Funding
Find out more about financing your studies and whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships
Money MattersDiscover how animals interact with each other and the environment, and learn how to conserve species and their habitats.
Watch our video of biology and conservation student, Megan, as she gives us a glimpse into what life was like on her year-long placement at Chester Zoo.
From ragworms and rhinos to locusts and lemurs, the animal world is an ever-changing and always-fascinating place to explore. On our BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Conservation deg...
3 years full-time
4 years with placement
4 years with study abroad
4 years with foundation year
Dr Selvino De Kort“At Manchester Met, you will be taught by experts in the field, and you will learn why animal behaviour is crucial for conservation biology, an understanding of psychology and to improve animal welfare. You will have an opportunity to apply your skills at zoos, animal rescue centres, in the field in far flung places and around Manchester.”
Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour
Taught by research-active academics, our BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Conservation degree has been designed to give a wide-ranging experience for students with real-world relevance. A wide range of field trips and laboratory work has been integrated into the course, allowing students to practice and reflect on their applied knowledge and analytical skills.
The first year of our animal behaviour and conservation course involves core biology, animal behaviour and ecology modules to get everyone up to speed. We’ll introduce key discipline-specific concepts and you’ll develop your academic and research skills.
In the second and third year you begin to apply your knowledge at a deeper level of animal behaviour and conservation, focusing on specific behavioural and conservation techniques and applying these to current case studies. This builds on the skills you’ve already learned and grows your knowledge in specialised areas.
Study animal behaviour and conservation at Manchester Met and you’ll have the option to study in Europe, North America or Australasia, giving you the opportunity to expand your horizons and spend the third year at a university overseas. Alternatively, you have the option of spending your third year working on a placement in industry or at a relevant non-governmental organisation (NGO), before returning to Manchester for the final year of your course.
Whether you’ve already made your decision about what you want to study, or you’re just considering your options, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
Tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are still being finalised for all courses. You can find information on 2024/25 standard undergraduate fees for UK/Channel Islands and EU/Non-EU international students. All fees stated may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year.
Laptops
Students often choose to buy a laptop, and occasionally a printer. Prices for these may range from £200–£700 depending on choice, but there are drop-in computer labs and printing facilities on campus and laptops for loan in the library. Students will be expected to print out some assessments such as posters (approx. £10 per year).
Textbooks
Textbooks are recommended for purchase (usually £50–£150 per year). All recommended texts are available in the Manchester Met library, and most are available as e-textbooks or e-books through the library for remote access via the internet. These are reviewed on an annual basis.
All costs are subject to change and are based on costs in January 2023.
Placement and study abroad years
The tuition fee for the placement year for those courses that offer this option is £1,850, subject to inflationary increases based on government policy and providing you progress through the course in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
The placement year involves full-time work experience work placement. This lasts for a minimum of 36 weeks and normally attracts a salary/weekly wage but this is not guaranteed. Placements are competitive and based on successful interviews with the placement provider. Students will have to pay travel and accommodation costs (including for interview) plus personal insurance.
The tuition fee for the study year abroad for those courses that offer this option is £1,385, subject to inflationary increases based on government policy and providing you progress through the course in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
For students opting to study abroad in third year at one of our partner universities on an approved exchange programme, some partner universities may charge additional fees for mandatory administrative and recreational services, non-mandatory language classes, courses including fieldwork or non-mandatory project costs. If this applies, the partner university is responsible for informing the student of any additional costs.
During the study year abroad, you will need to budget for the general cost of living as well as additional costs for visas, travel, medical insurance and vaccinations (depending on the destination), study materials and field trips. Applicants should visit the Manchester Metropolitan University web pages for more details including sources of travel funding.
Short Placements
Students undertaking short placements as part of the Rise Award (approx. 3 – 4 weeks), or the optional school ambassador project (approx. 1 – 2 days per week in Semester 2), should expect to pay travel expenses to placements (approx. £10 – £20 / day). The department works to ensure these projects are based locally, where possible, to minimise these costs.
Students may wish to become student members of relevant professional bodies, but this is not normally a requirement. Student membership of most relevant professional bodies is either free or heavily subsidised by the professional body. Satisfactory completion of the course will entitle students to one free year of membership of the Royal Society of Biology.
Fieldwork costs
Students go on one core residential fieldtrip at Level 4 (Year one). This is subsidised but students can expect to pay a contribution to costs of £60 for this UK-based residential field course. There are non-residential zero cost to student alternatives for any student who is unable to take part to ensure inclusivity. We offer optional specialist field courses overseas at Level 5 and Level 6 which will incur additional costs – you are notified of likely costs at Level 4 so that you can plan forward if you wish to go on these specialist field courses.
Some course activities are field-based so students would be expected to dress appropriately (eg waterproof coats and trousers, sturdy footwear/walking boots which may range from £70 – £250 depending on choice).
Travel expenses associated with independent data collection for final year dissertations are not reimbursed by the department. Students will be advised to undertake low-cost local fieldwork at the design and planning stages of a project if necessary.
Other costs
Manchester Met provides free travel insurance for students, in most cases, when they travel in connection with their programme of study, for example, placements, field trips, exchanges, etc. However, you should also take out personal insurance cover for belongings, as items such as mobile phones are not covered by this policy (may range between £20 – £50 depending on length and country of travel).
Find out more about financing your studies and whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships
Money MattersBiological sciences graduates may go on to a variety of subject-specific careers in the biological, pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries, in medical, public health and environmental services, or in teaching or research.
Recent animal behaviour graduates have found employment across a wide range of sectors, including research laboratories, zoos and wildlife parks, environmental consultancies and nature conservation organisations.
Our animal behaviour and conservation degree is designed to equip you with transferable skills that can also be applied to non-subject-specific career pathways such as in management, local government, teaching or the civil service. For those who wish to continue their studies, there is a range of biology and conservation postgraduate programmes here at Manchester Met.
Our animal behaviour and conservation degree is designed to equip you with transferable skills that can also be applied to non-subject-specific career pathways such as in management, local government, teaching or the civil service. For those who wish to continue their studies, there is a range of biology and conservation postgraduate programmes here at Manchester Met.
Study in the Dalton building
We've invested £115m into cutting-edge facilities and advanced technology to enhance your learning. With a newly refurbished computing labs and interactive study spaces, this redevelopment has been built to prepare students for the modern workplace.
You can apply for this course for 2025/26 entry once UCAS applications open in autumn.
Visit UCAS for further details, including deadlines.
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.