Admissions

UCAS Course Code: C100

Brief Course Outline

Duration of course: 3 years
Degree awarded: BA

Course statistics for 2011 entry

Intake: 108
Applications shortlisted for interview: 80.3%
Successful applications: 32.8%

Open days 2012

26 and 27 June, and 20 September 2013

Contact details

Department of Zoology,
South Parks Road,
Oxford OX1 3PS
+44 (0) 1865 281214
Please email us at
undergraduate.enquiries@biology.ox.ac.uk
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Biological Sciences

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Practicals and fieldwork

Practical laboratory work is an integral part of teaching and there is a one-week field trip for all first-year students to Pembrokeshire to study ecology. Fieldwork is a crucial part of some courses, for example there are field days associated with a number of the second-year practical courses and in the third year students may be able to attend an overseas field course. Furthermore, many students carry out their research projects in the field, either in the UK or abroad.

A typical weekly timetable

Your work is divided between lectures (normally around ten a week), tutorials (normally one a week) and practical classes (six–nine hours a week in the first year; at least 50 hours over two terms in the second year).

1st year
Courses Four courses are taken: Cells and genes Organisms Ecology Quantitative methods (not examined)	Assessment First University examinations: Three written papers Satisfactory practical record
2nd year
Courses Eight courses are offered. Students are encouraged to attend lectures in all themes. Compulsory: Evolution Quantitative methods Themes: Adaptations to the environment Animal behaviour Cell and developmental biology Disease Ecology Plants and people	Assessment Second University examinations: Three written papers: Evolution Essay paper covering the six themes Quantitative methods paper Satisfactory practical record
3rd year
Courses Around 20 options covering the full breadth of active research in the departments. Students are expected to take 6–8 of these specialist options, which are chosen freely. 2 overseas field courses are also available but numbers able to attend are capped for logistical reasons.	Assessment Final University examinations: Four written papers: A general paper A data interpretation paper A short essay-based paper A long essay-based paper Two course assignments and project (prepared work counts for 30% of overall assessment)