Animal Behaviour BSc Hons | University of Chester

Accreditations

You are viewing Course summary

Course Summary

Our Animal Behaviour degree offers an exciting journey into animal biology, behaviour and care, combining a solid foundation in biological sciences with a scientific approach to understanding how animals think and act. You'll not only build fundamental skills, but you will also use them in cutting-edge applied contexts such as conservation and welfare sciences, providing the essential knowledge and hands-on experience to turn your passion into a fulfilling career.

As well as exploring the behaviour of animals, you will embrace a wide taxonomic range of species and have a good focus on amphibians and invertebrates. These groups have very fascinating behaviour in their own right: for example, cockroaches have personalities, and frogs can experience stress! They are also a crucial part of temperate and tropical ecosystems nonetheless – understanding their behaviour is vital for wider habitat conservation.

While our course focus is on wild animals, you'll also learn about behaviour in managed settings. This includes optimising care for zoo animals, enhancing pet welfare, and improving farm animal management. Our passionate staff bring their extensive research expertise and enthusiasm to the course, ensuring you're provided with valuable skills and opportunities to make a difference in the world of animal behaviour.

Why you'll Love it

Study Abroad

Academic Skills Support

Work Based Learning

BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour

What you'll Study

The BSc Animal Behaviour course contains core modules at each level of study plus specialist modules at level 5 and 6. In your first year, (level 4), you are introduced to key biological concepts including genetics, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, animal behaviour and ecology. More specialist skills including field and behavioural observation methods, animal handling and training will also be developed. Methods in data collection and analysis will be embedded throughout. At the end of Level 4, you will have the opportunity to create your own field trip to apply knowledge learned in your first year.

Year 2 (level 5) builds upon the foundation with more complex learning and applying animal behaviour in a range of contexts. You will learn behavioural ecology, adaptations to the environment, behaviour and welfare and the influence of physiology and cognition on behaviour. The end of level 5 will include a work placement or opportunity for an overseas field trip.

In your final year (level 6), you will apply your knowledge to conservation situations and also learn biological enterprise to prepare you for graduate employment after university. Specialist modules include behaviour modification and current issues in animal behaviour. You will also conduct a large research project as part of your dissertation where you must consider project design, research ethics and health and safety, observation methods, analysis and scientific writing. Project topics are flexible, and you have the opportunity to develop an area you are interested in.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term students study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Average scheduled contact hours range between approximately 6 and 10 hours per week depending upon level of study, the complexity of the material being taught, and requirement for laboratory practicals or field trips. This course is delivered through a mix of in person and online learning. Students can expect to take part in lectures, workshops and peer-led seminars.

Students should expect to spend an average of 30 – 34 hours per week on independent study which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment.

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so that students are exposed to the different types of task they might encounter in the workplace. These will include coursework in the form of field journal, case studies, written pieces (both long and short form) and presentations. In some modules students will encounter class tests, practical assessments and end of module assessments. We continuously review the assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare students for graduate level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Study a Common First Year

This course shares a common first year with Zoology BSc Hons.

This means that you’ll learn alongside students studying a similar discipline, helping to broaden your knowledge and exposure to other concepts, perspectives and professions in the first year of your degree.

As you learn and collaborate with students from other courses, you'll not only widen your social and professional network but also learn new skills that will set you up for success in your industry.

In your second and third years, you will progress to studying more specialist modules within conservation, animal behavior, and welfare science, developing your skills to become a World Ready graduate.

Entry requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC ; either Biology or Applied Science is essential
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: (Animal Care/Management or Applied Science): Typical offer - DMM
International Baccalaureate	26 points including 5 in HL Biology
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 including H3 in Biology Scottish Highers: BBBB including Biology
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma (Science), to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level	T Level Science - Merit
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma (Applied Science): DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A Level	72 UCAS points from GCE A Levels to include grade D in Biology
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: (Animal Care/Management or Applied Science): Typical offer - MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points including 4 in HL Biology
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 including Biology Scottish Highers: CCDD including Biology
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma (Science) – Pass overall
T Level	Considered alongside A Level Biology
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma (Applied Science): MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree. Animal Behaviour - A level Biology or Applied Science or BTEC Animal Care / Management or Applied Science

Fees and funding

£9,250per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £13,950.

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials.

Students often elect to purchase a laptop, where students choose to do so, the cost it likely to be around £800-£1000.

Depending on student demand, in this course there is an optional overseas field trip at Level 5. Previous visits have included the Philippians and South Africa. The cost of this field trip varies by location and external factors but is likely to be approximately £2000. The field trip is optional, and students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course. Any non-optional fieldtrips linked to assessments will be included in the tuition fees.

Strong boots and a waterproof coat will also be required. The quality and cost of these are at the student’s discretion but must be suitable for fieldwork in the UK in the winter months.

Students are currently required to purchase a lab induction pack with a lab coat and other required equipment. The current price is £30.00 but may be subject to price increases depending on purchase costs.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Where you'll study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Support Services

Fitness Facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Chapel, Chaplaincy and Multi-Faith Spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Department graduates go on to a wide range of employment and self-employment. The nature of the course means that they are ideal candidates for many professional roles within the creative industries and beyond. There are high rates of employment, or progression to further study, from the department.

Progression Options

Animal Behaviour MSc
Animal Welfare MSc
Zoology and Animal Science

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Animal Behaviour BSc (Hons)

Available with: