Graduate employment
Sussex provides excellent support as you plan
your future, through our Careers and Employability
Centre. Your degree will equip you for specific
careers in conservation, ecological management,
scientific research in academia or industry, nature
documentaries and photography, zoos and wildlife
parks, fieldwork-based careers, agriculture,
veterinary work, and teaching. You will also develop
a wide range of transferrable skills which will make
you highly employable for many other careers.
A high proportion of our students choose to enter
research and further study.
University of Sussex
School of Life Sciences
Faculty
perspective
‘Zoology is an exciting and broad subject. My own research
takes me from genetics to behaviour, and from ants to
sharks, in a quest to understand how animals behave and
evolve. How do the societies of social animals work and
deal with the myriad of challenges they face, often without
any form of oversight or controller? Why do animals show
individual “personalities”? How does co-operation in social
animals evolve in the face of all the underlying conflicts
between individuals? What role do parasites play in the
current “pollinator crisis” and how can we help beneficial
species cope with such threats?
‘Our course is designed for you to experience the subject in
all its glory, to learn what you want to learn as well as what
you need to learn, to become inspired and enthused about
the subject, and to give you the tools to take the next steps
in your career.’
Zoology
Professor Bill Hughes
Professor of Evolutionary Biology,
University of Sussex
More questions
See our on-line prospectus at
www.sussex.ac.uk/study/ug
for more information, including the latest on:
t our typical offer
t how to apply
t fees, scholarships, bursaries and other financial
support
t how to arrange to visit us.
Contact us
School of Life Sciences
John Maynard Smith (JMS) Building
University of Sussex
Falmer, Brighton
BN1 9QG, UK
T +44 (0)1273 678057
F +44 (0)1273 877586
E [email protected]
www.sussex.ac.uk/lifesci
Design: www.bankdesign.com
Teaching, learning and assessment
You will learn via lectures, practicals, tutorials and
fieldwork and be taught by world-leading experts
in their fields – with small-group and guided,
independent learning embedded in many modules
and an excellent staff:student ratio. There is a
heavy emphasis on fieldwork, including to the
mediterranean and Ecuador, and the assessment
of all modules includes a major coursework
component. You will be exposed to the latest
zoological research throughout your degree. A
quarter of the third year is spent on an in-depth
research project, which gives you the opportunity
for first-hand experience of doing scientific
research on a wide range of zoological topics.
You will have access to an academic adviser and
expert support services should you need them. As
well as in-depth knowledge of the facts, concepts,
principles and theories associated with zoology,
by the end of your degree you will also have
developed a range of transferable skills such as
time management, communication, data analysis
and critical thinking.
www.sussex.ac.uk/lifesci
Join the School of Life Sciences
Courses and modules*
Life Sciences brings together biology, ecology, neuroscience,
biochemistry, biomedical science, chemistry, genetics and zoology.
Our lecturers are world-class collaborative researchers and bring
their leading expertise to teaching on all our degrees.
At Sussex we offer Zoology as either a three-year BSc or a four-year MSci. The first three years in
both degrees are identical. The MSci adds a research-focused fourth year, designed for you if you are
interested in a career as a professional scientist in industry or academia, enabling you to get a Masters
degree while being eligible for undergraduate financial support.
ranging from neurobiology to climate change. Year
3 consists of an in-depth research project and
your choice from a range of advanced, researchled modules covering a diversity of zoological
topics, plus an optional tropical ecology field
course in Ecuador and a career-focused module in
conservation.
Research Project
All students do a research project as part of their
third year studies. This is your opportunity to do
cutting edge research in the field or laboratory,
with the best students achieving scientific
publications from their work. At Sussex you
will be taught by some of the world’s leading
zoologists, who are fascinated by their subjects.
We pride ourselves on offering a lively, stimulating,
supportive and enjoyable place to study.
Zoology at Sussex
Zoology is the study of animals, how they function,
behave and evolve, and is a subject that is both
fascinating and of real-world importance; there
has never been a greater need for zoologists
than today. Year 1 covers the fundamentals of
zoology, including animal behaviour, evolution and
conservation. It includes a field course, modules
teaching you about the scientific research behind
our understanding of some of the most exciting
animals, plus a range of interdisciplinary options.
In Year 2 you will study the core topics in zoology
in detail. There are field courses to study animal
behaviour, ecology and conservation in the
mediterranean and the UK, and optional modules
Professional placement/year abroad
All students can take a sandwich year in which
they do a professional placement after the second
year. The University provides extensive support
in acquiring placements. Students can also
study abroad for a year with one of many partner
institutions in North America, Europe and Australia.
International Foundation Year
An International Foundation Year in Life Sciences
and Psychology has been introduced for students
from outside the EU whose qualifications
don’t meet the University’s general entrance
requirements. This gives you the opportunity to
enhance your English language skills and scientific
abilities and will prepare you for any of our
degrees.
Year 1
Autumn term
Spring term
Strand 1
Introduction to Evolution and
Biodiversity
Introduction to Ecology and
Conservation
Strand 2
Human Physiology
Neuroscience and Behaviour
Strand 3
Lives of Carnivores
Research Methods and
Marine Biology Field Course
Two optional modules from: Essential Molecular and Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Natural
World, Environmental Management and Sustainability, Science and Reason, Individuals and Groups.
Year 2
Autumn term
Spring term
Strand 1
Conservation Biology I
Conservation Biology II
Strand 2
Animal Behavioural Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Four optional modules from: Terrestrial Ecology and Conservation Field Course, Mediterranean Ecology and
Behaviour Field Course, Environmental Research Skills, Genetics and Genomics, Principles of Neuroscience,
Neural Circuits, Structural Basis of Biological Function, Developmental Biology, Introduction to Sustainable
Development, Global Climate Change, Resource Management, Geographical Information Systems.
Year 3
You undertake your research project and choose six optional modules. Options include: Tropical Rainforest
Science (field trip to Ecuador), Tropical Rainforests: Biogeography and Conservation, Dinosaur and Vertebrate
Palaeozoology, Conservation in Practice, Animal Vocal Communication, Advanced Topics in Evolutionary
Biology, Social Insects, Cooperation and Conflict, Animal-Plant Interactions, Intelligence in Animals and
Machines, Genomics and Bioinformatics, Regulating the Transcriptome, Development of the Nervous
System, Post-transcriptional Control of Gene Expression, Protein Form and Function, Advances in Climate
Science.
Year 4 for MSci and MSci (with a research placement) students only
Autumn term
Spring term
Core module
Research Foundations in Zoology
Current topics in Biology, Zoology
and Ecology
Core module
Literature Review
Research Project in Zoology
Options: choose either a field course (Ecuador or mediterranean) or from our list of third year modules.
* All modules are subject to change, but were correct at the time of going to press. For up-to-date information, always
consult our online prospectus at www.sussex.ac.uk/study/ug