Introduction
Learn to understand the behaviour of animals – and to manage, conserve and protect species with our Animal Behaviour BSc (Hons) degree in Cambridge.
Our Animal Behaviour BSc (Hons) course is the longest-established animal behaviour course in the UK and is recognised by the Society of Biology.
Study with us in Cambridge and you’ll learn why animals behave in the ways that they do, and how this can impact on the management of animals both in the wild and in captivity.
We know more than ever before about the behaviour of animals. But with so much still left to learn, you could even have the chance to discover a scientific breakthrough as you develop the skills to investigate animals that will allow you to contribute to important discoveries in the future.
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Animal Behaviour is a practical subject with plenty of opportunities to hone your skills, both in the lab and out in the field.
As part of your degree, you’ll take a series of half-day trips to learn about and practise advanced behavioural data collection.
There’s an opportunity to join paid field trips, too. You could experience rutting red deer on the island of Rum, spend time working in world-class zoos in the Netherlands, study marine biology and dive in the Red Sea, or even spend time in Africa focusing on ecology.
Fast becoming a world centre for wildlife conservation, Cambridge is home to Fauna and Flora International, Birdlife International and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. During your time with us, you’ll have opportunities to attend lectures and visit specialist museums and libraries in the city.
If you’re interested in captive animal behaviour, you can also access the facilities at the nearby College of West Anglia, which is home to veterinary nursing students.
As a student here, you’ll learn from staff who are involved in field and captive studies internationally and in the UK, and have research links with a range of organisations including some of Britain's most respected zoos.
Facilities and accreditation
Outstanding facilities and opportunities
As a student at ARU, you’ll be able to take advantage of:
- state-of-the-art laboratory facilities including a 200-station biosciences laboratory in our Science Centre
- the opportunity to join hands-on field trips – you could even learn to scuba dive and gain the internationally recognised PADI Open Water Dive certification
- the chance to gain experience and build your employability skills on an optional placement year
- award-winning IT and library facilities.
Royal Society of Biology
Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, our degree course offers an integrated, scientific approach with hands-on experiences.
Careers
Studying animal behaviour could give you the opportunity to help future generations to see species live and in the flesh, and not just read about them in a history book.
What you’ll learn on this course could see you helping to manage and enhance the habitats of animals in captivity or educating the public about the importance of animal welfare and conservation. With the breadth of skills you’ll acquire, you could find yourself working in animal training and behavioural rehabilitation, teaching in a zoo, or even working in a laboratory.
We work with employers to make sure you graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements.
Our Animal Behaviour degree also acts as a foundation for you to become a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB). You’ll need to undertake practical training under the supervision of practising CCABs before presenting case studies and a further clinical examination prior to certification. For more information see www.asab.org/ccab, www.abtcouncil.org.uk and www.apbc.org.uk.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our renowned MSc Applied Wildlife Conservation or our MSc Animal Behaviour: Applications for Conservation. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
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