We know from experience that your interests may not always fall tidily into the standard areas of biology such as "Ecology", "Behaviour", "Cell Biology". Many students wish to get experience of different aspects of Animal Biology, and Part II Zoology is organised with this in mind. The only requirement is that you select at least two modules in each of the two teaching terms. Often the interface between two conventional areas is a growing point in the subject. A limited number of combinations are not possible due to the restrictions of the timetable - see below.

You may feel that your background is not suitable for some of the modules that you would like to study. We want to encourage you to follow your interests as far as possible. All modules are taught in a way which is designed to maximise their accessibility to students taking the course. However, if you have any concerns about your own ability to take a particular module you should contact the module organiser who will be very willing to advise you. If you have any further doubts you should contact the Course Organiser who is there to help you with difficulties such as these.

You need not decide finally on your modules until you have sampled what is available at the beginning of each term; this website outlines the contents of the modules in order to indicate what is available. Although the modules can be combined according to individual choice, the following are examples of some of the more obvious combinations (modules lettered and numbered for convenience with M = Michaelmas Term module, L = Lent Term module).

• Someone interested in Neurobiology and Behaviour might select from ZM4 and ZM5, followed by ZL3 and ZL5.
• A Whole-Animal and Evolutionary Zoologist might select ZM1, ZM2, ZM3 or ZM4 with two or more chosen from ZL1, ZL3 and ZL5.
• An Ecologist might select ZM2 and ZM3 or ZM5, followed by ZL2, ZL3 or ZL4 or replace one of these by the course offered by Plant Sciences
• A Cell or Molecular Biologist might choose ZM4, ZM6, ZM7 or ZM8 and ZL5, ZL6 or ZL7.

These are simply examples to show ways in which the modules can be combined to meet individual interests. Members of the staff will be very happy to discuss other combinations, and to give you advice.

Michaelmas term

Lent term