Zoology Undergraduate degree
Course also available with Foundation Year
To offer you flexibility in managing your existing commitments, teaching for your first year on this course will be scheduled on a maximum of three days per week
Unlock the secrets of the animal kingdom, learn how animals survive in the wild, and understand how important they are to the world’s ecosystems.
Start Date:
September 2023
Entry Tariff:
Year 1 entry: 112 UCAS points (or equivalent)
Foundation Year entry: 48 UCAS points (or equivalent)
Degree Type:
BSc (single honours)
Duration:
3 years (full-time)
4 years (full-time) if opting for the additional placement year
4 years (full-time) if opting for Foundation Year entry
UCAS Code:
C300
C301 (if choosing Foundation Year)
School:
Entry Requirements
Entry tariff:
Year 1 entry: 112 UCAS points (or equivalent)
Degree with Foundation Year
Foundation Year entry: 48 UCAS points (or equivalent)
We welcome applications from students studying T Levels.
For all courses we also accept a wide range of other qualifications and experience. Contact us to find out more.
When we consider applications to study with us, we form a complete view of your achievements to date, and future potential, and can offer flexibility in entry requirements. Find out more about our Contextual Offer scheme.
Specific entry requirements:
A-level / BTEC (or equivalent qualification) including Biology or another Science subject.
GCSE (or equivalent) requirement: Maths, Grade C / 4.
Contact us for further information.
General entry requirements:
Why this course
Give your career a head-start through the option of a one-year work placement, after year two.
Gain firsthand experience out in the field, at home and abroad, studying carnivorous plants, slippery eels and South African ‘big game’ animals.
Build your zoological knowledge and learn the latest laboratory techniques from well-respected experts.
Course and Module Details
Overview
From the smallest organisms, birds and primates, to biodiversity, aquatic biology, habitat management and the threat of climate change, on our BSc Zoology you’ll study a wide range of fascinating animals and how they interact with their environments.
The course covers the evolution, anatomy, physiology, behaviour and ecology of animals, along with how to care for and conserve them. You will gain an expert understanding of modern zoology in all its forms, from conservation management to paleoanthropology to molecular biology.
With a strong emphasis on practical work, you will have plenty of opportunities to work in the field, both locally and overseas, to gain valuable skills for your career. You’ll learn core laboratory skills such as titration, pipetting, and how to design and carry out laboratory experiments such as addressing climate change or identifying biological or physiological traits of animals.
You’ll learn to survey the environment, take measurements, collect samples, perform biochemical analysis in practical laboratory work, and interpret your data by creating reports and giving presentations on the results of your findings.
You’ll complete a conservation biology practical on nearby Wimbledon Common, and go to Wales to explore various UK habitats, including river ecosystems, sand dunes, woodlands and rocky shores. This week-long trip will provide you with the perfect experience for work in habitat or conversation management as you gain field-based skills in ecology, animal behaviour and animal physiology.
An optional and student-funded module, Conservation, People and Wildlife: South African Field Course, involves a two-week adventure to South Africa. You’ll learn directly from people living and working in conservation and related fields, and study South Africa’s wildlife including elephants, lions and rhinos. It’s a unique opportunity to get first-hand insight into the reality of conservation in Africa, and gain valuable experience of another culture and country.
Across your years at Roehampton, you’ll develop an expert understanding of modern Zoology. In your first year, you’ll explore the diversity of life on our planet, learning about the evolution and biology of vertebrate and invertebrate animals, vertebrate physiology, cell and plant biology and basic biochemistry, and attend lectures, practical lab sessions and field trips. In year two, you’ll take specialist modules to expand your knowledge, and use our state-of-the-art equipment including microscopes, imaging software, flow-through cytometers for counting bacteria and DNA sequencing tools. In your third year, you’ll choose what to study from our wide list of modules, and complete your research project, tailoring your degree to your interests and aspirations.
You will also have the option of undertaking a placement year between years two and three.
Modules
These modules are those we currently offer and may be subject to change each year.
Timetabling
To ensure our students can make the most of our great campus while they are here, as well as combine study with work, caring and other commitments, we are scheduling teaching on the first year of most of our undergraduate degrees on no more than three days a week. The exact timings will depend on your modules, which will be confirmed either before or during enrolment.
3-year degree
Teaching for the first year of this course in the 2023/24 academic year will be:
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
Foundation Year
This course is offered as a degree with foundation year - a four-year programme which provides an additional foundation year at the beginning of the degree, that will give you academic and practical experience, as well as the skills you need to ensure you are equipped to successfully complete your chosen degree.
During the foundation year:
- You will complete core modules in English and Mathematics, as well as an extended project which will develop your skills in carrying out research, using scholarly sources, drawing comparisons between your own research and that of others and documenting your findings.
- You will study two modules in Life Sciences which will give you the opportunity to explore methods of scientific thinking and reasoning in an enquiry-based way.
- You will be introduced to key concepts in human physiology that are common cornerstones of the different degree programmes.
- There is also a Disciplinary Investigation module where you will demonstrate the ability to utilise the academic and subject-specific toolkit acquired through previous modules to manage your own learning, and in partnership with your tutors, negotiate, plan and carry out an investigation into the chosen topic.
Start date:
September 2023
Entry tariff:
Foundation Year entry: 48 UCAS points (or equivalent)
UCAS Code:
C301
Modules
The following modules form the foundation year of this degree.
These modules are those we currently offer and may be subject to change each year.
Tuition fees and funding
September 2023 entry tuition fees
Year 1 fees, see links in table below for more information.
September 2023 funding
Placement Year
This course offers all students the option of a one-year paid work placement, to boost your employability even further. If you choose this route, you will take the placement following year two of your course, and then return to complete your degree.
Why take a placement?
A placement year is the perfect opportunity to gain valuable work experience, to build on the career skills we will teach you on this degree. The connections you make on the placement will improve your career prospects further, and equip you with the skills you need to secure graduate-level employment.
How we support you
The University’s Placement and Work Experience Team are experts at helping you to secure a placement. They will work closely with you from the start, helping you research potential employers, discover placement opportunities, create and pitch your CV, and will coach you to perform well in interviews. We aren't able to guarantee a placement, but our sector-leading advisors will give you the best possible chance of securing one.
Find out more about how we'll support you
We understand that your plans might change once you start your programme. If you decide not to do a placement, you will have the option of completing the three year version of your programme.
Whatever your choice, you will have access to many opportunities for work experience through our Placement and Work Experience Team, and access to face-to-face and 24/7 online careers support.
Study Abroad
This course has the option of studying abroad as part of your degree in your second semester of second year.
With Roehampton Abroad scholarships of up to £1,000 and Turing Scheme funding available, you could spend a semester at one of our partner universities across the globe, with destinations including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe.
Find out more about where your degree could take you here.
Career Options
Careers within Zoology include conservation management and consultancy, museum curating and researcher positions. Graduates develop transferable high-level skills in team work, organising and communicating complex information, and analysis and evaluation, making them suitable for a great range of careers inside and outside of Biology.
Many of our graduates also go onto specialise further at postgraduate study, and take up places on our MRes Primate Biology, Behaviour and Conservation and MbyRes Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour.
Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. They will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers. You’ll also have opportunities to work with our partners across London and beyond, and to attend a Roehampton jobs fair where you can find out about graduate opportunities and meet employers.
How to apply
Undergraduate programmes
You can now apply for any programme for any entry point in 2023.
- Home (UK) students – apply through UCAS (Roehampton UCAS institution code is R48)
- International students – apply using our direct application form.
If you need any help or advice with your application, or just want to ask us a question before you apply, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Detailed advice on applying for an undergraduate degree is available in the FAQs section below.
Application process FAQs
How do I apply?
If you are applying to us for a full-time degree or extended degree programme, you will need to apply online through UCAS, or direct, depending on the start date of your course and your fee status. Please see tabs above. And don't hesitate to contact us at the same time. Either fill in an online enquiry form, or contact us at the details below!
This is the official applications service for the UK, and they will send your application details to each of the universities you have listed on your application.
When you register with UCAS, you will also receive a username and password so that you can access your application at a later date.
It is very important that you enter the correct institution code (for Roehampton this is R48) and course code for each choice. These can be found on the relevant course pages on our website.
Contact us directly if you have any questions.
What is Roehampton’s UCAS institution code?
The Roehampton UCAS institution code is R48.
What is a buzzword?
Your school, college or centre will give you a buzzword so you can link your application to them. You add this word to your application when you register to make an undergraduate application.
If you are applying independently, without a school or college, you do not need a buzzword.
What if I’m not at school/college?
If you are no longer at school or college you will need to apply to university as an independent applicant. When you register with UCAS they will give you a username and password so that you can complete your application whenever you like.
You will need to complete the online application, including your personal statement and will also need to supply a reference from someone who knows you well, and is able to write about why you are suitable for higher education.
It is very important that you enter the correct institution code (for Roehampton this is R48) and course code for each choice. These can be found on the relevant course pages.
Further guidelines can be found on the UCAS website.
Contact us directly if you have any other questions about applications.
Do I need to complete all of my online application at once?
No. UCAS will issue you with a username and password which you can use to log in whenever and wherever you want to work on your application.
There is no time limit from when you start your application to when you send it, as long as you complete it within the deadlines set by UCAS and your school.
How do I apply if I’m an international student?
If you are a international student, you can apply direct using our online application form.
Details of support we provide for international students, and useful information about the application process, are available on our international web pages.
Can I apply through UCAS more than once?
No, you can only send one UCAS application in each year’s application cycle, but this can include applications for up to five courses. Applying for more than one course will cost extra.
If you do not receive any offers from your initial UCAS application, you can make additional choices through UCAS Extra in the Spring term. You will be sent details of UCAS Extra if you are eligible.
When will I hear back about my application?
If you apply to university before the 25 January deadline you should have received decisions from each of the universities you apply to by 18 May 2023. In this case, you will need to make your replies about which to accept by 8 June 2023.
If you applied after the January deadline, or one or more of your universities hasn’t made a decision on your application by the end of May, other reply dates will apply – please do contact us to find out more.
Can I accept more than one offer?
You can accept two courses – one firm choice and one insurance choice.
If you meet the requirements of your firm choice, then you will be expected to take that place, so you need to be sure that the course you have accepted firmly is the one you want to do.
If you miss the grades for your firm choice and meet the requirements for your insurance choice you will be expected to take up that place.
If you meet the terms of your firm choice and ask to be released from this, you will be entered into Clearing and cannot go to your insurance choice.
How do I know what’s happening with my application?
Once you have applied through UCAS you will be able to follow the progress of each of your applications by using UCAS Track.
You can also contact us directly to find out the status of your application with us.
What are conditional and unconditional offers?
If you apply through UCAS and we make you an offer, we will ordinarily make you one of the following types of offer:
Conditional Offers
This offer requires you to meet particular academic or other conditions before you can join the course of study you have applied for. This could be a combination of grade, scores or subjects and will be outlined in the offer communication that you receive.
Unconditional offers
An unconditional offer has no conditions attached. Unconditional offers are often made to students who already have their achieved qualification grades and who are returning to education after a gap year or a period of time in work.
What happens if Roehampton is my firm choice and I don’t meet the conditions of my offer?
If Roehampton is your firm choice, and you have not met your conditions, please check UCAS track, we may be able to show some flexibility, although this is not guaranteed.
If you have missed the conditions of your firm choice, but met the conditions of your Insurance choice. Congratualtions, you will be studying at your Insurance choice. If you miss the conditions for both your firm and Insurance choice, then UCAS will automatically enter you into Clearing.
Make sure that you are prepared for results day and any decisions you may need/want to make. Check UCAS for more advice about what happens on results day.
If you would like any advice on this, please contact us directly and we can discuss your options.
Will my application be accepted after the January deadline?
If you are applying to university from the UK or European Union (EU), irrespective of your nationality, you must submit your UCAS application before the January deadline in order for it to be guaranteed equal consideration. The deadline for the 2023 cycle is Wednesday 25 January 2023 at 18:00.
We understand that there are many reasons why you may not be able to meet this deadline. With this in mind, Roehampton will still consider applications received after the January deadline, if there are places available on the course.
I am studying T Levels. Can I apply to Roehampton?
The University of Roehampton welcomes the introduction of T Levels and is delighted to confirm that we will be able to accept them across the majority of our programmes. Students will be able to apply using T Levels for both three year and four year undergraduate degrees. UCAS Tariff requirements for each programme, will be made available on programme webpages.
How to apply for a Higher National Qualification?
The application process for Higher National Qualifications is to apply through UCAS, in the same way as undergraduate degree programmes.
I have accepted an offer to study at Roehampton through UCAS. Can I change my mind?
Yes, if you accepted an offer of study at us or another University through UCAS, you have 14 days in which you can change your response, and you can do so by contacting UCAS.
I have accepted a place at another University but want to join Roehampton. What do I do?
If you want to change your mind, please do get in touch to discuss your options with us. Call us on 0208 392 3314.
What is Clearing and how can I apply?
If you first apply through UCAS after 30 June 2023, UCAS will not send your application to universities but will instead send you details about Clearing.
Clearing a service that is available between July and September to help people find places on higher education courses.
Does Roehampton offer financial support for undergraduates?
Yes, we offer a range of scholarships, alongside support on managing your finances while you are with us.
You can find more information on our financial support pages.
Do you offer student accommodation?
Yes, we have a wide range of on-campus and off-campus student residences. You will be guaranteed University accommodation if you are applying for September 2023 entry.
Find out more about our accommodation and accommodation guarantee here.
Do you provide additional support for care leavers?
Yes to find out more visit our care leavers webpage.
I am already studying at another university. How can I transfer to Roehampton?
We can support you to transfer to Roehampton from another university, into the relevant year of study. Find out more here.
Where can I find advice on applying to University?
UCAS offers a number of helpful articles on the process of applying to universities. You can also find advice and guidance from the Schools and Colleges Engagement Team here.
Need help before you apply?
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