Careers

As a graduate of our Animal Science degree, you’ll have the ability to communicate your knowledge to others, practical animal management skills, and broad scientific training.

Graduating doesn't have to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MSc Animal Welfare and Conservation. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

What can you do with a Animal Science degree?

How can ARU help with my employability and career development?

Teaching and modules

You’ll start by learning about the fundamentals of animal science, covering biology, ethics, and essential practical and professional skills.

In years 2 and 3, as well as building on your knowledge in these areas, you’ll choose from a range of optional modules so that you can focus on particular animal groups such as zoo animals, companion animals, wildlife conservation, and farm livestock.

Meanwhile, your final-year dissertation is an opportunity to look closely at a relevant topic that interests you, developing your research and communication skills and demonstrating everything you’ve learned.

What will I study?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1

Professional Skills for the Animal Industry (30 credits)
Animal Biology (30 credits)
Ethics of Animal Use (15 credits)
Introduction to Biochemistry (15 credits)
Animal Husbandry (15 credits)
Ecology and Evolution (15 credits)
Into ARU

Year 2

Research Methods (15 credits)
Commercial and Professional Skills for Animal Science (15 credits)
Behaviour (15 credits)
Nutritional Biochemistry (15 credits)
Animal Health Science (15 credits)
Reproduction and Development (15 credits)
Livestock Production Systems (15 credits) *
Livestock from Farm to Fork (15 credits) *
Management of Zoo Animal Collections (15 credits) *
Wildlife Conservation Skills (15 credits) *
Professional Practice and Legislation (15 credits) *
Applied Behaviour and Training (15 credits) *
Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology (15 credits) *
Veterinary Immunology (15 credits) *
Animal Rescue, Rehabilitation and Rehoming (15 credits) *

Year 3

Capstone Project (30 credits)
Applied Nutrition and Feeding (15 credits)
Advanced Animal Health Science (15 credits)
Genetics and Genomics (15 credits)
Applied Behaviour and Animal Welfare (15 credits)
Livestock Technology (15 credits) *
Developments in Livestock Production (15 credits) *
Applied Issues in Wildlife Conservation (15 credits) *
Developments in Zoo Management (15 credits) *
Clinical Animal Behaviour (15 credits) *
Developing Clinical Practice (15 credits) *
Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health (15 credits) *
Veterinary Ethics and Legislation (15 credits) *
Conservation Planning and Development (15 credits) *

Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1

Academic and Personal Management Skills (20 credits)
Biological Concepts (Introduction to Laboratory Skills) (20 credits)
Maths for IT and Science (15 credits)
Chemistry for Life Sciences (15 credits)
Applied Industry Techniques (30 credits)
Independent (Themed) Project (20 credits)

Module details

UK students have the option to study this course over one year to achieve a CertHE. You’ll study the same modules as students on Year 1 of the BSc.

What happens on a foundation year?

How is Animal Science assessed?

Who teaches Animal Science at ARU?

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Dr Steven Allain
Lecturer in Animal Science
Nieky van Veggel
Senior Lecturer in Animal Health
Dr Sife Chikunya
Senior Lecturer
Dr Jonathan Amory
Associate Professor
Terri Amory
Lecturer

Facilities

As an Animal Science student, you'll:

study on our 150-hectare campus with its specialist animal centres and working farm
develop practical competence with a range of species
go on 'behind the scenes' trips and privileged experiences throughout your course
learn from high-profile subject specialist staff.

Take a guided tour and meet our students

Entry requirements

UK students

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.

International students

English language requirements

Making you an offer

Fees and funding

UK students

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

If you start a course on or after 1 August 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £25,000. This is called repayment Plan 5. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000. After 40 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

If you started a course on or before 31 July 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £27,295. This is called repayment Plan 2. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £27,295. After 30 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

If you start a course on or after 1 August 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £25,000. This is called repayment Plan 5. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000. After 40 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

If you started a course on or before 31 July 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £27,295. This is called repayment Plan 2. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £27,295. After 30 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

If you start a course on or after 1 August 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £25,000. This is called repayment Plan 5. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000. After 40 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

If you started a course on or before 31 July 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £27,295. This is called repayment Plan 2. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £27,295. After 30 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

International students

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Animal Science

Careers

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Important additional notes

Important additional notes

Important additional notes

International students

English language requirements

Fees and funding

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Animal Science

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

1 year CertHE

Careers

Teaching and modules

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

1 year CertHE

Facilities

Entry requirements

BSc (Hons)

Important additional notes

With foundation year

Important additional notes

1 year CertHE

Important additional notes

International students

English language requirements

Fees and funding

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

1 year CertHE

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

Apply for Animal Science

Clearing places available

UK students

01245 686868

UK students

International students

Part-time courses

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