Animal Science, FdSc

This strongly vocational course teaches a combination of scientific knowledge and animal management skills. Students gain work experience and the opportunity to progress on to a full honours degree. Study includes working in our specialist Animal Unit at Brackenhurst campus. 100% of our graduates are in employment or embarking on further study within six months of graduation.

This course is vocational in nature, with strong industry links applied during work experience and career planning. Lectures cover the major principles of:

• anatomy and physiology
• behaviour
• ecology
• nutrition.

However, the FdSc involves a slightly slower pace of learning, compared to the BSc Animal Biology, combined with a greater emphasis on applied aspects. The course combines the study of wild animal populations with that of captive animals, both domestic and exotic.

Why choose this course?

• Our on-campus Animal Unit houses 61 species of domestic and exotic animals, over 200 animals in total.
• You will have the opportunity to take part in a study trip to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey.
• Progression onto the final year of the BSc (Hons) Animal Biology degree is possible for graduates of this course.
• We are opening a brand new 1,000 square metre, £2.5 million pound campus library in Autumn 2013.

Want to know more?

• Book your place on an open day.
• Check out our Flickr photostream!
• Find out more about our Animal Unit.

How many places are available?

There are approximately 20 places available on this course.

When does the course start?

Please see the academic calendar for term dates.

Where will I study?

Over £20 million has been invested in facilities at Brackenhurst campus in the last eight years. Our beautiful 200 hectare estate acts as an outdoor classroom for fieldwork and research. Set in rural Nottinghamshire but only a 40-minute bus journey from the city it is the perfect site to study this course.

What will I study?

The flexibility of the animal provision at NTU will enable you to develop expertise in a variety of animals ranging from companion and production animals to wildlife and exotic breeds. The Brackenhurst campus has a number of specialist units for:

• animal
• equine
• farm studies.

You will also find a range of semi-natural and constructed habitats which provide a valuable resource for your study.

Year One

• Animal Health and Disease One - introduces the concepts of health and disease, and examines the symptoms, prevention and treatment of a variety of common diseases affecting domestic animals.
• Animal Management and Welfare - teaches you how to successfully manage animal collections and develop your practical
  handling skills across a range of species.
• Studying Animal in the Workplace - develops your skills in reflective thinking and goal-setting to enable improvements in your study and career planning skills. An element of IT encompasses skills in industry-standard software.
• Principles of Animal Science (including the fundamentals of nutrition) - provide the basic scientific principles required to
  underpin Animal Science. It includes aspects of Chemistry, Biology and Maths, all of which are presented in a way that makes their relevance to Animal Science clear.

Year Two

• Animal Nutritional Health and Disease - builds upon teaching in Year One to provide a more advanced coverage of animal disease. Topics covered include congenital and metabolic disorders, drug therapy, alternative therapies and topic of nutrition, its principles and its applications within the animal industry.
• Animal Reproduction, Genetics and Breeding - examines reproductive physiology, the principles of inheritance
  and the application of these principles in animal breeding programmes.
• Human / Canine Interface - develops your training skills, enabling you to apply different approaches to training and behavioural problems.
• Vocational Science - gives you the ,opportunity to pursue an independent research project on a topic of your own choice within the field of Animal Science.
• Animal Industry Project - your opportunity to complete a worthwhile project in industry. This will be a subject of your
  choice with species of your choice.

Study trip and fieldwork: Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
This trip to the headquarters of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey enables you to learn about animal husbandry and the conservation work taking place to protect endangered species.

Durrell are a leading international wildlife trust whose mission is to save species from extinction. The Trust has been training conservationists since 1977 in the theory and practice of endangered species recovery.

You benefit from working with experienced research and training staff who provide an insight into animal behaviour and breeding.

Contact hours

You will have 11 hours of scheduled contact time per week, of which approximately two will be practical work.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed with a variety of methods including the following.

Coursework 77%

• Assignments – 63%
• Portfolio – 14%

Practical skills 7%

Exams 16%

What do the course fees cover?

The annual fee for your undergraduate degree course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition.

• You will be given a pre-paid printing allowance of £20 (which currently equates to up to 400 sides of A4 black and white printing) for use in NTU Print Shops.
• We will supply you with laboratory equipment, coats and safety equipment, where required.
• You will not have to pay a tuition fee for you Year Abroad / Sandwich year when it is part of your course.
• Your tuition fees cover any additional administration fees for International Exchange.
• You will be given two tickets to the Graduation Ceremony (any additional tickets will incur a fee).

What is not included in the fee?

You will need to budget for the following:

• general printing of coursework in addition to the printing allowance
• books and texts
• accommodation and travel costs
• travel and accommodation costs involved in year abroad, sandwich year or any placements you take
• graduation social events
• additional field trip or field work costs where not borne by the School.

Language classes are available via the University Language Programme at a very reasonable additional fee, alongside your chosen course. These do not bear credit towards your course.

Are you an international student?

Find out more about entry requirements, fees and accommodation.

The Animal Unit
This on-campus facility provides the ideal environment for the study of animals, including:

• cats
• dogs
• reptiles
• rabbits
• birds
• fish
• rodents.

Outside there is accommodation for larger animals such as:

• goats
• sheep
• donkeys
• poultry.

You will therefore experience the day-to-day challenges involved in running an animal enterprise. You will also be able to draw on the strong ties which have been established with industry. Our students also benefit from provide guest lectures and visits.

Brackenhurst prides itself on its outdoor classroom available to all students who study here.