Zoologist
Study animals, their habits and the places they live. Ready to create a greener world for wildlife?
Also known as: wildlife expert, parasitologist, paleozoologist, ornithologist, herpetologist, entomologist, ecologist, wildlife biologist
About the job
What it's like
Are you passionate about animals? Want to dedicate your career to protecting wildlife? A career as a zoologist could be your calling.
In this role, you'll study animals, their habits and the places they live. You'll look at an animal's behaviour and how it interacts with its ecosystem.
For example, a zoologist may study a puffin colony to understand how climate change affects their behaviour. You'll observe them, record their interactions and link these to ecosystem factors. Your findings will help people like conservation officers understand how puffins are adapting to climate change – this can help shape environmental policies.
You'll do different tasks, depending on the area of zoology you work in. You may travel to the Highlands to count red deer, analyse oystercatcher DNA in a lab or sit at a desk to research and write conservation policies. In some roles, you may do a bit of everything!
So, are you ready to become a scientist of the animal world?
Your tasks might include:
studying animals in the wild – at a zoo or laboratory
assessing the overall health of ecosystems by studying animals and their habitats
using manual and computerised methods to look at cells and fertilise eggs among other things
giving presentations, writing technical reports and publishing information in journals or books
developing strategies to help protect endangered animals and restore damaged ecosystems
scrutinising how climate change affects animal behaviour, migration patterns and reproduction
Green job
In this job, you'll do work that helps the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums – explore the professional body representing the best zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland
Royal Society of Biology – check out this network of bioscience professionals and organisations
The Wildlife Trusts – learn about this independent charity that restores nature at a global scale, on land and at sea
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) – find out about RSPB's incredible work across the country
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Zoologist'
Select qualification level(s)
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Life sciences
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- analysing
- attention to detail
- researching
- observation
- working with numbers
- written communication
- verbal communication
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Environmental Science
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Science
You must have a degree to work as a zoologist in Scotland.
University
You’ll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject, such as:
Zoology
Animal Biology
Animal Behaviour
Biological Sciences
Marine Biology
Ecology
Wildlife Biology and Conservation
Biochemistry
Environmental Science or Environmental Management
Some degree courses offer a placement year. This'll help you gain experience of an area you'd like to specialise in.
Use the My World of Work course search to find degrees.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Animal Care
Applied Biological Sciences
Wildlife and Conservation Management
Applied Sciences
Biology or Life Sciences
Environmental Science
It's an advantage if you have good animal handling skills.
Any fieldwork experience you can build – bird counts, mammal surveys, freshwater sampling or marine strandline surveys – will help you build a career.
Volunteering in a conservation-based role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a zoologist. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Some volunteering opportunities won't be advertised. It's worth contacting companies like The Wildlife Trusts, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and World Wildlife Fund to ask about voluntary positions.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Zoologist'
