Undergraduate Zoology 2026-2027

This course considers the evolution, physiology and behaviour of domestic, companion and captive wild animals in relation to their husbandry and care.

You will apply your knowledge of biology and zoology to the improvement of management practices and to the enhancement of animal welfare.  Field trips to local farms and a wildlife park will allow you to observe industry standards for captive animal welfare.

By researching and presenting a seminar on ethical issues related to animals in captivity, you will develop critical thinking skills and build experience in constructing and evidencing an argument, and also gain skills in group working and oral communication.

The variety of infections and pathologies seems almost limitless, and although some of the commonest infections have been studied intensely, it's fair to say that the biological and environmental processes relating to infections are often poorly understood. We are also living through a time when some deadly diseases are on the increase – this is for a host of reasons including overuse of antibiotics or misinformation about common therapies such as vaccination. Infectious disease isn’t going away.

In this course, you will have practical instruction on current technologies used in disease detection. You’ll also have the opportunity to present on a disease-related subject of your choice and to demonstrate your general understanding of the material covered in the lectures.

Students carry out weekly practical activities which provide opportunities to observe animals, learn and practice the methods we use to study behaviour, and improve their ability to ask ecological and evolutionary questions about animal behaviour. Before the practical sessions we give a lecture covering the subject area and methods we will use that week. We conduct sessions at Newburgh seal beach, the Loch of Strathbeg, and in the Science Teaching Hub in Aberdeen.
We provide training in the use of observational techniques such the different types of behavioural sampling and video recording, and data-based methods such as social network analysis. This equips you with the skills to explore and understand all kinds of animal behaviour.
Students analyse data from their observations and write up reports each week. We provide regular feedback to allow you to rapidly improve your writing and analysis skills.
Students will apply their knowledge by conducting their own bespoke research project, setting your question, choosing a study system, collecting, visualising, and analysing data, and writing up the report.

Residential field course based in Siyafinda Game reserve, and the Greater Kruger Ecosystem in South Africa, structured to provide you with training in animal tracking and the interpretation of ecological data in the field.

Local experts teach tracking skills and provide lessons related to natural history, palaeontology, vegetation, and the complexities of implementing conservation in the local context.

Visits to a variety of local habitats will reinforce taxonomic and species identification skills.

Maintaining a field notebook, completing a project proposal and taking a tracking test will allow you to demonstrate achievement of the course learning outcomes.