BSc (Hons) Zoology with Foundation Year
- Entry year:
- 2026/27
- Start date:
- September
- Study mode:
- Full-time
- Campus:
- City
- UCAS Code:
- C303
Available in Clearing for 2026 entry
Visit our Clearing hub: You can call one of our helpful and friendly Clearing advisors on 0808 5 564 565 or complete our online application form.
Why study this course with LJMU?
- Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology
- Optional residential fieldwork (self-funded) at level 5 (possible destination Cairngorms National Park, Scotland) and Level 6 (possible destination Doñana National Park, Spain)
- Option to undertake a 4-6 week placement and/or a 12-month sandwich placement in the UK or overseas
- Easy access to local zoos and diverse habitat sites and ecosystems in North Wales, Lancashire, Snowdonia and the Lake District
- Excellent prospects in a diverse range of animal-related careers, including clinical and veterinary-related science, animal training, ecological consultancy, animal welfare and conservation, wildlife education, teaching and lecturing
- LJMU ranked 18th in the UK for Zoology (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
- 96% of students on this course said teaching staff were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2025)
About your course
The professionally-accredited BSc (Hons) Zoology with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University is the ideal course if you are interested in this subject but lack the necessary qualifications to study it at degree level.
About the Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but don't have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Zoology honours degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria). The Foundation Year is assessed creatively with less of a focus on formal examinations and tests.
About BSc (Hons) Zoology
Zoology is the scientific study of animals, both living and extinct. It encompasses all aspects of biology, from biochemistry and cell biology to ecology and behaviour, and examines animals in the context of their evolution and their environment, allowing you to specialise in your own areas of interest via placements, projects and modules in levels 5 and 6.
Practical hands-on experience is an important aspect of the course and we have a wealth of local facilities and fieldwork sites on our doorstep. These include three major zoological collections (Chester Zoo, Knowsley Safari Park and the Blue Planet Aquarium) as well as the diverse habitat sites of the North Wales and Lancashire coasts and inland ecosystems in Snowdonia and the Lake District.
One of the real bonuses of this course is the opportunity for residential fieldwork at Level 4 (core), Level 5 (optional) and Level 6 (optional). At Level 6 this is normally overseas and the possible destination is the Doñana National Park, Spain where you can learn ecological and behavioural field work skills.
These are in addition to further extended fieldwork opportunities through work placements of 4-6 weeks and/or a 12-month sandwich placement with a relevant organisation in the UK or overseas.
Course modules
What you will study on this degree
Please note that your choice of options may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Ecology and Conservation
20 credits
20 credits
This module covers key concepts within ecology and conservation including the abiotic environment; species, populations, communities, and ecosystems; human impacts on the environment; and various scientific applications of ecology. Case studies will be incorporated from different types of ecosystems reflecting their geographic distributions. Part of this will be achieved through field visits to a range of habitats.
Optional modules
Developmental Biology
20 credits
20 credits
This module enables you to learn how state-of-the-art molecular and genetic tools are used to understand mechanisms that regulate the growth and development of organisms. It covers methodology and practical experiments that illuminate the molecular mechanisms that underpin developmental processes.
Sandwich Year - Zoology
120 credits
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement their programme of study at LJMU. This will give students the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to their programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment. This extended placement forms a key part of a sandwich degree. All placements need to be assessed and approved prior to commencement in line with the LJMU Placement Learning Code of Practice. The Code of Practice requires students to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner during the placement - failure to do so may lead to the placement being terminated prematurely. Placements are normally for one calendar year on a full-time basis. Split placements of a shorter duration may be permissible. There is an expectation that a minimum of 1200 hours will be spent in the workplace.
Study Year Abroad - Zoology
120 credits
120 credits
Study Semester Abroad - Zoology
60 credits
60 credits
Optional modules
Neurobiology
20 credits
20 credits
This module builds on neurobiology-related concepts taught during the level 5 Physiology of Life module. The module provides you with an insight into how molecular, cellular and organ components contribute to form the body's most complex system and how different factors can produce dysregulation of the nervous system.
Work-Based Learning
20 credits
20 credits
This module provides relevant, stimulating and career-orientated experiential learning to encourage you to develop transferable skills relevant to the work environment and to foster initiative and independence of thought.
Professional accreditation
This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology following an independent and rigorous assessment. Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.
Your Learning Experience
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies.
Teaching is mostly via lectures, in-person laboratory practicals and field trips. Additionally, small tutorial sessions provide a forum for discussing course material more informally. You will also have progress review meetings with your personal tutor. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Formal teaching accounts for approximately 14-18 hours of your study time each week; you will be expected to spend the rest of your time in private study.
Work-related Learning
As part of your work-related learning, you have the opportunity to undertake a short (4-6 week) work-based placement or a 12-month placement with a relevant organisation in the UK or abroad.
This work experience will not only give you a chance to put into practice what you have learnt at LJMU, it will also help you develop your personal skills, give you a years break from formal study and add real value to your CV. Many students who undertake placements have gone on to work for the same organisation once they have graduated.
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
Throughout your course you will have the support of a personal tutor who will be available to discuss course-related matters in both tutorial sessions and one-to-one progress review meetings. These meetings are to monitor your performance and identify action plans for improvement. A dedicated supervisor will also provide support during your research project and/or work-based learning, including visits to your workplace if you opt for the 12-month work placement.
The school is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and has an Enabling (Disability) Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator and a School EDI Working Group. Personal Tutors also play a vital role in promoting awareness of support services for students.
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. Exams may therefore include a range of question types e.g. multiple choice, short answer, interpretative, problem-based learning and essay. Coursework assessment could be in the form of online phase tests, fieldwork/practical reports, data handling, oral presentations, poster presentations, group discussions, essays or the evaluation of your practical skills. Most are based on individual assignments though some require group work.
Feedback on coursework assessments is normally provided within three weeks of submission and may be via Canvas, face-to-face or as written comments. We believe that constructive feedback is vital in helping you identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.
Where you will study
You will study at the Byrom Street site in the university's City Campus in the heart of Liverpool. You will have access to first class teaching facilities, laboratories and study areas. The City Campus Library is within easy walking distance and here you'll find all the information you need to support your studies.
I have just completed the Zoology degree and have been successful in securing a 12-month internship at Chester Zoo with the Birds Team! I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now, nor would I have had the confidence to even apply for the internship, if it wasn’t for my time at LJMU. The support I have received from my lecturers and mentors has enabled me to follow my passion and ultimately achieve my dream of working with animals! I will be forever grateful for the unconditional support and guidance given to me.
Career paths
Some of our students continue on to postgraduate research degrees after graduation while others enter careers as diverse as embryology, clinical and veterinary science and wildlife conservation. Others choose to go into teaching or lecturing.
Graduates have secured full-time employment in the following roles (some after further study/training):
- Planning and Biodiversity Advisor, Natural England
- Senior Ecologist, United Utilities
- Research and Conservation Officer, Knowsley Safari Park
- Wildlife Consultant, SafeSky
- Team Manager (elephants), Chester Zoo
- Estate Manager, RSPB
- Inspector/Animal Welfare Officer/Rehoming Officer, RSPCA
- Animal Health Officer, Heathrow Animal Reception Centre
- Training Instructor, Dogs for Good
- Lead Conservation Scientist (Behaviour and Welfare), Chester Zoo
- Community Outreach Coordinator (Conservation), Auckland
- Research Assistant, Wellcome Trust, Sanger Institute
- Regulatory Scientist, Health and Safety Executive
- Virology and Stability analyst, AstraZeneca
- Scientist, BAE Systems
- Natural History Documentary Producer/Director, National Geographic
- Research Fellow (Sea Mammal Research Unit), University of St Andrews
- Veterinary Surgeon
- Veterinary Physiotherapist
- Pathology Operations Manager, Medical Research Council
- Project Management, Office for National Statistics
Others have opted for postgraduate study (PGCE, MSc, MPhil, PhD or other competitive undergraduate courses, such as medicine, veterinary science), have set up their own animal-related business or taken non-animal related graduate employment.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.
Tuition fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students beginning their studies in September 2026 will be £9,790 for the 2026/27 academic year, subject to Parliamentary approval.
In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are set in accordance with the Government’s regulated fee cap. The Government has confirmed that this cap will be £9,790 for 2026/27 and £10,050 for 2027/28, in both cases subject to Parliamentary approval.
The Government has also indicated that from the 2028/29 academic year onwards, the fee cap may be adjusted annually in line with inflation. As a result, tuition fees in future years may increase in line with inflation. We will provide confirmation of any changes as early as possible in advance of each academic year.
The university reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament.
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.
Financial Support
The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist funding pages, including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs including those for placements, visas and travel for studying abroad and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
* Practical and field activities underpin all programmes in the School. PPE is provided for all necessary practical work. There are no costs for day field trips for core and optional modules. Residential field trips associated with core modules are subsidised and include travel and half-board accommodation costs. Any residential field trips for optional modules will incur a cost to the student. Locations may be subject to change and also subject to national and international travel restrictions.
A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available.
Applying via Clearing
Minimum UCAS points required:
For the latest entry requirements, complete our Clearing Application Form or call our Clearing hotline on 0808 5 564 565.
You can find out a wealth of useful information and support with the Clearing process on our Clearing webpages.
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