Animal Behaviour and Conservation

Animal behaviour and conservation together address some of the most compelling questions in biology: how and why do animals do what they do, and what can we do to protect the extraordinary diversity of life on Earth? This three-year full-time degree at Manchester Metropolitan University combines the rigorous scientific study of behaviour, from foraging and mating strategies to social organisation and cognition, with the practical and policy dimensions of conservation biology. The programme includes a sandwich year and a work placement, which means you spend time in a professional setting, gaining the hands-on experience that is genuinely difficult to replicate in a classroom or laboratory.

You will develop skills in field observation, experimental design, statistical analysis and animal handling, drawing on a wide range of taxa from invertebrates to large mammals. The conservation strand introduces you to ecological principles, threatened species management, habitat assessment and the policy frameworks that shape conservation practice at national and international levels. The placement year allows you to work with zoos, wildlife organisations, conservation NGOs or research bodies, building both professional contacts and the portfolio of practical experience that employers value.

A typical entry tariff of around 136 points is expected.

Graduates pursue careers in zoos and wildlife parks, conservation charities, environmental consultancies, national parks, government agencies and research institutions. Roles range from field ecologist and wildlife monitor to conservation officer, zoo keeper and environmental educator. The combination of scientific rigour and practical training that this degree provides is well suited to a field where fieldwork competence, data skills and genuine passion for animal welfare and biodiversity conservation all matter.

Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study, including research degrees that develop specialist expertise in particular taxonomic groups or conservation contexts.