Careers

I chose Writtle because of the wide range of facilities and resources available ... The lecturers all have experience in the field they teach. This gives you a real insight into the industry.

Joe Cunningham,, BSc (Hons) Animal Therapy student

You'll be ready to work as an equine or canine massage therapist or explore career paths in related industries. You can register with the Animal Health Professions' Register.

Students who complete the first year of their Animal Therapy degree to a high standard may have the opportunity to transfer to our MVetPhys Veterinary Physiotherapy integrated Masters degree. This four-year course qualifies you to work as a veterinary physiotherapist.

Graduation doesn't have to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to stay 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.

Where have other Animal Therapy graduates worked?

How can ARU help with my employability and career development?

Teaching and modules

Students challenge traditional definitions and perspectives on caring for horses and dogs, reconstructing this knowledge into a comprehensive, holistic understanding.

Aidan McAteer, , Lecturer

Concentrating on mammals, especially dogs and horses, you’ll delve into anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and biomechanics, with opportunities to work with live animals.

You’ll examine animal behaviour and motivation, along with essential factors influencing horse training, such as saddle fit and farriery.

Your studies will also include nutrition, exercise, health sciences, preventative medicine and pain management—and sports medicine to understand the types of injuries commonly faced by horses and dogs. You’ll learn various manual therapeutic techniques aimed at improving animal welfare and quality of life.

Additionally, you’ll explore the ethics of animal use and develop skills for the workplace, such as research, teamwork, and business management.

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

Introduction to Veterinary Physiotherapy (30 credits)
Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology (15 credits)
Functional Anatomy (15 credits)
Human-Animal Interaction (15 credits)
Saddle Fit and Farriery (15 credits)
Ethics of Animal Use (15 credits)
Canine and Equine Nutrition (15 credits)

Year 2

Research Methods (15 credits)
Applied Anatomy (15 credits)
Animal Therapeutic Techniques (15 credits)
Rehabilitation and Performance (15 credits)
Exercise Physiology (15 credits)
Animal Health Science (15 credits)
Introduction to Animal Biomechanics (15 credits)
Working in a Multidisciplinary Team (15 credits)

Year 3

Capstone Project (30 credits)
Massage Therapy and Remedial Exercise (30 credits)
Animals in Motion (15 credits)
Sports Medicine (15 credits)
Veterinary Pathophysiology (15 credits)
Business and Client Management (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)
Independent (Themed) Project (20 credits)
Applied Industry Techniques (30 credits)

Module details

What happens on a foundation year?

How is Animal Therapy assessed?

Who teaches Animal Therapy at ARU?

Our highly qualified teaching team includes experienced veterinary physiotherapists and veterinary surgeons.

Dr Roberta Blake
Associate Professor
Ellie Prowse
Demonstrator in Veterinary Physiotherapy
Jade Terry
Senior Lecturer
Aidan McAteer
Lecturer in Veterinary Physiotherapy

Facilities

As an Animal Therapy student, you'll benefit from:

Our Canine Therapy Clinic, equipped with a hydrotherapy pool, underwater treadmills, and clinical consultation rooms, all in a commercially operated environment that mimics real-world settings.
Our Equine Training and Development Centre, home to around 70 horses, allowing you to gain practical experience in a professional context.
Opportunities to explore therapeutic techniques, exercise science, sports medicine, and rehabilitation backed by industry-standard practices.
Real-world insights from experienced veterinary surgeons and physiotherapists.

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.

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.

International students

Additional course costs

The following equipment and materials are essential, and you'll be using them from the start of your course:

riding hat or skull cap that meets current safety standards. The current BHS-recognised safety standards are EN1384:1996 with CE mark, BSEN1384:1997 with CE mark, PAS015:2011 with BSI kitemark, ASTM F1163:2004a with SEI mark, E2001 with Snell certification label and AS/NZ 3838:2006 with SAI global mark). Protective headwear must be worn when leading and lunging
riding gloves (gloves must be worn when leading and lunging)
steel toe cap boots
suitable smart clothing (plain navy or black trousers) for working around horses including
waterproofs
white lab coat

You might already have some of this equipment at home if you're used to handling horses.

You'll also need the following study materials:

laptop/device
pens and pencils
notebook or paper for note-taking
folders
scientific calculator

Re-take fees for practical exams (OSPEs) may be incurred. The fee is currently £20 per attempt.

The following additional costs apply in your final year.

Individual insurance costs (final year only). This will cover you during clinical placements and when you graduate and start practising during your NAVP probation period. It is compulsory in order to practice and treat patients. We recommend that you use Balens.
In your final year you'll be working alongside clients and members of the public, and will need to dress professionally. The following equipment and uniform is a requirement.

Equine: stool for equine practicals
Canine: wetsuit or waders for hydrotherapy
Indoor shoes: black trainers (no coloured logos) or boots
T-shirt or long sleeve top (black or navy)
Fleece (black or navy)
Trousers: black jeggings or jeans; no blue rinse jeans, rips or embellishments
Black or brown boots for the yard

No items of clothing should have large motifs or logos on them. Any logos should be small and discreet. No sleeveless tops, or shorts or hoodies are allowed.

Living costs

Bursaries, sponsorship and working

Animal Therapy

Careers

Teaching and modules

Facilities

Entry requirements

Important additional notes

Important additional notes

International students

English language requirements

Fees and funding

Apply for Animal Therapy

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Animal Therapy

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

Careers

Teaching and modules

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

Facilities

Entry requirements

BSc (Hons)

Important additional notes

With foundation year

Important additional notes

International students

English language requirements

Fees and funding

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

Apply for Animal Therapy

Clearing places available

UK students

01245 686868

UK students

International students

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