Zoology with a Year in Industry

Zoology is the scientific study of animals in all their extraordinary diversity, examining their physiology, behaviour, ecology, genetics, and evolution. From the molecular mechanisms that control development to the population dynamics of entire ecosystems, zoology ranges across scales to ask how individual organisms work, how they interact with each other and their environments, and how the diversity of animal life has come to be. It is a discipline with profound relevance to conservation, public health, agriculture, and our understanding of life itself, and one that rewards genuine curiosity about the natural world.

At Royal Holloway, University of London, this four-year, full-time programme includes a year in industry, which is embedded within the degree and gives you the opportunity to spend time working in a professional setting relevant to zoology or biology. That practical experience is a significant asset when you graduate, providing real insights into how zoological knowledge is applied outside academia. The year abroad element means you also have the opportunity to study in another country, broadening your scientific and cultural perspective.

You will engage with the full range of zoological topics, from animal anatomy and physiology through to ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation science, developing both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills that the discipline requires.

Graduates from zoology programmes find careers in conservation organisations, wildlife charities, government environmental agencies, zoological parks and gardens, ecological consultancy, and biomedical research. The scientific skills you develop, including data collection, statistical analysis, field and laboratory methods, are valued across the life sciences more broadly. Education, science communication, and policy roles concerned with wildlife and biodiversity are also destinations.

Postgraduate study in zoology, ecology, conservation biology, or related disciplines is a common route for those who want to develop specialist expertise or pursue research careers.