MSc Zoology: Course Details, Fees, Eligibility, Admission Process, Syllabus, Career Scope & Jobs

MSc Zoology Course

MSc Zoology is a two-year postgraduate programme that encompasses the study of existing and extinct animals. Under this programme, the students acquire adequate knowledge of  biodiversity and anatomy of animals. Students pursuing MSc Zoology learn about the characteristics and evolution of animal life. The course also addresses the causes of loss of habitat,  disease and effect of climate change on animal life.

In addition, the MSc Zoology course also introduces the genetic evolution and the environmental conditions necessary for the well being and existence of animal diversity. MSc Zoology is an advanced course that focuses on modern technology to study various aspects of animal life.

MSc Zoology course equally covers theoretical and practical sessions to help students understand the concepts in a better way. Students with an interest in the animal ecosystem and seeking in-depth knowledge of the animal kingdom, their evolution and behaviour can opt MSc Zoology course after the completion of an appropriate Bachelors degree course from a recognised university.

MSc Zoology Course Overview

MSc Zoology course is a popular in the science domain that mainly focuses on the advanced study and concept of zoology and its importance in the human world. The students basically learn about the biological concept of animals, their physiology, animal husbandry, genetics, and many other similar concepts. The students who want to pursue MSc Zoology course must have completed their Bachelor of science from a recognized university. The students who meet the eligibility criteria for MSc Zoology course can only apply for MSc Zoology admission. 

MSc Zoology course is present in both private and government colleges. MSc Zoology syllabus is extensive and covers all aspects of zoology spread across four semesters or two years in many MSc Zoology colleges. MSc Zoology fees vary from college to college. MSc Zoology admission is done directly on the basis of merit or through MSc Zoology entrance examination conducted by separate universities. MSc Zoology course fees in private MSc colleges is more as compared to government MSc colleges. 

MSc Zoology course has vast career options as students can get jobs immediately after completing MSc Zoology degree. MSc Zoology course is demanding because of the growth and career opportunities associated with it. It is enriched with many interesting job profile an hence the students show interest in taking admission in MSc Zoology course. The students can go for higher education and pursue masters in the relevant field. MSc Zoology degree scope is enormous and the MSc Zoology fees structure is also nominal as compared to many technical courses.
 

MSc Zoology Course Highlights

The students can check the quick facts about the MSc Zoology degree course. Some of the major highlights of the MSc Zoology course are given below. 

Why Study MSc Zoology?

MSc Zoology is a popular and demanding course all across the nation by the student who completes their graduation in Zoology or related science stream. The students who choose to study MSc Zoology course look for all the possible benefits that one can get after pursuing master's in Zoology. Some of the top reasons to select MSc Zoology are mentioned below:

• Career Options- One of the hey highlight for doing MSc Zoology is the diverse career option that gets generated after doing MSc in Zoology. The students gets placed in numerous sectors and they can work as Professors of Zoology, researchers, animal trainers, wildlife experts, etc. The students can find jobs in both private and public sectors. 
• High Salary- The salary structure after completing MSc in Zoology is usually good. The average starting salary after doing this course is about 3 lakhs per annum and it gets hiked eventually after completing probation time. 
• Betterment of Animals and Humans- The students will be able to understand several aspects of animal anatomy and behavior. They will be able to create a better place for animals and human beings after being little more sensitive towards the need of the animals. They will be able to make better choices and provide better solutions for the betterment of animals and humans. 
• Increase in Job Opportunity- The job opportunities have increased over the years in multiple sectors as there has been awareness among the masses for the protection of wildlife and environment. There are many organizations that provide opportunity to the youngster. 

MSc Zoology Eligibility Criteria

In order to pursue the MSc Zoology course, the candidates will have to fulfill the given below eligibility criteria:

• The candidate must hold a Bachelors degree in Zoology, Life Science, medical and its allied subjects or equivalent degree from a recognised institute.
• Minimum percentage in qualifying examination  acceptable in most of the institutes is 50%

MSc Zoology Admission Process

The top institutes in India conduct an entrance exam for admission in MSc course including MSc Zoology. Some of the top MSc entrance examinations for MSc Zoology admissions are BHU PET, AMU PG entrance tests, AUCET, LPU PG entrance test etc.

Candidates must ensure to meet the minimum eligibility criteria and appear in the entrance test for admission in MSc Zoology course in various institutes in India. Admission to MSc Zoology courses are offered by top institutes in the country. MSc Zoology admission process is simple as the students are admitted either though entrance examination or through marks obtained in the graduation level and other previous academic records. The dates for the entrance examinations are announced by the conducting authority. In order to take admission in MSc Zoology, the students must follow the following steps.

Step 1-The students must regularly check for the notification of the application process and apply to the desired colleges by filling online application form in due time. The application form is not accepted once the deadline is passed. 

Step 2- The students should register for the examination and appear for the same. The students must also look at the MSc Zoology syllabus and previous year question papers in order to excel in the entrance examination. 

Step 3- If the students appearing for entrance exam qualifies the same, then they will be called for a counseling session followed by a round of interview. 

Step 4 - The department head of the institute along with other dignitaries are invited to conduct the interviews of the selected students. 

Step 5- The students if selected after personal interview are offered an offer letter to join the respective institute in the interested course. 

Step 6- The students are offered MSc Zoology admission also on the basis of merit. The students get colleges and universities as per the marks obtained in the previous examinations.

MSc Zoology Entrance Exams 

MSc Zoology entrance examination is conducted for taking admission to different colleges and universities for studying Zoology at master’s level. The different institutes offering MSc Zoology courses either take admission directly or through entrance examinations conducted by the respective institutes. Some of the common entrance examinations conducted for taking admission to MSc Zoology courses are mentioned below. 

PUET- Pune University Entrance Test is conducted annually at state level for taking admission to MSc Zoology course. The entrance examination usually takes place in the month of June and the application process for the same starts in the month of April and May. The mode of examination is online. 

DUET- DUET stands for Delhi University Entrance Test. This test is conducted for admission to different courses offered by Delhi University including MSc Zoology course. The examination is of 2 hour duration and it usually takes place in the month of June. 

Christ University Assessment Test- A skill assessment test is conducted by Christ University to admit students in the MSc Zoology program. The students have to appear for the entrance examination in the month of June and if they qualify for the same, then they can go for a counseling session and interview round. The examination is internet based and is conducted online. 

How to Prepare for the MSc Zoology Entrance Exam?

The students who wish to clear the MSc Zoology Entrance examination must prepare for the same by going through the syllabus in detail. There are no proper and fixed syllabuses for preparing for the MSc Zoology examination. However, there are certain topics that are important and students must read all possible topics so that they are able to clear the examination. The students can check the details of important topics that they can revise before appearing for the MSc Zoology Entrance Examination. 

• Genetics
• Cell Structure and Function
• Biomolecules: Structure, Organization and role
• Cell Signaling
• Animal and Plant Physiology
• Immunology
• Ecology

It is not very difficult to crack the MSc Zoology entrance examination for the students who have studied BSc Zoology as most of the questions are asked from the syllabus of BSc. The students can go through the material properly and clear the entrance examination. 

It is always advisable that the students must go through the previous year question paper to solve questions easily during the entrance examination. Solving the model papers ahead of examination always helps in confidence building. The students must start preparing for the entrance examination at least 6 months prior to the scheduled date. 

How to Get Admission in a Good MSc Zoology College? 

The students can check the important points for taking admission to a good MSc Zoology college.

• The students can get admission to MSc Zoology college in multiple ways. In order to take MSc Zoology admission, the students must meet the eligibility criteria of the respective college or university.
• If a student seeks admission through merit, a high score at the undergraduate level is required. The student must meet the prescribed cut-off of the qualifying examination. 
• The students must be very particular in checking the websites of the colleges regularly in order to know about the notifications released for the vacancy of the seats or for the date of filing the application form for direct or entrance examination
• The students who wish to take admission through the entrance examination must study the syllabus properly and apply for various entrance examinations. The students should also have command over general knowledge and communication skills
• The students must prepare for the interview round post declaration of the merit list diligently and must answer all the questions in a polite manner. 

MSc Zoology and MSc Biochemistry Course Comparison

The students who want to pursue MSc Zoology course also like to explore other possible options. The students can find the course comparison between MSc Biochemistry and MSc Zoology on different parameters as mentioned below. There are certain basic differences between these courses. 

MSc Zoology Top Colleges in India

There are many colleges all across the nation that offers MSc Zoology courses. The students select the college as per their interest. The top college in India that offers MSc Zoology is mentioned below. The students can also look at the annual average MSc Zoology fee structure of the MSc Zoology top colleges. 

MSc Zoology Popular Specializations

The students of MSc Zoology course can do multiple specializations during the course. Some of the popular specializations of MSc Zoology course are mentioned below. 

• Biomedical Science
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Marine Biology
• Animal Behaviour and Neurobiology

MSc Zoology Syllabus

MSc Zoology course is a two years degree programme that is split into 4 semesters. MSc Zoology subjects are taught during this 2 years tenure. The students are given both theoretical and practical knowledge in MSc Zoology subject list. The students learn the MSc Zoology subjects gradually and the examinations are taken at the end of every year to know the learning outcome of the students. The semester-wise MSc Zoology syllabus followed by most of the MSc Zoology colleges is given below: 

First Year MSc Zoology Syllabus 

The students can check the MSc Zoology subject list taught in Semester 1.

The students can check the MSc Zoology subject list taught in Semester 2.

Second Year MSc Zoology Syllabus 

In Semester 3 and 4 candidates can choose from one out of the elective streams offered. The elective subjects include Comparative Animal Physiology, Neuroscience, Comparative Animal Physiology, Parasitology, Fisheries. The students can check the MSc Zoology subject list taught in Semester 3 and Semester 4. The students in the last year are taught some of the elective subjects and mainly given project work, practical work and they do internships for industry experience. The compulsory topics taught in MSc Zoology final year are as follows:

•  Endocrinology
•  Applied Zoology
• Medical Entomology
• Parasitology

MSc Zoology Required Skills

MSc Zoology course required good research skills and they must also develop problem solving skills. In a highly competitive environment, it is important for the graduates to have good communication skills and should be able to face the interview for getting job opportunities in reputed organization. The students should be creative in their approach and must look for innovative ideas.  

MSc Zoology course has various horizons to cover.  The students must know the skills that are required for them to make a MSc Zoology course and learning effective. The MSc Zoology course requires a lot of extensive academic reading. The students apart from reading habits must also possess lots of skills that will support them in doing MSc Zoology course. The skills mentioned below will also help them in enhancing their personality and finding a suitable position in the industry. Some of the important skills that the students must possess in order to study MSc Zoology course are mentioned below. 

• Team building skills
• Patience
• Hard work
• Decisiveness
• Independent 
• Research Skills
• Communication Skills
• Listening Skills
• Attention to Details
• Interpersonal Skills
• Subject knowledge
• Critical thinking
• Analytical Thinking
• Leadership Powers
• Computer Work

MSc Zoology Best Books to Study

MSc Zoology course requires the best books for the students who want to excel in this field. There are hundreds of books available in the market for studying MSc Zoology courses. The students must know about the relevant MSc Zoology course books that will help them not only during the course duration but also after the course for taking admission for higher studies like MPhil and Ph.D. The students will also be able to appear for different competitive examinations for taking government jobs. 

Books play a crucial role in shaping your prospects and honing your research skills. The students must check the popular and recognized MSc Zoology books for studying MSc Zoology course as mentioned below. The students can check the names of the book and their respective authors.

MSc Zoology Career Options

MSc Zoology course is popular among science graduates because of the increasing job opportunities and better growth as career options. The graduates can find jobs in both the private and government sector after completing MSc Zoology course. 

• There are different job profiles that are open to students after completing an MSc Zoology course such as Zoologists, animal trainers, wildlife educators, researchers, wildlife biologists, etc. 
• The students also keep in mind the different areas of employment after graduating from the MSc Zoology course. The students work in schools, colleges, zoos, national parks, the food industry, the agricultural sector, etc. 

Some of the top profiles that the student of MSc Zoology gets as career options are mentioned below along with the details of the profiles. The average salary structure of the job profiles is also mentioned against the job profile so that the students can decide the job profile for themselves and work accordingly. 

Animal Behavior and Training Specialist- They are responsible for understanding animal behavior and also training them if required. They provide knowledge and information about the safety of pets to their owners. The average salary for this post ranges from 2-3 lakhs per annum.

 Veterinarians- They are specialized in the treatment of animals and daily health assessment of animals. They provide all medical facilities to pets. The average salary that the students get as veterinarian ranges from 5-6 lakhs per annum. 

WildlifeBiologist- A wildlife biologist is responsible for the living condition and habitat of animals. They also take care of the population growth of numerous animal and plant species. The average salary structure of wildlife biologists ranges from 5-6 lakhs per annum. 

Conservationist- As the name indicates, the main job of a conservationist includes taking care of wildlife plants, and animals. They are accountable for the conservation of not only forests but all the species that are part of wildlife conservation. The salary structure of conservationists starts from 4-5 lakhs per annum. 

Zoologist- Zoologists are responsible for health and hygiene of all the animals inside the zool. They are also responsible for cleaning and bathing of animals. They take care of the living conditions of animals inside a zoo. They get a very good salary and the average salary starts from 7-8 lakhs per annum. 

MSc Zoology Job Prospects

MSc Zoology course  is an advanced course and candidates can opt for various job roles after the completion of the MSc Zoology degree programme. Some of the job roles available for MSc Zoology candidates are as follows:

• Zoologist
• Ecologist
• Environmental Consultant
• Conservation Officer
• Zookeeper
• Field Trials Officer
• Professor

MSc Zoology Top Recruiters

MSc Zoology course is a popular course because it provides job opportunities in various sectors. There are many organizations that lookout for Zoology graduates from reputed colleges and universities. The students can check the list of top recruiters after completing their course in the MSc Zoology degree program as mentioned below. 

• Cipla
• Biocon
• State and National Forest Departments
• Colleges and Universities offering MSc Zoology
• Ranbay
• Mankind 
• Arcadis
• NGOs working with Wildlife or domestic animals

MSc Zoology Future Scope

The students apart from doing a job after completing their MSc Zoology course can also look for other career options. They can pursue higher studies in the relevant field or they can also prepare for civil services examination. The students can also look for government jobs and settle well in their life for a permanent post. The students can check some of the further study options that they can explore after pursuing MSc Zoology. 

Ph.D. - The doctorate in Philosophy or PhD is the highest qualification that one can do after MSc Zoology. The students who are interested in research can do PhD in 3-5 years. The admission to PhD programs is done on the basis of entrance examination conducted by different colleges and universities. The students after completing their PhD in Zoology can work as Professor in colleges and universities. 

Management Courses- The students of MSc Zoology can also do management courses by appearing for CAT or MAT or XAT entrance examination. The students can do their MBA and prepare themselves as future managers and entrepreneurs in the field of zoology. The MBA programs in the area of Zoology help the students in getting a better salary package. 

BA LLB- If a student wants to pursue career in law, then they can do BA LLB program. The students will not have to do traditional 5 year undergraduate degree in Law; they can complete the same in 3 years. The students can work as lawyers, advocates, legal consultants, or as private or corporate lawyers.