In the United States and Canada, a bachelor's degree (typically a Bachelor of Science, B.S.) is required to gain entry to medical school. In the United States, common majors for future doctors include biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and health-related majors such as physiology and neuroscience. In Canada, common majors include life science, physical science, and humanities, with no required or preferred major. Applicants to medical school may also major in non-science fields, but they must take the required science courses. These courses usually include biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Most applicants to U.S. medical schools major in the sciences, but it is not required. While some medical schools in the United States have preferred courses for applicants, majors in any area are acceptable as long as the applicant completes all the required science coursework.[11][12][13]
In the United Kingdom, entry requirements for medical school are more strict. The vast majority of medical schools in the UK now require applicants to have at least a 3.7 GPA in the sciences and a 3.0 overall GPA. Most medical schools also require applicants to have taken a specific set of science courses, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Some medical schools also require applicants to have taken the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) and/or the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT).
So, while a degree in zoology may provide some of the necessary prerequisites for medical school, it is not sufficient on its own to gain entry to medical studies at British or American universities. Additional coursework, such as in chemistry and physics, as well as meeting the specific requirements of individual medical schools, is typically required.