Biological Sciences (Zoology) with Professional Training Year
Entry requirements
A level
including Biology (or Human Biology) or Chemistry. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.
Extended Project
For applicants taking the EPQ qualification, an A in the EPQ can be recognised to lower the entry requirements by a single grade. For example, an AAB offer would be "AAB from 3 A-levels or ABB from 3 A-levels and a grade A in the EPQ". Please note that any subject specific requirements must be met.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
You must have or be working towards English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (if you require a Tier 4 visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements) and GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
34-32 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Biology or Chemistry.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDD-DDM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science, Forensic Science, or Animal Management with Distinction in all of the Core/Mandatory Units.
Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.
The Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in place of one A-level at the A-level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Zoology is the study of all kinds of animals, their anatomy, physiology, genetics, and their adaptations for survival and reproduction in different environments. This is vital if we are to maintain healthy natural environments, control pests and diseases, conserve biodiversity and preserve endangered species.
Our Biological Sciences (Zoology) degree is aimed at anyone interested in the broad field of animal biology. It is a truly interdisciplinary course that draws on the research strengths found throughout the School, and, as well as covering the evolution and diversity of the main animal groups, you will also have the opportunity to study modules in ecology, physiology and genetics. We have particular expertise in behaviour and brain function, and you will study both behaviour and neuroscience as part of this course. The course content is closely linked to the research interests of our staff (many of whom are leaders in their field); this allows you to experience the excitement of learning in an active research environment, and helps to ensure that the topics you cover are highly topical, and of relevance and importance in today’s world. You will spend your third year on placement at a field centre, zoological or botanical institute, museum, industrial research laboratory, or other approved establishment of your choice. This offers an opportunity to gain first-hand professional research experience, and it has been shown to greatly enhance your degree and subsequent employment prospects. Many placements are in the UK, but our students also take up placements in international locations, including Southeast Asia, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Australia, Madagascar, and the USA. Our Zoology degree also includes ample opportunities for practical field work, enabling you to develop valuable field research techniques. As well taking part in field research projects throughout your time at Cardiff, you can also choose from our specialised, project-based field courses in the UK and further afield. As with all of the degrees in the School of Biosciences, our Zoology course offers the flexibility to tailor the course to your own interests and career aspirations. Your degree title also remains flexible up until your final year, so that you can either continue with BSc Biological Sciences (Zoology) to graduation, or switch to another of our bioscience degrees during your first two years of study.
Your final degree title will depend on your module selection, and your Personal Tutor will guide you through the options available. You may also have the option of switching to our four-year MBiol integrated master's degree, which forms an excellent basis for a future career in scientific research. This course provides an excellent foundation for a broad range of careers and offers strong training for research scientists. Our graduates have gone on to a range of exciting and fulfilling careers in both scientific and non-scientific related fields, including marine ecology, biology, field-based or zoo-based research and conservation, environmental law, biomedical research, scientific publishing, journalism, teaching and veterinary science. Many also choose to further their studies by pursuing a master’s degree or PhD.
Distinctive Features of the Programme
The School of Biosciences offers access to a wide range of exciting training opportunities, with a conservation-focused research centre in Borneo, and strong involvement in the University’s flagship Sustainable Places Research Institute and Water Research Institute. We also attract substantial external research funding and this will enable you to make use of the latest equipment, techniques and facilities in your project work. Field work is an important element of Zoology, and with a variety of natural environments - from rural countryside to the Welsh coastline - virtually on your doorstep, Cardiff is the perfect location in which to develop and hone your skills as a field researcher.
Tuition fees
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Extra funding
Cardiff University has many scholarships on offer to our prospective students. Please see our website at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/funding/scholarships for further information
The Uni
Main Site - Cardiff
School of Biosciences
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biosciences (non-specific)
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Zoology
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Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biosciences (non-specific)
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
These stats refer to the prospects of graduates from general courses in biosciences. About a quarter go into further study and for those who go into work, bioscience, teaching and finance jobs are the most common types of employment. But you can go into most careers with this kind of degree — the majority of jobs for graduates don’t ask for a particular degree subject - and you will acquire a wide range of skills valued by many employers. If you want to find out more specifically about the prospects for your chosen subject, it might be a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates from your chosen subject went on to do.
Zoology
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Unsurprisingly, the most common job for a zoology graduate on leaving is to work in a zoo or similar organisation - but there are a lot of other options available if you take this subject. Nearly a quarter of graduates take some kind of further qualification when they leave — mostly Masters degrees in zoology or related subjects, like biology or ecology — but a graduate from a zoology course can go into pretty much anything, with science, conservation, management, finance and marketing some of the most popular areas. Zoology graduates are also rather more likely than others to get a job overseas so if an international career appeals to you, this might be a degree to consider.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Biosciences (non-specific)
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£21k
£26k
£30k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Zoology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£21k
£26k
£30k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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