Master in Ethology
Stockholm, Sweden
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
SEK 70,000 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are not required to pay fees
Introduction
This program offers you a solid grounding in ethology as well as deeper insight into the latest research on the subject. The evolution, genetics, and function of behavior form the foundation. You will gain skills and experience in research methods and analytical techniques, which open up a wide variety of career possibilities.
You will study how animals communicate and solve conflicts, the social structure of animal communities, pair formation and reproduction in animals, and how competition and cooperation can develop. How behavior develops during the life of the individual and how learning and experience influence patterns of behavior are discussed. Moreover, the genetic background, evolution (both at the micro- and macroevolutionary scale), and function of behavior are discussed. Knowledge of ethology is important in many fields of biology. These fields include ecology, evolutionary biology, neurobiology, and conservation biology. Ethology also has applications outside of the scientific sphere. For instance, one important application for ethology concerns the requirements of ethical treatment of animals and animal well-being.
Reasons to choose the Master in Ethology:
- Broad education in Ethology suitable for diverse careers involving animal behavior
- Excellent opportunities for practical studies in the laboratory and at the Tovetorp research station
- Flexible program allows you to create your own direction based on your interests
Curriculum
The compulsory courses within the Master’s program in Ethology will give you a strong foundation in ethology, including mate choice, animal cognition, and human behavior.
The elective and optional courses create flexibility in the program allowing you to adapt your studies to your chosen career path. You are required to choose at least 15 credits of the elective courses listed below (updated each year). You can also include at least 15 credits of optional courses, these are any course that is not compulsory or elective and can be in other subjects or taken at another university.
During the compulsory independent project, the degree project, you will apply the knowledge and skills you have developed, in conducting a scientific study within ethology.
Year 1
Compulsory courses
- Sensory Biology and Animal Communication
- Statistics for biologists II
- Animal Cognition
- Animal Social and Sexual Behaviour
Elective courses
- Ecological and evolutionary responses to climatic variation
- Molecular Ecology
Year 2
Compulsory courses
Degree project in Ethology (instructions apply for all degree projects at the department)
Elective courses
Evolutionary Ecology
Independent project
Degree projects, which are 30, 45, or 60 credits, are carried out within ongoing research projects at the Department of Zoology, within the current broad research projects within Ethology: adaptive coloration, animal personality, brain evolution, cognition, collective behavior, foraging decisions, sexual selection, and social behavior. It is also possible to conduct the degree project externally, at a research institute, organization, or company.
Recent degree projects
- Leveling the field: Applying the open field test in situ on voles in the Swedish mountain range
- Investigating traits affecting dominance in domestic fowl: The role of comb size, aggression, and age
- The effect of brain size on associative learning and behavioral flexibility in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Career Opportunities
A Master's degree in Ethology opens up a diverse range of career opportunities. Completion of the Master’s program gives you eligibility for Ph.D. studies.
Beyond being an important academic subject ethology is highly relevant in careers where an understanding of animal behavior is important, including animal parks and zoos, animal husbandry, and animal welfare and environmental agencies.