Zoology in Relation to Medicine and Veterinary Science Intercalated BSc

Zoology is the study of animals at all levels, from their evolutionary origins, molecular and cell biology to their physiology, their diseases, their behaviour and ecology. Zoology also links to the management and conservation of animals in the light of contemporary threats of habitat loss, climate change and human exploitation.

This course provides you with an insight into a wide range of animals, their effects on the human world, and how to conserve them. You will study a diversity of animals looking at issues such as parasitic infections, animal development, social insect biology, human populations, animal behaviour, animal nutrition and sustainable agriculture, animal welfare and conservation science. You'll also be introduced to the design and statistical analysis of your own experiments that will also provide transferrable skills to treat medical and veterinary data and literature. You will undertake an independent research project and have the option of taking a field course in South Africa.

This degree will give you a strong grounding in essential zoology to allow you to make better-informed judgements during your career.

Research projects

A wide range of research topics is available, such as parasite-host interactions, animal development, animal nutrition, conservation ecology and animal behaviour. These projects are an important way for you to learn about independent scientific research and develop important skills for future employment. The data from some of our best projects are used in scientific publications, with students involved in the authorship.

Recent examples include:

• The importance of urban ponds for biodiversity

• Pollinator declines

• Herbivory as driver of tropicalisation of temperate marine habitats

• Biosecurity to slow the spread of invasive species

• The effect of parasitic infection on animal behaviour

• Foraging behaviour of gannets

• Diseases of marine mammals

• Functional diversity of Indonesian coral reef fishes

• Insect sperm competition

• The role of the Major Histocompatibility Complex in human mate choice

• Animal welfare in pig production

• The exotic pet trade and the sale of endangered species

Course structure

Details of typical modules/components for our courses will now be published after July 1st (instead of May 1st), due to current limitations as a result of covid-19. These details may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Teaching will be through lectures, practical classes, seminars, small group teaching, tutorials and a research project. Assessment is similarly varied, including in-course assessment (formative and summative) and written examinations. The in course assessment exercises include tests of practical skills, essay writing, data manipulation and problem solving. The research project will be assessed throughout the project and on the final written report. Degree classification will be based upon the marks obtained in each of the component modules, with the appropriate credit weighting applied.

Entry requirements

Other course specific tests:

Successful completion of the first two years of an MBChB programme at UK Universities or international equivalent.
For international students proof of English Language proficiency will be required. In line with undergraduate medicine we require a minimum of English GCSE grade B or IELTS 7.5.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

How to apply

The personal statement should demonstrate interest and enthusiasm in international health. In addition the statement should provide evidence of the following: curricular and extra-curricular engagement with international health; awareness of health care system issues in international health; awareness of wider health system issues in international health.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: To be confirmed

UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2021 entry 
For UK full-time students starting in 2021, the fee for 2021/22 will be £9,250.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the UK government and may vary if policy changes.

EU students starting in 2021/22 
EU students starting their course in the 2021/22 academic year or later will now be classed as international students and so will need to pay the international student tuition fee.

UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2022/23 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. In other years, the government has confirmed fee levels in the summer. When the fee is confirmed we will publish an update on all course pages.

Tuition fees for new international students for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for international students are published on each individual course page. These are usually published a year in advance, so 2022 course fees should be available from September 2021.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Brexit 
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

The course is designed to give you a challenging, enjoyable and rewarding year which will add significantly to your skills, knowledge, and enhance your career opportunities on graduation.

The course allows full integration with existing science based BSc courses and the chance of a substantive research project.

In addition to providing subject-specific knowledge, we equip you with the best possible skills for future careers. There is a strong emphasis on practical based teaching, small group teaching, online learning and problem solving. You will gain a wide range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. You will be ideally placed to focus on your personal development and make the most of your intercalating year.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.