Overview
Get ready with a foundation year and learn the foundational skills and knowledge to complete a full Honours degree. You'll be able to embark on this qualification without meeting the level 3 entry requirements, giving you the opportunity to study at degree level through this four year course.
Turn your passion for animals into a career with our BSc (Hons) Animal Science degree. Designed to prepare you for graduate employment in a range of sectors that work with animals, this Animal Science degree will blend theory and practice through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.
From genetics and behaviour to welfare and disease, you’ll explore how science can improve the lives of both domestic and wild animals.
With access to state-of-the-art labs and industry connections through our Life Sciences Industry Liaison Lab at the nearby Discovery Park, you’ll gain the practical and professional skills that animal care, research, and conservation employers are looking for.
What you'll learn
- Investigate animal behaviour, reproduction, and physiology in lab and field environments.
- Explore genetics, diseases, and biochemistry to understand animal health and welfare.
- Conduct field studies and research, including a residential trip to observe animals in natural habitats.
- Apply scientific techniques to real-world problems in animal care, conservation, and veterinary settings.
- Collaborate with industry experts to develop your skills and career ambitions.
Whether you want to work in zoos, wildlife conservation, veterinary care, or research, this Animal Science degree will give you the skills and experience to thrive. Take the next step toward a future where you make a real difference in the lives of animals.
Accredited by Royal Society of Biology
Royal Society of Biology logo
100%
of our Animal Science students were in work or further study 15 months after finishing their course.
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023CCCU has provided me with the knowledge and skills to continue my journey in higher education, gain a PhD, and start a career in ecology research. The university has also contributed significantly to my self-development and helped me achieve more than I could ever imagine. I will be forever grateful to CCCU!KonstantinosAnimal Science Alumnus - Electron Microscopist at John Innes Centre
Entry requirements
64
UCAS Tariff Points
Accepted qualifications
We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.
| Qualification | Grades |
|---|---|
| A Levels | DDE |
| BTEC | MPP |
| Access | Pass 45 Credits |
| International Baccalaureate | TBC |
We also welcome applicants with few or no formal Level 3 qualifications who wish to return to education. You may be asked to attend an interview.
More information
Contact us
Module information
As well as the core modules, you may also have the opportunity to study a number of option modules. Option modules will not be pre-selected for you. We provide examples of option modules. The availability of specific option modules may vary from year to year. The offer of an option will be subject to a minimum number of students choosing the module to ensure the appropriate student experience. The offer of option modules may also be affected by staff availability. It means we cannot guarantee the availability of a particular optional module. However, we will ensure you have a choice of option modules.
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
In your Foundation Year, you will be introduced to higher education with a range of supportive modules that prepare you for study in higher education and familiarise you with the core knowledge and skills of your chosen subject.
From Level 4 onward, each module features a mixture of practical sessions (in the field or laboratory), lectures, workshops and seminars. The emphasis is always on practical and applied skills development, so on a typical module we will spend more than half of our time with you in practical sessions, often two thirds of the module contact time. This is complemented by additional structured and guided learning resources we provide and curate for you.
In addition, you will have time allocated for independent learning. Face-to-face teaching hours per week may vary but will typically be approximately 10 - 16 hours. Some modules include intensive weeks where you will have up to 24-30 contact hours in a week.
Modules feature a variety of independent learning materials that we curate and structure for you. This may include textbook chapters to read, videos to watch or research papers to review in preparation for or following on from a face-to-face session.
You might engage in online discussions, post comments or otherwise interact with fellow students or academics as well. Some of the independent learning can be accompanied by short quizzes or revision aides to help you remember the key content you have covered.
As a full-time student, you should expect a workload similar to a full-time job during the weeks of the semester (each of your two semesters is 15 weeks long). You will be studying 60 credits worth of modules each semester, which corresponds to an overall workload of 600 hours per semester.
Most of this time is set aside for your independent learning, however, you can use it flexibly around your other commitments, such as work or caring responsibilities. Your personal academic tutor and the course team will always be there to support you in engaging with your studies and meeting the learning requirements of the course.
Face-to-face sessions are typically led by academics – our focus is teaching and supporting you. Occasionally, industry experts or guest lecturers may provide specialist sessions and share their expertise with you. In some of our laboratory and field practicals or IT workshops, you will be supported by PhD students alongside the academic leading the session.
The academics teaching you will have higher education teaching qualifications (such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, PGCAP) and may also be fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) or members of professional bodies and academic organisations.
Our priority are our students, so we spend a lot of time teaching you face-to-face, especially in the laboratory and field. Applied skills are key to your success and we put them front and centre, making the most of our modern facilities in the Verena Holmes building and links with the local wildlife parks and conservation trusts in Kent.Rodrigo VegaSenior Lecturer in Biology and Course Advocate for Animal Science
How you’ll be assessed
We understand that different students have different strengths and ways of learning. This is why you will be assessed in a range of ways during your degree. In your first two years of study, you will mainly be assessed by coursework (e.g. lab or field reports) and by timed online questionnaires.
In your second and third year, your coursework assessment may include poster presentations, scientific reports, portfolios and others. Some of your modules will also include an exam, but no module will be assessed exclusively by an exam.
In your final year, you will complete a dissertation module that includes a thesis assessment in semester 2 and a presentation where you can reflect on your achievements and journey as a student.
Your future career
Previous graduates from Animal Science courses at Canterbury Christ Church University have gone on to work in and progress into leadership positions including:
- at zoos and wildlife parks (e.g. carnivore keeper at Skånes Djurpark in Sweden)
- with animal charities and rescue organisations (e.g. the Dog Trust, RSPCA)
- at research institutes and organisations studying animals (e.g. Senior Research Laboratory Technician at the University of Cambridge, Pollinator Ecologist in London).
Some of our graduates also go on to complete MScs or PhDs or purse postgraduate courses in veterinary medicine or teacher training.
My degree in Animal Science provided me with a broad understanding and appreciation of science in all its glory. It not only strengthened my analytical and problem-solving skills but also opened doors to unexpected opportunities.Rhea Animal Science graduate
Fees
Tuition Fees for 2026/27 have not yet been finalised. These course web pages will be updated with Tuition Fee information once they have been agreed.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Industry Links
You will have talks from experts in animal husbandry and conservation during visits to local wildlife parks and conservation trusts such as Port Lympne, Howlett’s Wildlife Sanctuary, The Big Cat Sanctuary and the Wildwood Trust.
You can complete a dissertation project in collaboration with one of these partners and the Industry, Careers and Enterprise module you will take at Level 5 will allow you to tackle a client brief from one of our partners, where you apply the skills you have learned to a real-life problem.
We also host a careers fair specifically for our life science students where you can talk to employers, find out about the exciting careers they offer and get advice on how to progress into those careers with the skills you have learned.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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Duration:
4 yearsUCAS code:
C301Location(s):
CanterburyAny questions?
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*We are advertising this course as ‘subject to approval.’ When we add new courses or update existing courses, we advertise the course as ‘subject to approval’. We do this to let you know the University still needs to agree to run the course. It is rare for a course not to gain approval, but it is not guaranteed. There may be changes to course and module titles, content and assessment, but we will tell you about these if there is a change. You can still apply to study a course subject to approval. We have prepared some questions and answers to tell you more.