Zoology with a Year Abroad
Swansea University
UCAS Code: C301 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Swansea University
UCAS Code: C301 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
To include Biology or Human Biology
Pass with Distinction overall to include 24 distinctions (3 in Biology), plus 15 Merits. Only Science based Access course considered (excluding Health Sciences)
We recognise the EPQ as an excellent indicator of success. If you are predicted a grade B or above in the EPQ, you will receive an offer with a one grade reduction, to include your EPQ with a grade B.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include 5 in Higher Level Biology or Human Biology
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
From Science based BTEC Extended Diploma (excluding Animal Management and Health Science) plus at least one grade B in GCSE Science with GCSE Grades C in English/Welsh and Mathematics. Accepted BTECs: Applied Science, Environmental Sustainability and Countryside Management.
ABBCC to include Biology Grade B
Swansea University accepts the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales as fully equivalent to x1 A-Level.
Requirements are as for A levels where you can substitute the same non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Level Core Grade
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Zoology is at the core of our understanding of the natural world. At Swansea you will enjoy unique opportunities to dedicate yourself to the scientific study of animals, from their physiology and anatomy, ecology and behaviour, to their evolution and conservation, acquiring the skills to play a major role in many sectors, from terrestrial and marine biology and conservation to agriculture, medicine, public health and veterinary science.
You will have an unrivalled opportunity to study animals in their natural environments, from the rich coastal, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats on our doorstep in the Gower Peninsula, to further afield environments visited during UK-based and international residential field courses. Our excellent teaching facilities include: new laboratory facilities; the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research; a zoology museum; a custom-designed 18-metre research vessel; and a unique visualisation suite to explore in unrivalled detail complex animal movement and behaviour data.
As part of this programme, you will spend a year abroad between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experience. Our partner institutions span the globe, with opportunities varying each year. If you wish to receive more information, please get in touch with us on study@swansea.ac.uk.
**Why Zoology at Swansea?**
- 2nd in the UK for Teaching Quality (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- 3rd in the UK for Teaching on my Course* (NSS 2024) * Based on the average positivity score across questions 1 to 4 in the NSS 2024 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide
- 12th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- 11th in the UK for Research Quality (Complete University Guide 2025)
Zoology at Swansea University attracts students from far and wide and is based on our stunning Singleton Park campus overlooking Swansea Bay.
Your learning will be shaped by inspirational and internationally-renowned academics including Professor Rory Wilson – Chief Scientific Consultant behind National Geographic’s Great Migrations, and Dr Richard Unsworth – advisor on the globally acclaimed BBC series Blue Planet II.
**Your Zoology Experience**
- A flexibly structured degree path means you have the opportunity to study abroad, work in industry or undertake research for a year, either locally, nationally or overseas.
- Field courses available near and far allow you to work varied habitats, exploring the amazing natural areas on our doorstep, and natural life in distant lands such as India, Borneo, and the Red Sea.
Modules
In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Cellular & Microbial Biology; Core Skills for Biological Sciences; Botany and Ecology; Evolution and Genetics; Life in the Oceans; and Animal Diversity and Behaviour.
In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Ecological Data Analysis; Introduction to field zoology; Tetrapod Evolution; Entomology; Parasitology; Animal Conservation and Welfare; Molecular Ecology; Marine Invertebrates; Animal Physiology; Parasitology; Plant Ecology....
As part of this programme, you will spend a year abroad between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experience. Our partner institutions span the globe, with opportunities varying each year. If you wish to receive more information, please get in touch with us on study@swansea.ac.uk
In Year 4, you will typically study areas including: a Biosciences Research Project; Professional skills in conservation; Professional Laboratory Skills; Interdisciplinary Field Course to the Indian Himalayas (Sikkim); Tropical marine ecology field course; Tropical Ecology and Conservation - Borneo Field Trip; Mammalian Carnivore Ecology and Conservation; Movement ecology; Plant Conservation and Ecology; Climate Change Biology; Natural Products Biotechnology...
Assessment methods
We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.
Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.
Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.
This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.
Extra funding
Our degree schemes in Biology, Zoology and Marine Biology are eligible for the Ysgoloriaeth Cymhelliant scholarships for those students who wish to pursue part of their studies through the Welsh language. Students who intend to study at least 33% of their subject through the medium of Welsh can apply. We offer 40 credits through Welsh at all levels.
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.
£20k
£23k
£27k
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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Post-six month graduation stats:
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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:
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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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