BSc (Hons) in Zoo Management (Top-Up)

This one-year BSc (Hons) Zoo Management top-up is an opportunity for zoo biologists and animal scientists to further specialise and hone their skills gained from level 5 study (or equivalent).

The course includes specialist applied modules focused on species housed within zoological collections.

A core component of the course is the completion of an undergraduate dissertation, enabling you to research an area of zoological study that interests you and to develop a wide range of transferable skills.

University Centre Reaseheath is an academic partner of the University of Chester. Foundation degrees, Honours degrees, and Cert Ed are awarded by the University of Chester.

Typical Entry Requirements

Foundation Degree in Animal Management (Zoo Management)

Start Date

September 2021

September 2022

Course Length

Full-time: 1 year

The course features:

British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) Zoo
Purpose-built Animal Management Training Centre with £3 million upgrade, housing over 1,000 animals and 125 species including:
- Mammals: serval, civet, tapir, ring-tailed lemurs, porcupines, tamarins, otters, capybara, meerkats, and wallabies, among others
- Birds: owls, hawks, ducks, finches, parrots, and budgerigars and more
- Reptiles: snakes, bearded dragons, tortoises, and turtles and more
- Amphibians: dart frogs, tree frogs and newts
- Fish: a range of freshwater and marine fish
- Invertebrates: tarantulas, beetles, and millipedes and more

What will I study?

This course is designed for students who wish to enhance their academic/vocational study beyond the scope of a foundation degree (or equivalent), to include highly specialized learning specific to wildlife conservation and zoo management, developing expertise and professional skills for industry application.

As a student studying the zoo management top-up, you will have access to the zoo licensed animal centre facilities on campus, in which to undertake ad-hoc practical and research activities.

Additionally, students can expect an interactive and personal learning experience that draws upon the expertise of our team of dedicated staff, with whom students can engage in study through the use of our first class facilities on campus, but also via overseas study opportunities.

Students are expected to study and complete 120 credits, comprising five modules of study at this level. This will include a 40 credit Dissertation module, designed for students to showcase their skills through independent research, but also a diverse range of mandatory and optional modules to enable highly specialist, industry specific skills and knowledge to be developed.

At this level, students will both engage with and apply research-informed study concerning a range of disciplines associated with the successful captive management of exotic species. This will include themes in conservation management, zoo research and education, and advanced animal husbandry practices.

BSc (Hons) Top-Up, modules include:

Level 6

Year 1 (Level 6)

Dissertation^†
Zoo Animal Enclosure Design
Behavioural Enrichment & Training
Conservation Education*
Anthrozoology*
Environmental Sustainability & Natural Resource Management
Biology & Conservation of Mammals*
Biology & Conservation of Birds*
Biology & Conservation of Herpetofauna*

* Denotes optional modules.

† Dissertation is a double-weighted module, worth 40 credits. Therefore, only five modules are selected for study on this programme.

Click here to see some examples of work completed as part of the Scientific Communication & Zoo Education module.

Optional Modules

Teaching and Learning

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity, plus field trips. Your actual contact hours may depend on which optional modules you select, but the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each year of the course:

15% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 174 hours

Independent Study: 1026 hours

Class sizes average between 8-35 for modules exclusively delivered on the programme. For those modules offered across several programmes, class size could be as high as 90 individual learners.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment Methods

Assessments are designed to encourage both academic skills and skills valued in the workplace. They include a combination of coursework and examinations. Coursework may take many forms including: essays, reports, data processing, presentations, academic posters, seminar discussions, interviews, critical reviews, portfolios of evidence and practical competency assessments. The examinations vary, depending on the nature of the module, but may take the form of multiple-choice papers, essays, practical assessments, data handling questions, short answer quizzes, and in class examination.

The balance of assessment by examination and assessment by coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework is as follows:

Year 1

80% coursework

20% written exams

Feedback

Opportunities for verbal and written feedback will be provided throughout the programme. Feedback may be formal and informal in nature to support a students progress and achievement. This feedback will help students to monitor their progress and strive to improve where appropriate. Written feedback on graded work is often supplied via Turnitin or directly from the module tutor. The majority of assessment submissions are made via Turnitin and feedback for coursework is provided within twenty working days after the submission date.

Written feedback will be supported verbally should the student require clarification. Formative assessment feedback will be provided at the time of completion where possible, with more detailed summative feedback for reports.

Entry requirements

Successful completion of an FdSc programme (or equivalent qualification) in Zoo Management or closely related subject

Further study

Postgraduate study or professional qualifications.

Career Options

This course is designed for students aspiring to a career working with exotic species
Zoological collections
Wildlife management
Conservation and ecology
Scientific research
Conservation education

Useful Information

How much will this course cost?

Tuition Fees

As a Higher Education student you will have two main costs to meet; your tuition fees and living costs.

Our full-time tuition fees for UK and EU students, entering University, can be found on the student finance page. These fees are charged for each academic year of a course and are set by the college annually.

If you are an international student or for the latest information on tuition fees visit the student finance page on our website.

Additional Costs

You may have the opportunity to attend day trips or study tours within the UK and overseas. These trips vary each year and costs would be confirmed prior to booking. Examples of tours include 3 day visit to Edinburgh Zoo and Scottish National Museum costing £200 (not including personal expenses) in 2019.

Students may also wish to purchase their own personal copies of recommended set-texts to assist them with their studies. A full list of recommended texts is made available prior to enrolment, however, our campus library boasts sufficient stocks of all major texts to support student learning, frequently in e-book format, and the purchasing of texts is therefore not enforced.

Equipment Costs

Boiler suit: £20-£30 OR UCR Polo shirt (£12)/UCR Sweatshirt (£16) + work trousers (£15-£20)
Steel toe capped boots: from £30
Lab coat: £13-£20
USB drive: from £5

Prices of equipment are subject to change dependent on retailer.

Additional financial support

Accommodation

All Higher Education students are given the opportunity to apply for residential accommodation. First year students are guaranteed accommodation and this offer is made to all applicants who live more than a reasonable daily travelling distance from Reaseheath and who apply before 31st July of the year they intend to start their course. For full details on our halls of residence visit the accommodation pages.

Student support

How do I apply?

Before you apply you can come and visit us at one of our HE Open Events to see what we have to offer. Once we have received your application we will invite you to attend an Offer Holder Day.

Applications for full-time Degrees and Foundation Degrees are made through UCAS. Applications for all other full-time courses such as Access to HE and Level 4 Diplomas should be made directly to Reaseheath via the online application form. You can find out more here.

Student contract

For students to get the best out of their time at University Centre Reaseheath, we must both recognise that we owe obligations to each other. These obligations are set out in our Higher Education Student Contract. Before you accept an offer of a place at University Centre Reaseheath, it is important that you read these contract conditions. If you are going to be living in Halls of Residence, you will also need to read the Student Accommodation Licence Conditions. Both of these contracts can be found here.

Click here to view the University Centre Reaseheath Student Protection Plan.

The support system at University Centre Reaseheath is fantastic. The lecturers never stop caring, always want you to excel and take the time to support you with your assignments. That support added most to my experience.

Charlotte Daniels BSc (Hons) Zoo Management

Read the full profile

BSc (Hons) in Zoo Management (Top-Up)

This one-year BSc (Hons) Zoo Management top-up is an opportunity for zoo biologists and animal scientists to further specialise and hone their skills gained from level 5 study (or equivalent).

Typical Entry Requirements

Start Date

Course Length

The course features:

What will I study?

Entry requirements

Further study

Career Options

Useful Information

The support system at University Centre Reaseheath is fantastic. The lecturers never stop caring, always want you to excel and take the time to support you with your assignments. That support added most to my experience.

Charlotte Daniels BSc (Hons) Zoo Management

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BSc (Hons) in Zoo Management (Top-Up)

This one-year BSc (Hons) Zoo Management top-up is an opportunity for zoo biologists and animal scientists to further specialise and hone their skills gained from level 5 study (or equivalent).

The course features:

What will I study?

Entry requirements

Further study

Career Options

Useful Information

The support system at University Centre Reaseheath is fantastic. The lecturers never stop caring, always want you to excel and take the time to support you with your assignments. That support added most to my experience.

Charlotte Daniels BSc (Hons) Zoo Management

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