Introduction
Exciting opportunity for students with an HND in Animal Care to enter year 3 of Scotland’s only BSc programme in Animal Behaviour and Welfare.
Study Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- BSc
- Duration
- 24 months or 48 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- September
- Location of Study
- Aberdeen
- UCAS Code
- C345

Our BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare prepares students for graduate careers by providing an exciting opportunity to explore the science that underpins our understanding of animal behaviour and welfare.
We are the only University in Scotland to offer HND Animal Care students the opportunity to “top up” their qualifications with a BSc Honours degree. This additional qualification will enhance your employability and open up additional opportunities in terms of career options and further study.
Upon completion of the programme, you will have:
- Developed a thorough knowledge and understanding of core and critical concepts in animal behaviour and welfare.
- Become skilled in collecting, manipulating and analysing data that is relevant to research questions in animal behaviour and welfare.
- Learned how to plan, execute and present an independent piece of work.
- Developed the skills and confidence to construct a reasoned argument to support your position on ethical issues relevant to animal welfare.
- Practised communication of science with both peers and non-scientists.
Part Time Study
Part time study options are available for this programme.
What You'll Study
Students enter Year 3 of the programme and complete 120 course credits in Year 3 and 120 course credits in Year 4. This comprises four compulsory courses in Year 3 and three compulsory courses in Year 4. Students also complete three elective courses in each year from a selection of courses.
Compulsory Courses
Year 3 consists of the following courses:
ZO3515 - Animal Evolution and Biodiversity
ZO3813 - Practical Skills in Animal Behaviour
- Statistical Analysis of Biological Data (BI3010)
- Animal Management and Welfare (ZO3309)
- Behavioural Biology (BI3505)
- Gateway to Honours Project (BI3511)
- Animal Evolution and Biodiversity (ZO3515)
- Practical Skills in Animal Behaviour (ZO3813)
Optional Courses
Plus select 45 credit points from courses of choice.
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
How You'll Study
Our teaching methods are diverse and are based on research on how students learn. We use lectures, seminars, class discussions, group-based tasks, site visits, presentations from practitioners, and independent research to underpin assignments.
Field skills are taught and practiced in the field on day trip excursions, through supervised and independent practical work undertaken as part of your project.
You will learn to critically evaluate and interpret both scientific literature and real-world animal welfare scenarios through practical activities in class and self-study for assignments.
Data analysis and interpretation skills are learned in our compulsory courses and you will be encouraged to present information and your considered opinions, in essays, opinion pieces, scientific reports, oral presentations and group debates. Students gain high level competence with standard software.
Learning Methods
- Field Trips
- Field Work
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Research
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Workshops
Assessment Methods
Students are assessed by a combination of assessments methods which include:
- online tests
- oral and poster presentations
- production of video
- fieldwork notebooks
- grant proposal
- essay, thesis and project report
- written exam
Why Study Animal Behaviour and Welfare?
- You will benefit from a curriculum that builds on what you have learned in your HND studies and which offers practical and applied learning opportunities relevant to animal behaviour and welfare.
- You will have the opportunity to participate in visits to field sites including farms, wildlife parks and natural areas.
- Your learning will be enriched by the world-leading research activity undertaken by the academic staff at the School of Biological Sciences.
- You will develop a set of graduate attributes and transferable skills that prepare you for a variety of jobs in animal science and the biosciences.
- We are the only University in Scotland to offer HND Animal Care students advanced entry to year 3 of our BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare.
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a ÂŁ6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.
View the Aberdeen Global ScholarshipEntry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
General Entry Requirements
his programme is only available as direct entry into Year 3 for candidates holding a relevant HND qualification eg. HND in Animal Care or HND Applied Sciences (240 SCQF credit points).
Candidates are expected to have achieved an A in all Graded Units.
Curriculum to include: Ecology and Ecosystems (H39A 34) or University of Aberdeen online Introductory Ecology course and Statistics for Science (H8XT 33) or Aberdeen University Online Statistics Course (BI2021).
The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.
English Language Requirements
To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Fees and Funding
You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.
Fee category | Cost |
---|---|
EU / International students | ÂŁ24,800 |
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year | |
Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a ÂŁ6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme - See full terms and conditions | |
Home Students | ÂŁ1,820 |
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year | |
RUK | ÂŁ9,535 |
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year |
Additional Fees
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.
Scholarships and Funding
UK Scholarship
Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a ÂŁ6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme. More about this funding opportunity.Funding Database
View all funding options in our Funding Database.
Careers
Graduates in Animal Behaviour and Welfare will have a set of graduate attributes that prepare them for a variety of jobs in animal science and the biosciences including:
- animal sanctuaries
- zoos or wildlife parks
- relevant industry and conservation organisations
- education or research
Students who complete this programme at an appropriate level of achievement will also be able to continue with postgraduate study in a relevant discipline.
Our Experts
- Programme Coordinators
- Dr Lesley Lancaster
- Mrs Cath Dennis
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Facilities

Zoology Museum
The museum’s displays are worldwide in scope, from protozoa to the great whales, including taxidermy, skeletal material, study skins, fluid-preserved specimens and models.

Research facilities
Our research facilities on campus include animal holding facilities, greenhouses, fresh and salt-water aquaria, an insectarium, molecular and analytical laboratories, and a state of the art genomics lab.

Science Teaching Hub
Our state-of-the-art Science Teaching Hub provides students with a digitally focussed environment including advanced analytical tools, research-grade equipment and flexible laboratory spaces.
Find out moreDiscover Uni
Discover Uni draws together comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study. You can compare these and other data for different degree programmes in which you are interested.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX