Skip to main content

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

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.

READ MORE

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Qualifications explained

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

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.

How you'll learn

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.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

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)

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:

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

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

 

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.


Apply Online  

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

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

Online

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Live chat

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.