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If you did a degree in Zoology

62 replies

recluse · 23/01/2021 14:19

Can I ask what you went on to do and how much you earn / earned doing it?

My son is interested in Zoology, has applied for Biology courses with a high Zoology component, but is also considering a second choice which doesn’t include much zoology partly on the basis that he doesn’t think it pays that well long term.

OP posts:
Yousexybugger · 23/01/2021 14:23

Became president of Nigeria

Sideorderofchips · 23/01/2021 14:34

Apparently you can be a secondary school biology teacher

shakeitoffshakeacocktail · 23/01/2021 14:45

Ooh a question I can helpfully answer!

My brother and his girlfriend both studied zoology at uni.

Neither has 'used' their qualification neither likely to earn enough to ever pay off ANY of the student loans. Both went in 2004 so fully funded no cost to either or parents as they were low income.

He did work at a dog rehoming place now works at a vets (degree not required but maybe helped him get the jobs)

She works part time at a retailer. Only job she's ever had

Probably only a useful degree if you specialise after and become a specialist in a field but even then 🤷‍♀️

Pencil8888 · 23/01/2021 15:24

My friend did a degree in Zoology but went into a completely unrelated field afterwards (sales) Very high earner now though, 10 years on.

Purplewithred · 23/01/2021 15:28

DD did zoology, loved it, but found that to use for a career she would really need a masters at least and ideally a PhD, plus a chunk of time volunteering somewhere.

Went off and did something commercial for a few years but is now back living with us doing a Masters.

Serafinaaa · 23/01/2021 15:37

Primary school teacher

tilder · 23/01/2021 15:39

I work with people who hold a variety of degrees. Some include zoology.

I would say most did biology or other 'pure' science as a first degree, followed by something more specialised that sometimes includes zoology.

In my field, the more zoological roles are highly competitive, which means lots of qualifications (good ones from quite a limited number of universities) plus experience really help.

tilder · 23/01/2021 15:41

You asked about salary. I would say historically, low relative to similar non zoological roles. A consequence of lots of keen, qualified people competing for few roles.

Business is currently growing so there are more opportunities than previously, but I would say there remains a salary penalty.

goose1964 · 23/01/2021 15:41

My son and his wife did, he's a supervisor for an insurance company and she did a second degree and works in a hospital

DoubleHelix79 · 23/01/2021 15:46

I'd recommend a more general biology degree, with a view to specialising on Zoology further down the line if he's still sure that he wants to go down that route. That will give him a lot more options.

My biology degree is from a German University, so may not be 100% comparable, but it certainly would have given me a strong foundation had i wanted to focus on zoology.

It's hard to know how you'll feel about a career in a specific field before you've even started your degree, so more flexibility is a good thing in my opinion.

I had always seen myself as a lab researcher, solving the world's scientific mysteries, but have ended up in an only vaguely science related career.

Furbylicious · 23/01/2021 15:46

Well there's loads of graduate jobs that can be done with any degree so he could enjoy studying it for 3 years, then be a management consultant or lawyer or whatever.

If he would like to work in something related then it's less well paid and he'd need further study/work experience as people have said.

Get him to take a look at www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/zoology

Yebanksandbraes · 23/01/2021 15:48

My best friend did zoology at uni and I knew quite a few people from her course (I did a similar course and overlapped on some modules). She retained as a physiotherapist. Of those I know of, one of her friends from her course runs a dog kennels, one did a PhD and went into research. One became a primary teacher, one went into sales. The biology and zoology courses overlapped a lot and it didn't seem to matter which one you did when it came to careers afterwards. They are both science degrees although obviously if you want to do a plant based PhD then biology is the better option. In most courses you choose modules so can do a biology degree that has mostly animal modules especially in the 2nd and 3rd year. Biology covers a wider range of topics so I would recommend that unless your DC really hates plants.

tilder · 23/01/2021 15:52

[quote Furbylicious]Well there's loads of graduate jobs that can be done with any degree so he could enjoy studying it for 3 years, then be a management consultant or lawyer or whatever.

If he would like to work in something related then it's less well paid and he'd need further study/work experience as people have said.

Get him to take a look at www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/zoology[/quote]
That's a good link.

Would definitely agree with the work placement aspect. As an employer, you get a keen under grad for a period of time (weeks up to a year depending on degree). I know a lot of companies who do this and it's a good a good route into employment.

Grooticle · 23/01/2021 15:55

Commercial law. Pays very well at the biggest firms, although you have no personal life for years. Has no relationship to zoology whatsoever.

Actual careers in zoology are extremely competitive: the only person I know who managed one did a broader biology based oxbridge degree, then a zoology phd, while volunteering in a zoo for all 7 years of that. They’re badly paid relative to everybody else I know with phds or who retrained into different careers.

You have to be completely focused and sure it’s what you want to do. I’d recommend a broader biology course to start with.

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/01/2021 16:52

I know someone who did a degree in zoology, he did a masters in some sort of computing and now does that.

mrsfeatherbottom · 23/01/2021 16:53

DH did a zoology degree and is now an insurance underwriter (not very helpful)

TheAirbender · 23/01/2021 16:54

The head of HR for the investment bank I worked for a decade or so ago had a degree in zooology !

Essexgirlupnorth · 23/01/2021 17:03

I did genetics most of the people on my course are doing related things I am a clinical scientist in the NHS several work in academia though one has retrained as a counsellor. My friend that did Zoology are secondary school science teachers and one runs her own craft/antiques business

UnleashTheKraken · 23/01/2021 17:09

My sister did a Zoology degree and now works in science communication.
She chose a university where all biology courses were taught together so there was more flexibility - people taking Zoology just had to pick a certain number of animal-related modules but she studied everything from ecology to infectious disease.

20mum · 23/01/2021 17:15

There will always be work for vets and their assistants. Not necessarily for a load of teachers. Covid19 has alerted people to the fact that learning can be online, for children and for adults.

That also raises the doubtful advantage of 'doing a degree' as it was done when people wrote with quill pens. A juvenile notion of what is interesting can be mistaken, and certainly it is impossible to be sure that most professions or occupations can be learned once, then practiced for life, without further training throughout life. Even lawyers can be replaced, to some extent, by A.I. In any case, their knowledge will become outdated with each new bit of caselaw or legislation.

More realistically, expect to try different areas of work as soon as possible, to learn at the same time as working, to change and re-study as often as needed. It is inevitable that the curriculum for any old style degree will be outdated fast. Modular units, mainly studied in private time, and on-line, will be essential.

Once upon a time, someone could be an apprentice blacksmith, certain he had a lifelong income, because every village needed such services and skills. How else would they get their horses shod? Horses were the only transport. Then, someone invented cars, and soon those smiths needed to sell petrol and learn to mend engines.

It really is long overdue that people stopped the traditional way of thinking about 'going to university' . It is just as stupid as continuing to believe there is no other method of transport apart from horses.

wendyleen · 23/01/2021 17:17

I've heard that you need a masters minimum if you want to work in that field.

If I had my time again, I would decide on a career path and take the necessary steps to get there based on the fact that I got a degree and never worked in that field!

nowbringmethathorizon · 23/01/2021 17:20

My dad did a zoology degree but worked in IT all his working life!

MiniMaxi · 23/01/2021 17:28

Corporate sustainability, salaries range from I’d say £25k entry level to £40-60k manager and £80-150k director.

Varies by industry - eg mining pays more than fashion.

These days you may need a masters in sustainability / environment afterwards but no problem to have zoology degree.

Enviro or zoology research roles pay less I believe.

Other friends who studied zoology work in R&D, clinical trials, teaching, all sorts really. You don’t have to be a zoo keeper! Smile

Figgygal · 23/01/2021 17:29

Dh did zoology and has never worked outside of financial services

CrispsForTea · 23/01/2021 17:32

I did a general Biology degree and chose 90% zoology/ecology modules. The one thing I will say is to encourage him to consider why he wants to study zoology - does he love animals or is he interested in cutting them to see how they work? We had a lot of girls on my course who did it because they love animals and point blank refused to do any of the dissection practicals.

I have personally gone into clinical research which I suppose is more of a biomedical route, although I didn't need a degree for my entry level job. There are a lot of jobs in loosely related fields which just ask for a "life science' degree!