Venues

Foresterhill Campus

Content

Animal Behaviour is an interdisciplinary degree and field of science that examines the interactions between behaviour and biology. An organism’s evolutionary history and current environmental conditions drive behaviour, and feedback from behavioural decisions in turn drives evolutionary processes.

Our Animal Behaviour degree differs from our Zoology degree because it includes courses from psychology in the first two years. It also differs from the Behavioural Biology degree as this programme focuses more on the organism as a whole and less on neuroscience.

Year 1:
Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen; Frontiers in Biological Sciences; Diversity of Life 1; Introductory Psychology I: Concepts and Theory; Ecology and Environmental Science; Diversity of Life 2; Introductory Psychology II: Concepts and Theory; The Cell.

Year 2:
Biological Enhanced Skills Training; Advanced Psychology A: Concepts and Theory; Introduction to Genetics; Ecology; Advanced Psychology B: Concepts and Theory; Comparative Physiology.

Year 3:
Statistical Analysis of Biological Data; Animal Evolution and Biodiversity; Animal Management and Welfare; Behavioural Biology; Practical Skills in Animal Behaviour.

Year 4:
Honours Project (Semester 1); Advanced Behavioural Ecology.

Entry Requirements

2025 entry requirements:

Standard entry:
4 Highers at BBBB (by end of S5) including 2 maths or science subjects by end S6 plus English, Maths and Chemistry or Physics at National 5. Those with Highers at BBB by end of S5 are encouraged to apply.

For second year entry you would require the above plus 3 Advanced Highers at ABB including Biology and another maths or science subject at AB or BA.

Widening access entry:
2 Highers at BB (by end of S5). Additional Highers/Advanced Highers in S6.

1 Foundation Apprenticeship is accepted in place of a non-essential Higher.