case basis.Please note that advanced entry options for students who have scored 35 in the International Baccalaureate or GCE A-Levels ABB in one sitting will also be considered on a case by case basis.
  
  Students who score 70% in English in Year 12 from the following exam boards won't be required to submit IELTS, if studied within the last 5 years of our course start date:
   

• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

• Students from other state boards will either need 80% in English if studied within 5 years of the course start date, or a UKVI SELT, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic, depending on the state board, taken within 2 years of our course start date.
  
  English language requirements
  
  If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
   

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill

• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill

• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill

• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill

• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

• IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

• Trinity ISE II Pass overall and Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills

• Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills

• Duolingo 95 overall with a minimum of 90 in all sub-skills

• LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator -  Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill

• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)

Academic year:	2022/23	2023/24
Overseas students (non-EU)	£18,800	£20,300

Overseas students (non-EU)
 

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

EU and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

From life science jobs to research and teaching, there’s a great deal of variation in jobs available to graduates with an Animal Biology degree:
 

• research scientist
• science writer
• medical writer
• biotechnologist
• higher education lecturer
• microbiologist
• nanotechnologist
• conservation
• pharmacologist
• secondary school teacher
• soil scientist
• statistician
• zoologist