Zoology: Career areas

Zoology graduates are employed in a wide range of career areas including conservation, environmental and wildlife management, medical research, human and veterinary sciences, animal ecology and behaviour, the media, scientific journalism, teaching and research.

A 2012 HESA survey of 2011 graduates indicates that, six months after graduation, just over half of zoology graduates had entered paid employment. Of those, around 4% had started jobs related to scientific analysis and research, almost 6% were commercial, industrial or public sector managers and 9% were in other technical and professional roles.

Other popular areas of work included business and financial management, education, and marketing, sales and advertising. The wide variety of employment destinations seen amongst zoology graduates reflects the diversity of skills provided by a zoology degree.

Many recent graduates will have taken a job they do not regard as permanent and will be planning to use it as a stepping stone to gain experience to support their longer-term career aspirations.

Where are the jobs?

Jobs are available with a wide range of organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Typical employers include:

• zoos/wildlife parks and environmental protection agencies;
• government agencies and research institutions;
• medical research establishments and the National Health Service;
• environmental and animal charities;
• schools/colleges, science centres, libraries and museums;
• universities and research institutes;
• environmental consultancies;
• chemical, pharmaceutical and petroleum companies;
• aquaculture and animal nutrition companies.

For an insight into potential employment areas see:

• environment and agriculture - comprises 17 different sectors, with main areas of work covering land management and production, animal welfare and environmental industries;
• science and pharmaceuticals - there are many opportunities to find employment in numerous functions across the industry, especially in research and development (R&D), biotechnology and environmental science.

For further information on possibilities in other employment areas, see job sectors. 

Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?