Nature on our Doorstep
Current and former students tell us why they choose to study biological and environmental sciences at Aberdeen
Exciting opportunity for students with an HND in Animal Care to enter year 3 of Scotland’s only BSc programme in Animal Behaviour and Welfare.
Our BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare prepares students for graduate careers by providing an exciting opportunity to explore the science that underpins our understanding of animal behaviour and welfare.
We are the only University in Scotland to offer HND Animal Care students the opportunity to “top up” their qualifications with a BSc Honours degree. This additional qualification will enhance your employability and open up additional opportunities in terms of career options and further study.
Upon completion of the programme, you will have:
Part time study options are available for this programme.
Students enter Year 3 of the programme and complete 120 course credits in Year 3 and 120 course credits in Year 4. This comprises four compulsory courses in Year 3 and three compulsory courses in Year 4. Students also complete three elective courses in each year from a selection of courses.
Year 3 consists of the following courses:
ZO3515 - Animal Evolution and Biodiversity
ZO3813 - Practical Skills in Animal Behaviour
15 Credit Points
You will utilise a robust approach to statistical analysis, a skill highly valued by employers and researchers.Lectures provide context, background and step-by step guidance on how to conduct and interpret a selection of statistical analyses.Through a series of exercises, you learn to explore data, to specify appropriate linear models for your research question and to interpret their results.Online tests structured around the exercises and lecture content allow you to demonstrate your achievement of course learning outcomes.Working with biological and environmental datasets in a structured and supportive environment, you will gain confidence and proficiency with data analysis.
15 Credit Points
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.
15 Credit Points
Fundamental concepts of animal behaviour are introduced through a series of lectures and practicals, essential knowledge for those interested in better understanding animal behaviour as well as potentially undertaking an animal behaviour Honours project.
During the practicals students are encouraged to reflect on the theoretical knowledge learned during the lectures and apply that in explaining the observed behaviour of animals.
Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of animal behaviour by producing an innovative multimedia presentation on the observed behaviour of a species of their choice.
This non-credit bearing course will facilitate your preparation for your Honours project.
Lectures and workshops will clarify expectations for project work and provide training in risk assessment, consideration of ethical issues, environmental impacts and project planning.
Resources to help you define and plan your project will be made available through MyAberdeen, helping you to be confident that your project planning is sufficiently advanced by the end of your Programme Year 3.
Submission of an agreed (with your supervisor) project outline, completed checklists and preliminary risk assessment will allow you to demonstrate engagement with your project.
Plus select 45 credit points from courses of choice.
45 Credit Points
This independent research project develops your skills in scientific inquiry and critical analysis, as well as important generic skills, including presentation and time management.
Projects are field-, lab- and/or desk-based, developed on a topic of your interest under the direction of a supervisor.
Training in skills needed to perform your project is provided by world-leading researchers and their teams.
Workshops and drop-in sessions provide training in data analysis and thesis production.
This skill set will be appropriate for advanced study in the field of biological science or other careers where the generic skills that you will develop are highly valued.
15 Credit Points
This course will give you the opportunity to learn about contemporary topics in fundamental behavioural ecology and how this knowledge can be applied to improve the conservation and management of animals.
Academics working at the cutting edge of behavioural research will report on the state-of-art in their field., while you will gain direct experience of in silico approaches regularly used by researchers. Directed learning activities will encourage further exploration of the latest advances in the field through recorded lectures and conference presentations and the critical examination of journal articles and pre-prints.
You will develop your understanding of the state of the art in the field and be introduced to the process of research planning by reviewing grant proposals.
15 Credit Points
Animal welfare is a concept based in science as well as philosophy – welfare can be measured and is important from an economic as well as moral point of view.This course uses a mix of class discussions, site visits, guest lecturers and self-directed study to provide a framework on which students can build and synthesise their knowledge of the science of animal welfare.
Student-led activities promote the development of transferable skills such as time management, project planning and reporting.
Plus 45 credits from courses of choice, at least 15 of which must be from courses delivered by the School of Biological Sciences (i.e. BI, EK, EV, FY, PL, or ZO courses) at level 4.
A graduating curriculum for the Honours programme must include at least 90 credit points from Level 4 courses.
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Our teaching methods are diverse and are based on research on how students learn. We use lectures, seminars, class discussions, group-based tasks, site visits, presentations from practitioners, and independent research to underpin assignments.
Field skills are taught and practiced in the field on day trip excursions, through supervised and independent practical work undertaken as part of your project.
You will learn to critically evaluate and interpret both scientific literature and real-world animal welfare scenarios through practical activities in class and self-study for assignments.
Data analysis and interpretation skills are learned in our compulsory courses and you will be encouraged to present information and your considered opinions, in essays, opinion pieces, scientific reports, oral presentations and group debates. Students gain high level competence with standard software.
Students are assessed by a combination of assessments methods which include:
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
This programme is only available as direct entry into Year 3 for candidates holding a relevant HND qualification eg. HND in Animal Care or HND Applied Sciences (240 SCQF credit points).
Candidates are expected to have achieved an A in all Graded Units.
Curriculum to include: Ecology and Ecosystems (H39A 34) or University of Aberdeen online Introductory Ecology course and Statistics for Science (H8XT 33) or Aberdeen University Online Statistics Course (BI2021).
his programme is only available as direct entry into Year 3 for candidates holding a relevant HND qualification eg. HND in Animal Care or HND Applied Sciences (240 SCQF credit points).
Candidates are expected to have achieved an A in all Graded Units.
Curriculum to include: Ecology and Ecosystems (H39A 34) or University of Aberdeen online Introductory Ecology course and Statistics for Science (H8XT 33) or Aberdeen University Online Statistics Course (BI2021).
The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.
To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.
Fee category | Cost |
---|---|
EU / International students | £24,800 |
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year | |
Home Students | £1,820 |
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year | |
RUK | £9,250 |
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year |
Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen.
View all funding options in our Funding Database.
Graduates in Animal Behaviour and Welfare will have a set of graduate attributes that prepare them for a variety of jobs in animal science and the biosciences including:
Students who complete this programme at an appropriate level of achievement will also be able to continue with postgraduate study in a relevant discipline.
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
The museum’s displays are worldwide in scope, from protozoa to the great whales, including taxidermy, skeletal material, study skins, fluid-preserved specimens and models.
Our research facilities on campus include animal holding facilities, greenhouses, fresh and salt-water aquaria, an insectarium, molecular and analytical laboratories, and a state of the art genomics lab.
Our state-of-the-art Science Teaching Hub provides students with a digitally focussed environment including advanced analytical tools, research-grade equipment and flexible laboratory spaces.
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