Careers

Our course’s recognition from the ABTC means you’ll gain the most up-to-date animal training and behaviour knowledge and skills.

These will prepare you to work as an animal trainer, animal training instructor, animal behaviour technician, or clinical animal behaviourist.

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

Where have other Animal Science (Pet Behaviour and Welfare) graduates worked?

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, biochemistry, ethics, and essential practical and professional skills.

In years 2 and 3, as well as continuing to build your knowledge in these areas, you’ll take specialist modules on animal behaviour, training and welfare, and learn the commercial and professional skills required of animal trainers and behaviourists.

You’ll round off your degree with an independent research project – an opportunity to look closely at a relevant topic that interests you and demonstrate 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)

Year 2

Research Methods (15 credits)
Commercial and Professional Skills for Animal Science (15 credits)
Behaviour (15 credits)
Animal Health Science (15 credits)
Professional Practice and Legislation (15 credits)
Nutritional Biochemistry (15 credits)
Reproduction and Development (15 credits)
Applied Behaviour and Training (15 credits)

Year 3

Capstone Project (30 credits)
Applied Nutrition and Feeding (15 credits)
Genetics and Genomics (15 credits)
Clinical Animal Behaviour (15 credits)
Advanced Animal Health Science (15 credits)
Applied Behaviour and Animal Welfare (15 credits)
Developing Clinical Practice (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 (Pet Welfare and Behaviour) assessed?

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.

International students

We welcome applications from international and EU students, and accept a range of international qualifications.

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

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you'll need to make sure you meet our English language requirements for undergraduate courses.

Check the section 'Standard entry requirements' for IELTS requirements for this course.

Improving your English language skills

If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry onto a degree course.

We also provide our own English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) in the UK and overseas. To find out if we are planning to hold an ELPT in your country, contact our country managers.

You can find out more about the admissions process at ARU, including what happens after you apply and the different types of offer we may make.

We may automatically offer you a place at ARU if you meet any of these criteria:

are a care leaver or care experienced
have a declared disability
are from certain postcodes
provide unpaid care for another person
are currently, or were, in receipt of free school meals during secondary education
are a Service Child, where a parent or carer currently serves in the UK Armed Forces
participated in an approved activity in preparation for entry to higher education
attended a secondary school that had a Progress 8 score of average, below average or well below average

This is called a contextual offer. Find out about contextual offers.

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

Additional course costs

Living costs

Bursaries, sponsorship and working

Animal Science (Pet Behaviour and Welfare)

Careers

Teaching and modules

Facilities

Entry requirements

Important additional notes

International students

English language requirements

Improving your English language skills

Important additional notes

Important additional notes

International students

English language requirements

Fees and funding

Apply for Animal Science (Pet Behaviour and Welfare)

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Animal Science (Pet Behaviour and Welfare)

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

International students

English language requirements

Improving your English language skills

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 (Pet Behaviour and Welfare)

Clearing places available

UK students

01245 686868

UK students

International students

Part-time courses

Related courses