Master’s Programme in Animal Behaviour

About this programme

Our Master’s Programme in Animal Behaviour will provide you with a deep understanding of why animals behave the way they do. You will gain a solid theoretical foundation combined with advanced methodological skills, preparing you to analyse complex behavioural phenomena across species. You will study how animals sense the world and how they communicate, the social structure of their communities, how they form pairs and reproduce, how they acquire and use information and solve problems, and how competition and co-operation arise. In addition, you will learn how behaviour develops during the life of the individual and the influence of learning and experience on behavioural development. Finally, you will gain experience in synthesizing, discussing, and debating key controversies in the study of animal behaviour. Knowledge of animal behaviour is important in many fields of biology, including ecology, evolutionary biology, neurobiology and conservation biology. Animal behaviour also has applications beyond the scientific sphere. For instance, one important application for animal behaviour concerns the requirements of ethical treatment of animals and animal well-being. The courses within the Master’s Programme in Animal Behaviour will give you a strong foundation in the study of animal behaviour, including animal communication and cognition, as well as social and sexual behaviour. The programme offers flexibility through up to 22.5 credits of optional courses, allowing you to tailor your studies to your academic interests and career goals. Optional courses may be chosen from