Zoology

Study animals and biodiversity at every scale. You'll learn how animals function, how to conserve biodiversity, and how evolution works. If you're thinking about a career in research, this course involves a major research project in your fourth year.

Our four-year MBiolSci Zoology course is perfect if you're thinking about a research career. It’s all about animals, their evolution, and their interactions with each other, the environment and biodiversity conservation. You’ll then complete a major research project in your fourth year (known as an integrated masters).

At Sheffield, you'll explore the past, present and future of animal life, from the origins of major animal groups, to their present diversity and major threats. You’ll study the breadth of invertebrates and vertebrates, learn how they evolved, how their bodies and brains work, how they behave, and how they respond to global change.

You’ll also discover how their biodiversity is maintained and lost, and use this knowledge to help us address important issues such as wildlife conservation, maintaining functioning ecosystems, and sustainability across the globe, from tropical rainforests to the oceans.

Throughout the course, you’ll be encouraged to be creative, think independently, and express your ideas. You'll be in the lab completing in-depth practicals, and studying animal anatomy and physiology in our on-site Alfred Denny Museum of Zoology. You'll learn off campus too, carrying out fieldwork on our doorstep in the Peak District and at other sites of interest across the country, before embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime field course in the UK or abroad.

As you progress through your degree, you’ll have the chance to delve deeper into key areas such as biodiversity conservation, evolutionary biology, palaeontology, genetics or ecological modelling.

No matter what areas of zoology you choose to study, you'll develop practical fieldwork, laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem-solving, communication skills, and data analysis.

All this experience will prepare you for your third-year research project where you could be laboratory-based, field-based, focus on computer modelling, or even science communication. Examples of recent student research projects include:

• How and why do males and females of animal species develop different colours?

• What can bird calls tell us about communication in animals that live and breed in groups?

• What determines the evolution of wing shape in tropical butterflies?

Your fourth year is designed to equip you with advanced laboratory or field research skills, ready for a rewarding career in science. You'll spend the bulk of this year focused on a major research project in an area of biological sciences of your choice, and graduate with a masters degree.

If you choose to spend a year on a work placement as part of your course, this tends to take place after your second year. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience and test out a career path that you're considering. Our students have found placements in science and non-science-based roles with a range of organisations including Wildlife Trusts, the Field Studies Council and the Environment Agency. You can opt into the scheme once you get to Sheffield.

Accreditation

This course has advanced accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology which shows employers that you've developed the scientific knowledge and technical and transferable skills that you'll need for a great career.

Why study this course?

• Top 15 in the UK for zoology - The Guardian University Guide 2026

• Get out of the classroom - You'll get the chance to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime field trip in the UK or abroad in your third year.

• Spend a year on a work placement - Gain extra experience by adding an optional work placement year to your degree.