Zoology

Zoology is the scientific study of animals in all their diversity, from the simplest invertebrates to the most complex mammals, and in all the contexts in which they live, from tropical rainforests and coral reefs to urban environments and managed farmland. It asks how animals are built and how they function at the cellular and organismal level, how they behave and communicate, how they interact with other species and with their physical environments, and how they have evolved over hundreds of millions of years. The discipline is both fundamental and urgent: as biodiversity faces unprecedented threats and zoonotic diseases pose growing risks to human health, the knowledge and skills that zoologists bring have never been more needed.

At Queen's University Belfast, this three-year full-time degree develops a thorough grounding in the science of animals across multiple levels of organisation and inquiry. You will study animal physiology, behaviour, ecology, evolution, genetics, and conservation, building an integrated understanding of the animal kingdom and the processes that govern it. Belfast's location and the university's research connections give you access to a range of field and laboratory environments where you will develop practical skills in observation, experimental design, data collection, and analysis.

The degree also addresses applied dimensions of zoology, including animal health and welfare, disease ecology, and the management of animal populations in the wild and in captivity, reflecting the breadth of contexts in which zoological expertise is now needed.

Zoology graduates enter careers in conservation organisations, wildlife management, environmental consultancy, zoological parks and aquaria, government agencies, veterinary sciences, public health, and research. The combination of biological knowledge, field skills, and quantitative data analysis developed by the degree is valued across these sectors. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in ecology, conservation biology, animal behaviour, parasitology, wildlife management, or veterinary medicine, building the specialist expertise needed for research and senior professional roles.

Teaching, science communication, and environmental education are also natural destinations for graduates with a passion for sharing knowledge of the natural world.