Our Zoology course offers a wide range of laboratory and field-based topics including subjects associated with human and veterinary medicine, as well as the study of animal behaviour and conservation issues. This scheme is also designed to investigate the core subjects of importance to animal biology including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, behaviour and ecology. The course also allows flexibility in the range of modules taken in all years of study.

Current modules include:

Level One (Year One):

• Science writing and career skills 
• Science skills for biological scientists 
• Chemistry of life 
• Animal diversity, form and function 
• Plants and algae - diversity, form and function
• Cellular and microbial biology 
• Introduction to ecology and behaviour 
• Genetics and evolutionary processes 

Level Two (Year Two):

• How to undertake research in biological sciences 
• Molecular ecology 
• Trophic dynamics: introduction to modelling 
• Zoology literature review 
• Cell and immunobiology 
• Terrestrial invertebrates and parasites 
• Vertebrates 
• Animal behaviour in conservation and welfare
• Coastal marine ecology
• Oceanography
• Marine plankton and pelagic invertebrates
• Human and medical genetics
• Clinical biochemistry and physiology

Level Three (Year Three):

• Zoology research project
• Current research in zoology - each member of staff presents a module on their own specific research interests (on a range of topics) from which you select five for assessment  
• Animal ecology field course OR Terrestrial ecology field course
• Literature review in zoology

Fieldwork

In addition to locally based studies, there are visits to National Nature Reserves such as Skomer Island and to organisations maintaining animals in the wild and in captivity, including the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Llanelli, Bristol Zoo and Margam Park. We also have close associations with a variety of other organisations including the British Mammal Society, Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales, and the Gower Bird Hospital.

Students also have the option of undertaking fieldwork activities in Sikkim, Indian Himalayas.

Student Projects

A popular part of the course is the laboratory or field-based research project, carried out after Year 2. This may be based at Swansea or in other locations worldwide, and it is usually possible to arrange topics in areas of particular interest to individual students.

For field-based projects, a wide range of habitats and animal communities are accessible locally, particularly on the Gower Peninsula and Loughor Estuary, and at Margam Country Park. Some students choose to study at sites or research establishments elsewhere in the UK or abroad, taking advantage of the links forged by the School with other universities. A wide variety of animals have been studied during recent project work, including water voles, hedgehogs, foxes, otters, bats, marine mammals, turtles, primates, lions, elephants, butterflies and dragonflies. We have well-equipped laboratories allowing the use of  molecular and genetic approaches to zoology, as well as studies of animal behaviour,  ecology (aquatic or terrestrial fauna), immunology and neurophysiology. There are also close ties with industry, especially in the area of bio-control of pests of medical and economic importance.

Examples of recently researched project topics include:

• The diet of European Otters on the LLeyn Peninsula, North Wales
• The foraging behaviour of Pipistrelle bats on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales
• A study of intra-specific brood parastism in the Moorhen
• The effects of dredging and mangrove removal on juvenile Lemon Shark ecology in the Bahamas
• A study of the herd dynamics of Asian Elephants at Chester Zoo
• A comparative study of behaviour in white and tawny coloured lions (Panthera leo), with reference to white lion reintroduction attempts
• Assessing the exploitation of conservation education classes by school groups in a zoo setting

Further information on this course, including Entry Requirements, Scholarships, Open Days, Frequently Asked Questions and Career Prospects