Biological Sciences
Zoology is the biological study of the animal kingdom in all its diversity, from the behaviour of individual organisms to the ecology of populations and the evolutionary processes that have produced life's extraordinary variety. It is a discipline that combines laboratory science with fieldwork, theoretical modelling with direct observation of animals in the wild, and molecular biology with ecology and conservation. Understanding animal life in depth requires engagement across all of these dimensions, and a zoology degree develops precisely this kind of integrative scientific thinking.
At the University of Leicester this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and embedded work placement opportunities, giving it a strong connection to professional and international experience alongside its academic core. Leicester's description of the programme captures the subject's range: you will cover the behaviour, ecology and evolution of everything within the animal kingdom, gain hands-on laboratory and fieldwork experience, and have the option to change your specialism in your second year if your interests shift as you learn more. This flexibility is a genuine strength, allowing you to respond to what you discover rather than being locked into a fixed specialisation from the outset.
You will study animal physiology, evolutionary biology, ecology, genetics, wildlife conservation and the quantitative methods needed to analyse biological data. Fieldwork will take you into real natural environments, and the placements and year abroad add practical and international dimensions that enrich both your scientific understanding and your professional development.
Graduates pursue careers in conservation, wildlife management, environmental consultancy, research, science communication, education and policy. Many go on to postgraduate study in ecology, conservation biology, zoology or related life sciences, and some move into veterinary science or medicine following additional study. The combination of breadth and practical experience makes Leicester zoology graduates well prepared for the diverse demands of careers in the biological sciences.