Animal Behaviour

Animal behaviour, sometimes called ethology, is the scientific study of how and why animals act as they do. It draws on evolutionary biology, ecology, neuroscience, and psychology to understand the mechanisms underlying behaviour and the adaptive functions that behaviour serves. Animal behaviourists ask questions about how animals communicate, navigate, find food, choose mates, care for their young, form social groups, and respond to environmental challenges.

The field has both fundamental scientific value and important practical applications in animal welfare, conservation, veterinary care, and the management of wildlife and domestic species.

Studying animal behaviour at Anglia Ruskin University over four years, you will develop a thorough scientific grounding in the discipline. You will examine the evolutionary basis of behaviour, the role of genetics and development, the sensory systems through which animals perceive their environments, and the cognitive abilities of different species. Practical and fieldwork skills, including observation methods, experimental design, and data analysis, are central to the programme, since animal behaviour is fundamentally an empirical science in which careful observation and rigorous testing of hypotheses are essential.

Laboratory and field-based projects give you hands-on experience of studying animal behaviour in practice.

Graduates move into careers in zoological parks and wildlife sanctuaries, conservation organisations, research institutions, animal welfare charities, and veterinary settings, where an understanding of behaviour informs both care and treatment. Wildlife management, environmental consultancy, and ecological survey work are other directions for graduates who wish to work in field-based roles. Some graduates enter research at postgraduate level, pursuing masters or doctoral degrees in animal behaviour, behavioural ecology, or comparative psychology.

The scientific skills developed through the programme also support careers in science communication, education, and the growing field of human-animal interaction.