Animal Behaviour MRes
Our Animal Behaviour MRes explores the exciting and theoretically rigorous area of the biological sciences.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
Our MRes in Animal Behaviour has possible applications in:
- conservation
- animal welfare
- biomedical science
- agriculture
The Centre for Behaviour and Evolution at Newcastle University brings together experts in:
- behavioural ecology
- comparative cognition
- neuroethology
- animal welfare
Find out more about The Centre for Behaviour and Evolution
The Animal Behaviour MRes is closely linked to a suite of MRes courses that you may also be interested in:
- Ageing and Health MRes
- Biofabricaton and Bioprinting MRes
- Biotechnology and Business Enterprise MRes
- Cancer MRes
- Cardiovascular Science in Health and Disease MRes
- Diabetes MRes
- Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine MRes
- Epidemiology MRes
- Evolution and Human Behaviour MRes
- Immunobiology MRes
- Medical Genetics MRes
- Medical and Molecular Biosciences MRes
- Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine MRes
- Molecular Cell Biology and Cell Signalling in Health and Disease MRes
- Molecular Microbiology MRes
- Neuroscience MRes
- Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells MRes
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics MRes
- Transplantation MRes
Experts at Newcastle have discovered that:
- bees learn better when exposed to caffeine
- starlings who were hungry as babies become heavier as adults
- mice have pain faces
You can also be part of this exciting research community. The course is for graduates with a BSc in life sciences, psychology or anthropology. You can complete it as a stand-alone qualification or as an entry route onto a PhD.
You may have opportunities for industry experience and exposure.
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Important information
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Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
An MRes is available in various subject areas. This award combines taught modules, research training and a dissertation.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
What you'll learn
You'll study subject-specific content in animal behaviour research. You'll add to these modules from a broad range of complementary options. The core module asks questions related to animal behaviour research. It also addresses their associated research methods, including:
- adaptive consequences
- proximate mechanisms
- development
- evolutionary history
Other relevant modules focus on:
- comparative cognition
- sensory systems (including neuroethology)
- applied ethology for animal welfare
You'll have research-led seminars. Delivery of these seminars is by members of the Centre for Behaviour and Evolution. They cover a wide range of areas including:
- taxa (insects to humans)
- topics (olfaction to cooperation)
- methodologies
Your 24-week research project comprises the major element of the course. You'll receive supervision from an expert academic researcher in the field.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| The Biological Study of Behaviour | 20 |
| MRes Project | 110 |
| Research Skills and Principles for the Biosciences | 10 |
How you'll learn
You'll be taught using a range of methods, including:
- lectures
- seminars
- group work
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Case study
- Computer assessment
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Professional skills assessments
- Oral examination
- Oral presentation
- PC examination
- Practical lab report
- Poster
- Report
- Reflective log
- Written examination
- Written exercise
You'll have a range of assessments. These will vary depending on the optional modules you choose to study. Assessment methods may include:
- essay
- critical appraisal
- oral presentation
- written examination
- project design
- graphical abstract or a problem-solving exercise
MRes Research Project
You'll choose from projects that relate to your MRes title. Proposals of projects are from academic supervisors within the University.
The 24-week research project will begin in your second semester.
You'll complete guided but independent original research. You'll develop skills in:
- planning
- executing
- recording research
- data interpretation and analysis
You'll complete a written dissertation, lay abstract, oral presentation and poster. The project dissertation and poster will be marked internally and by an expert from another Institution.
Previous titles for MRes projects in Animal Behaviour MRes have included:
- Factors affecting nest attendance in Puffins Fratercula Arctica?
- How bad is tail handling for mice?
At the end of each academic year, we hold an MRes poster presentation evening. You'll showcase your research to your peers and the extended academic community.
Our mission is to help you:
- stay healthy, positive and feeling well
- overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
- get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
- carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
- understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules
We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.
You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:
- research and professional skills
- careers support
- wellbeing
- health and safety
- public engagement
- academic development
Your development
You'll develop a range of research and practical laboratory skills.
Your future
Graduates from our programme have gone on to competitive PhD studentships, as well as jobs in research and in zoos.
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
You'll work in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. This is part of our city-centre campus.
The Faculty is also home to:
- dentistry
- medicine
- psychology
- pharmacy
It is on the same site as Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital. We are one of the largest integrated teaching/hospital complexes in the country.
Our facilities include:
- individual research laboratories where students carry out their projects
- a dedicated medical library with a wide range of specialist books and journals
- hi-tech computer clusters and study spaces
- dedicated facilities for a range of key bioscience applications. This includes flow cytometry, bioinformatics, imaging, genomics and proteomics
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
How to apply
Using the application portal
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
School of Biomedical, Nutritional, and Sport Science
Email: mres.Admissions@newcastle.ac.uk
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