Animal Behaviour BSc (Hons)

You will learn the essential concepts and skills that form the backbone of a degree in biological sciences. Through theory and practical sessions, this module will guide you through every level of biological organisation, from the smallest cellular structures to an introduction to animal behaviour and ecology. Throughout this module, you will develop academic, practical, and analytical skills that will support your studies and career development.

You will explore the fundamentals of scientific research, including how to develop research questions, work with relevant literature, understand basic statistical concepts and communicate research findings. Key biological topics, such as advanced physiology and genetics, will be covered, emphasising the connection between theory and practical, hands-on experience.

You will then focus on topics specific to your course. If you have chosen to study Animal Behaviour, Animal Welfare Science, Marine Biology or Zoology, you will develop your knowledge and practical laboratory and field skills in topics such as behaviour, husbandry, training applications and field techniques. If you have chosen to study Biology, Bioveterinary Science or Forensic Biology, you will develop your knowledge and practical laboratory skills in topics such as metabolism, microbiology and immunology. 

This module focuses on the diversity of life on Earth. You will examine the principles that explain biodiversity while exploring the taxonomy, systematics, evolution, and ecology of the major taxa that comprise life on Earth. You will learn how biological diversity is measured, valued, and conserved, preparing you for more advanced studies in animal conservation-related topics.

This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to gain further practical skills and develop your own projects. You will explore various experimental methods through subject-specific workshops in the laboratory or field. Working in groups, you will apply these skills and your previous training in formulating research questions, to conduct your own study. In doing so you will need to consider ethical factors and practical constraints where relevant. At the end of the module, you will be able to present your findings as a group, showcasing your ability to conduct an experiment and communicate results effectively.

Chinese: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE in Chinese or equivalent. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

French: Communication in Practice (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students that have completed A-Level or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

French: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

German: Communication in Practice (20 Credits) Option

This module enables students with A-Level German or equivalent to further develop their grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

Spanish: Communication in Practice (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students that have completed a A-Level or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

Spanish: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students that have completed GCSE or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

Subsidiary Language for Beginners (20 Credits) Option

This module provides the opportunity to study a new language from scratch and introduces you to basic grammar, vocabulary and cultural contexts. You will apply the language to practical situations using both oral and written skills. 

This module is designed to provide you with an understanding of, and appreciation for, how animals adapt to the varied environments in which they live, in response to the problems of life associated with each unique environment. This includes how and why the animals have evolved the way they did in terms of their morphology, physiology and behaviour while considering the ecology of each habitat type. While the majority of the module looks back at animal evolution, part of it looks forward too by broaching the topics of anthropogenic environments and what animals need to do to continue surviving in the Anthropocene.

Behavioural Ecology builds on the theory and practical skills introduced in the first year (Level 4). You will develop your understanding of how evolutionary theory enables us to explain and predict animal behaviour as a product of selective pressures in their natural environment. Practical sessions will allow you to practice behavioural observation and measurement skills while designing a proposal for a behaviour study investigating an area of animal behaviour of your choice.

This module provides an overview of key topics in animal behaviour and welfare, including methods of animal welfare assessment, arguments around sentience and consciousness and essential legislation and policy, relevant to a career working with animals. Biological factors that affect animal well-being, such as pain, disease, nutrition and breeding, will be discussed in the context of captive management. Emerging topics, such as wild animal welfare, will also be covered. The module addresses challenges across various settings, offering you opportunities to develop strategies to improve welfare in real-world scenarios.

From lizards basking to lions hunting, animal behaviour arises from complex interactions between physiology, cognition and environmental cues. This module explores how these processes shape behaviour, using a range of invertebrate and vertebrate examples. Through blended, active learning, you will gain skills in critical evaluation, study design, and scientific communication. Topics include sensory attraction, social learning, competition, mating, biological clocks, memory and animal cultures. You will also examine real-world applications, including animal welfare, human impact, climate change, and conservation efforts such as species preservation and captive breeding programs.

In this module, you will have the opportunity to put theory into practice and build essential skills for your future career by gaining invaluable real-world experience through a range of experiential activities (e.g., volunteering, workplace engagement, research projects, field trip (where available and dependent on course), or through a combination of activities). You will develop practical, analytical, and professional skills relevant to your subject, while also enhancing transferable skills that are vital in any graduate-level role. 

Through hands-on experiences, you will critically reflect on your personal and professional growth, using these insights to shape your career path and identify areas for continued development. You'll take ownership of your learning, ensuring that you can effectively articulate your employability skills in a professional context, and be well-prepared for the workplace. This module empowers you to explore new environments, apply your knowledge, and discover how your academic training translates into real-world impact, boosting your confidence and work readiness. 

It is your responsibility to organise any experience undertaken outside of the university as part of this module although you will be provided with support from university staff.

All activities within this module must be university-level; this means:  

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc.)  
• Meeting the professional expectations of the experiential activities you undertake 
• Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as an experiential activity provider, if the role aligns with your career development and provides you with high skilled work commensurate with level 5 study. 

In this module, you will have the opportunity to put theory into practice and build essential skills for your future career by gaining invaluable real-world experience through a structured, university-level work placement for 4, 5 or 7 weeks as one continuous block / period with a placement provider (i.e. a local employer from the private, public, or charitable sector). You will develop practical, analytical, and professional skills relevant to your subject, while also enhancing transferable skills that are vital in any graduate-level role. Therefore this module will enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

Through hands-on experiences, you will critically reflect on your personal and professional growth, using these insights to shape your career path and identify areas for continued development. You'll take ownership of your learning, ensuring that you can effectively articulate your employability skills in a professional context, and be well-prepared for the workplace. This module empowers you to explore new environments, apply your knowledge, and discover how your academic training translates into real-world impact, boosting your confidence and work readiness.

It is your responsibility to organise the placement as part of this module although you will be provided with support from university staff.

All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc.)
• Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting in one continuous block / period for 4, 5 or 7 weeks for a minimum of 140-147 hours over the course of the entire work placement
• Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as the placement provider, if the high-skilled work criterion above is fulfilled for the full duration of the placement.
• All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

The work placement context may not necessarily, reflect your degree discipline per se, but rather, it will give you an enriched experience to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

Or you can choose ONE of the following:

• University Placement Year Optional
• Subject Placement Year Optional
• International University Placement Year Optional

This module provides the interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills needed for your future career. You will develop a broader awareness of the bigger picture of where your degree fits within the life sciences and the professional environment. Key themes include stakeholder engagement, ethical decision-making, and sustainability. You will build communication skills through group work, presentations, and pitching ideas to diverse audiences. Seminars and collaborative projects will help you apply entrepreneurial thinking and develop your leadership abilities. By integrating sustainability principles with commercial awareness and policy insight, this module enhances your employability and prepares you to drive meaningful change in your chosen field. You will have the opportunity to gain an additional qualification in Carbon Literacy within this module.

This module explores a wide range of conservation theories and techniques, focusing on their practical application in the management of wild animal populations. You will examine how your existing knowledge of genetics, ecology, and animal behaviour can inform and enhance conservation strategies. Through a combination of key case studies and hands-on activities, you will gain practical experience in genetic analysis, including techniques used to investigate population structure. The module also introduces new perspectives in conservation genetics, wildlife forensics, animal behaviour, and management, encouraging you to critically evaluate their relevance and applicability to real-world conservation challenges.

This module explores key aspects of animal behaviour modification across various settings, including homes, kennels, catteries, equestrian centres, rehoming facilities, farms and zoos. It examines the influence of genetics, early life experiences, human-animal interactions and lifestyle on the development of behaviour problems. You will evaluate methods for assessing behavioural issues, along with their limitations, and explore a range of solutions, such as training and therapeutic interventions. 

This module investigates the latest advances in animal behaviour research, including technologies, methodologies, theories, and discoveries. From using AI tracking software and gene expression technologies to discover previously unknown behaviour, you will explore how cutting-edge technologies and methodologies are leading to exciting discoveries. You will investigate how classical animal behaviour theories have been challenged and changed as science becomes more inclusive, opening up to broader societal spheres and bringing novel ideas from an increasingly diverse research community, and you will critically evaluate current theories. You will also explore new research, which is revealing how behavioural plasticity and urban evolution are enabling animals to behaviourally adapt to an ever-changing world. 

You will undertake an in-depth research project on a topic of your choice that aligns with your course and reflects the interests and passions you have developed during the first two years of your degree. This is your opportunity to explore a subject in detail, applying and extending your knowledge in a meaningful way.

Throughout this process, you will strengthen your critical thinking and analytical skills while conducting independent research under the guidance of a lecturer. Your dissertation will serve as a substantial piece of scholarly work, demonstrating your ability to understand, apply, and evaluate scientific concepts relevant to your discipline.

In completing this project, you will refine your academic writing and learn to communicate complex ideas with clarity and precision. Ultimately, the dissertation represents the culmination of your undergraduate education and provides a strong foundation for your future career as a biological scientist.