Zoology with Placement Year BSc

This course allows you to do a year-long, paid work placement as part of your degree. You'll pay reduced fees for the year you're on placement and you'll have the support you need from our departmental placement tutor and the University. Most students earn salaries during their placements and many are offered a graduate-level job at the end.Previous students have found placements within industry, charities or government at organisations that include Newquay Zoo, the Centre for Integrated Research, Conservation and Learning (Flamingo Land and the University of York) and EMEC Ecology. It’s a great opportunity to test out a career path that you're considering - whether that's in the lab or applying your scientific knowledge and transferable skills in industry.The course spans microbes, invertebrates, birds, fish, humans and other mammals: how they evolved, how they behave, and how they respond to global change. You’ll cover three main themes at Sheffield: animal behaviour, conservation and animal ecology - how animals interact with their environment and each other, evolutionary biology - how animals adapt to their environment, and comparative physiology - the functional characteristics of animals. You might even add an extra year of research experience with an integrated masters.All of our students study an essential set of core modules designed to give you the skills that every professional zoologist needs. Alongside these you'll have the opportunity to study optional modules that span ecology and conservation biology and plant sciences. You can mix and match these modules, covering physiology, genetics and speciation to behaviour, food-webs, biodiversity and conservation, underpinned by the latest research discoveries from our experts.In your first year you’ll spend your first week on a field course in Sheffield, collecting and analysing data throughout the city’s green spaces and out to the edge of the Peak District. Throughout the year you’ll develop practical skills in the lab, including microscopy and genetics, complemented by regular field trips to zoos, aquariums and nature reserves. You’ll also have lectures and take part in small group tutorials where you’ll enhance your writing, data analysis and presentation skills as you learn about the latest research findings from our world-leading academics.In your second year, your modules will cover more advanced scientific topics and techniques across zoology. Some students choose to take our science communication module ‘Talking the Talk: Getting Science on Film’ where you’ll get the chance to make your own factual science documentaries, with support and advice from professional filmmakers. All of our zoology students receive training in modern data analysis techniques and get the opportunity to go on an optional two-week long field course between second and third year, giving you the chance to design and carry out your own research and develop an understanding of the ecology and biodiversity of different habitats across the globe.Once you return from your placement, in your third year you'll complete a research project and dissertation in an area of zoology that interests you alongside your chosen specialist modules. Conducted under the supervision of one of our world experts, you'll work in a small group to define questions, develop experimental protocols, conduct the research, analyse the data and ultimately produce a written report in the form of a scientific publication.Our graduates go into careers across conservation, research, marketing, human resources, science communication and teaching, using their sought after transferrable skills in data analysis, project management and teamwork to thrive in a range of organisations. Each year our graduates join conservation and envir