Applied Ethology and Animal Biology, Master's programme, 120 credits

Students gain a good working knowledge of the programme’s central issues, such as the biology of stress and its role in animal welfare, the effects of domestication on animal behaviour, the physiology of behaviour, and conservation biology. The programme is taught in collaboration with Kolmården Wildlife Park, one of the largest and most highly renowned zoos in Sweden. A number of teaching sessions are held at the zoo where students acquire first-hand knowledge from experienced zoologists.

The programme provides students with a solid understanding of the theory and methods of applied ethology and broadens their understanding of animal biology through courses such as:

• Theory of Applied Ethology
• Methods of Applied Ethology
• Behavioural Neurobiology
• Behaviour Genetics
• Zoobiology
• Primate Ethology
• In situ Conservation Biology

Hands-on projects

In addition to classroom lectures and seminars, students are given the opportunity to participate in hands-on projects involving studies of animals in captive environments. A key part of the programme is a one‑year degree project in which students apply their theoretical and methodological knowledge.

After completing the programme, students will be well acquainted with theories of animal behaviour and biology and they will have a deeper understanding of animal welfare and conservation. Further, they will be trained to plan, implement and present a scientific investigation within the scientific field of the programme.