University of Nottingham
UCAS Code: C301 | Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
Biology and a second science at A level. A pass is required in science practical tests, if assessed separately. Suitable second science subjects include: maths, further maths, chemistry, physics, geology, applied science, environmental science/studies, AQA use of maths, statistics, geography, psychology.
Access to HE Diploma
30 Level 3 credits at distinction of which 15 are in biology and 15 in a second science.
Extended Project
If you have already achieved your EPQ at grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject. If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, and also an alternate offer with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ. If you qualify for a contextual offer, your EPQ will be taken into consideration and the appropriate adjustment will be made to your offer. Please note that if you qualify for an enhanced contextual offer, your EPQ will not be taken into consideration as we are unable to make any further adjustments to your offer.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English language or Literature and maths at grade 4 or above also required.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
6,6,5 at Higher level to include biology and another science subject at Higher Level. Suitable second science subjects include: maths, further maths, chemistry, physics, geology, applied science, environmental science/studies, AQA use of maths, statistics, geography, psychology.
Applications are assessed on an individual basis
Applications are assessed on an individual basis
Applications are assessed on an individual basis
Scottish Advanced Higher
including Biology and a second science subject. Suitable second science subjects include: maths, further maths, chemistry, physics, geology, applied science, environmental science/studies, AQA use of maths, statistics, geography, psychology. Offers made in combination with grades AABBB in the Scottish Highers
Scottish Higher
in combination with grades AA in Scottish Advanced Highers, to include Biology and a second science. Suitable second science subjects include: maths, further maths, chemistry, physics, geology, applied science, environmental science/studies, AQA use of maths, statistics, geography, psychology.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Acceptable in combination with 2 science A-level qualifications, to include Biology.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Are you fascinated by the diversity of animal life on our planet, and driven by the need to conserve species in the face of global challenges like climate change?
This course aims to foster a new generation of zoological researchers who can unravel the secrets of animal behaviour, physiology and ecology, to enhance animal welfare, make farming more sustainable, and preserve precious biodiversity.
Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, this integrated master's degree will take you on a journey from learning about the building blocks of life and its incredible diversity in year one, to the cutting edge of zoological research in year four. You will receive training in the key knowledge, practical and transferable skills needed to enter the world of research and development, whether it be in academia, conservation, farming or veterinary science.
**Practical work**
You will gain experience of laboratory and field work techniques in a wide range of core and optional modules across the first three years, including optional field courses in France and Portugal. In the fourth year, you will choose from a range of specialist research topics, such as the conservation impact of rewilding, or the effects of neurotoxins in venom.
You will develop a novel research project under the supervision of a leading expert in their field. At the same time, you will receive training in key research skills relevant to your interests, from bioinformatic analysis to manuscript writing and conference presentations.
Modules
There are a range of optional modules to choose from in every year of the course. You will study these alongside core modules.
The first year provides a broad introduction to zoology and biology. You'll study to the biology of animals and the biochemical, evolutionary and genetic processes that underlie their biology.
In the second year, more advanced modules are available in topics such as ecology, immunology, and evolutionary biology of animals.
You'll work on a practical research project in the third year, as well as selecting optional modules. The research project allows you to carry out your own zoological investigation, alongside expert research scientists.
If you choose to study the integrated masters (MSci), you’ll complete a year-long research project in your fourth year. This could be lab- or literature-based. You will also learn research presentation skills as well as research planning and preperation.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University Park Campus
School of Biology
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score 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.
Zoology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
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.
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.
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.
£22k
£27k
£32k
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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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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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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