BSc Zoology (C300)
Zoology is a traditional strength of Queen Mary. We have a long record of research achievement in understanding the structure, physiology, distribution and behaviour of animals ranging from protists to porpoises, anemones to antelopes, echinoderms to elephants and top shells to termites. In order to meet the needs of our students even better, we have now split the programme into a whole organism and a physiology stream.
Programme Structure
Year 1
Required Modules – Essential skills for biologists, Cell dynamics, Heredity and gene action, The diversity of life, Basic biochemistry, Conservation and the environment, Evolution.
Options – Chemistry for biologists, Ecological and environmental techniques, Introductory chemistry.
Year 2
Required Modules – Animal physiology, The Invertebrates, Statistical methods in biology.
Options – Cell biology and development genetics, Evolutionary genetics, Populations, communities and ecosystems, Transmission genetics, Aquatic ecosystems:structure and function, Basic immunology, Fish biology and fisheries, Fundamentals of Neurobiology, Genes and bioinformatics, Global change biology.
Year 3
Required Modules – Integrative studies in biological science, Mammals and evolution and either Zoology research project or Investigative project or Project skills in the life science.
Options – Behavioural ecology, Endocrine physiology and biochemistry, Population & Chromosome Genetics, Advanced aquatic biology, Developmental biology and cell signalling, Parasites and infectious disease, Tropical ecology and conservation, Turtles, seals, whales and dolphins.
Please note that this programme includes several compulsory modules with a field-course component, and these generally require your attendance at a location away from Queen Mary outside of the normal teaching semesters. In the final year there are also modules with more extended field-courses available as options. If you register for these modules you will have to meet travel costs and subsistence costs for these courses which are in addition to payment of the normal university fees for the programme.
Entry requirements
Normally 300 points at A2 level.
Biology (or equivalent) A2 is required with at least grade C.
International Baccalaureate: 30 – 32 points with Biology (HL) grade 5
and two other subjects to be specified (HL or SL) at grade 5
For more information on entry requirements visit the SBCS general entry requirement page.
Practical Skills/Project work
Every student has the option of taking an investigative or research project that may take up to a quarter of the final year's work. For many students, this is the highlight of their time in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, giving them an opportunity to work alongside established researchers in the field, and the Natural History Museum, the London Zoo, Forest Enterprise and London University's Marine Biological Station at Millport in Scotland all provide special opportunities for original work. There is a strong emphasis on fieldwork, with opportunities for residential modules in all three years, located at sites around the coastline of the UK and in the Lake District.