KoalaKoala

Available with:

  • Foundation Year

Accreditations


Course Summary

Are you passionate about wildlife, conservation, and the environment? Our BSc Hons Zoology degree offers great opportunities for those interested in environment and species management or becoming part of the global scientific community.

Our program is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, following an independent and rigorous assessment. Accredited degrees contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. (Note: Accreditation applies to Levels 4, 5, and 6 of the Single Honours course.)

Designed to equip you with a diverse set of skills and a deep understanding of species, habitats, and ecosystems, our course will prepare you to make a meaningful impact in the field. You’ll learn from experts with extensive experience in national and international research, gaining insights into cutting-edge areas like conservation, animal behaviour, and welfare science who incorporate this when delivering teaching.

You may also expand your horizons with unique opportunities to study and research abroad. Recent research locations have included South Africa, the Philippines, and Madagascar.

Why you'll Love it

BSc (Hons) Zoology

Zoology BSc (Hons)

What Our Students Think

What you'll study

The BSc Zoology course contains core modules shared with BSc Animal Behaviour and other related courses within the School of Natural Sciences at each level of study, plus specialist optional modules at Levels 5 and 6 where you can tailor your studies to suit your knowledge, skills and interests.

In your first year (Level 4), you are introduced to key biological concepts and content ranging from the cell up to communities through tissues and the animal itself. The main aim of the Level 4 year is to introduce you to all the basic concepts and knowledge on how animals work and interact that will be required for further, more complex learning in the later Levels. The taught topics include biochemistry, genetics, anatomy, physiology, animal behaviour and ecology, as well as an introduction to the main animal groups found on Earth.

Specialist skills that are developed through these modules include basic laboratory practices (e.g. pipetting, laboratory sanitation measures etc.); the use of microscopy; field and behavioural observation methods; and animal handling.

Opportunities to improve understanding and practice using methods of data collection and analysis will be embedded throughout all of the modules, but also focussed specifically on in one particular module at Level 4. At the end of the Level, you will have the opportunity to create your own laboratory-based research project or field trip to apply the knowledge learned throughout your first year. 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Year 2 (Level 5) builds on the foundation provided by the Level 4 modules with more complex learning that covers the different contexts that animals exist and operate in. You will cover core topics relating to how animals are adapted to the environments that they live in and how they behave in their local contexts.

Optional modules at Level 5 will include content on a range of animal taxa and the contexts in which they exist. The end of Level 5 will include a work placement or opportunity for an overseas field trip to gain some hands-on experience. There will also be some opportunities for you to develop their knowledge and practices in research skills, statistics, policy, legislation and ethics embedded in various modules. 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

In year 3 (Level 6), the focus will be on preparing you for graduate employment with modules that require the application of your pre-learned knowledge to various contexts. Core modules will include opportunities to learn about conservation and consulting so that students learn more about working alone or with other people. Specialist, optional modules at this Level will all focus on specific job areas that students may enter into after graduation.

Level 6 students will also conduct a year-long, large research project that forms a dissertation, wherein you must consider project design; research ethics; health and safety; observation methods; data analysis; and scientific writing. Topics for this dissertation are flexible and you can develop your own ideas with the help of your supervisor, so you have further opportunities to develop in an area that you are interested in.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Study a Common First Year

This course shares a common first year with Animal Behaviour BSc Hons.

This means that you’ll learn alongside students studying a similar discipline, helping to broaden your knowledge and exposure to other concepts, perspectives and professions in the first year of your degree.

As you learn and collaborate with students from other courses, you'll not only widen your social and professional network but also learn new skills that will set you up for success in your industry.

In your second and third years, you will progress to studying more specialist modules within conservation, animal behaviour, and welfare science, developing your skills to become a World Ready graduate.

How you'll Learn

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each at each Level. In each term, students study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Some of these modules will be core that all students on the course will take, while in other terms, students will be able to choose between different modules depending on their preferences. At Level 6, the Dissertation module will cut across all terms. 

Average scheduled contact hours for each module range between approximately 6 and 12 hours per week, depending upon the Level of study, the complexity of the material being taught and requirements for laboratory practicals or field trips. This course is delivered through a mixture of in-person and online learning, although in-person learning will make up the majority of the delivery. Students are expected to actively take part in lectures, workshops, seminars, support sessions and practical sessions. 

Independent learning also forms an important part of this course. Students should expect to spend an average of 30 – 34 hours per week on independent study, which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment. 

There will be a broad range of assessment methods used throughout and across the different modules and Levels, so that students are exposed to the different types of tasks they might encounter in the workplace. These will include coursework in the form of field journals, case studies, written pieces (both long and short form; such as communication pieces, literature reviews, dissertations or laboratory reports), data analysis and presentations. In some cases, various types of assessment may be combined into a portfolio that the students develop throughout the year as they learn and progress through different tasks. In some modules, students may encounter more time-sensitive assessment tasks like oral practical assessments and end-of-module assessments or they will need to work as part of a group towards the completion of assessment tasks. Where possible, both formative and summative assessment will be used. All assessments are designed from a competency viewpoint, where the competencies that students need to develop by the end of the assessment task are the focus and we work backwards from these to design the tasks. We thus continuously review the assessment methods used to ensure that they adequately prepare students for graduate-level employment when they complete their degrees. 

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

112 points

GCE A Level

Typical offer – BCC-BBC

Must include A Level Biology, Chemistry or Applied Science

BTEC

BTEC Diploma (Applied Science, Animal Management): D*D*

BTEC Extended Diploma (Applied Science or Animal Management): DMM

International Baccalaureate

26 points, including 5 in HL Biology or Chemistry

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H3 H4, including H3 in either Biology, Chemistry

Scottish Highers: BBBB including either Biology, Chemistry

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma (Science), to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above

T Level

T Level Science - Merit

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma (Applied Science): DMM

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
  • Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

72 points

GCE A level

72 points overall, including grade D in A level Biology or Chemistry

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma (Applied Science or Animal Managment): MMP

International Baccalaureate

24 points, including 4 in HL Biology or Chemistry

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4, including Biology or Chemistry

Scottish Highers: CCDD including Biology or Chemistry

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma (Science) – Pass overall

T Level

T Level (Science): Pass (D or E on the core)

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma (Applied Science): MMP

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Zoology including a Foundation Year requires that you have studied A level Biology or Chemistry; BTEC Applied Science or Animal Management or acceptable alternatives.

If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree. 

Fees and Funding

£9,250per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course.

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.  

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes. 

Students are currently required to purchase a laboratory induction pack that includes a laboratory coat and other required equipment at the start of Level 4. The current price of this pack is £30.00, but this may be subject to price increases depending on purchase costs. 

Students often elect to purchase a laptop, where students choose to do so, the cost it likely to be around £800-£1000.

Most software specific to your course is available free to students through agreements we have with the software vendors. 

Depending on student demand, there may be an optional overseas field trip at Level 5 included in this course. Previous visits have been to countries such as the Philippines and South Africa. The cost of this field trip varies by location and external factors but is likely to be approximately £2000. The field trip is optional, and students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course - they can choose to complete a UK-based work placement instead. 

The costs for any non-optional field trips linked to assessments in particular modules in this course will be included in the tuition fees. 

Strong walking boots and a waterproof coat will be required for certain field trips. The quality and cost of these are at the student’s discretion, but must be suitable for fieldwork in the UK in the winter months.  

Students who are living away from home during their time at university will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills. For an up-to-date estimate of accommodation costs, please talk to the accommodation services team or see the University website. 

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills. 

Who you'll Learn from

Dr James Brown

Programme Leader for Zoology
James Brown

Where you'll Study Exton Park, Chester

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Our graduates are well equipped with both transferable skills and the specific skills required for a zoological career. Graduate employment opportunities include working for a local authority or wildlife organisation as well as for national bodies or international NGOs. Work might involve wildlife or captive animal protection/management, policy, sustainability projects or environmental monitoring. Other employment routes include careers in teaching, science education and outreach.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.