Animal Science, BSc (Hons)

Our courses integrate theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on learning, delivered by leading academics in their fields. Students gain hands-on experience with animals such as guinea pigs, sheep, hens, and cows through practical sessions and field trips. You can select from four options—Bioveterinary Science, focusing on animal health and disease; Physiology and Biotechnology, exploring animal structure and function; Livestock Production, covering nutrition, productivity, and fertility; or Ecology and Conservation, emphasizing zoo and captive animal management—without committing until the end of your first year. Flexibility allows studying modules from other bioscience areas, including microbiology and nutrition, at Sutton Bonington Campus, which features a commercial farm for research and teaching. Enhance employability with options for study abroad, industrial placements, or computer science. Ranked 4th in the UK for agriculture and forestry, and 7th for Animal Science (Guardian University Guide 2024), the program includes field trips, guest lectures, and a final-year research project.

During year one, you'll study core modules to ensure everyone has the same level of science knowledge. You'll cover animal biology, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, anatomy and nutrition. There is a mixture of teaching with large group lectures, small group tutorials, and practical sessions. In years two and three, you get to choose your specialist option. You can choose from different optional modules regardless of your specialist option. In the final year project you will further develop your skills by working on a piece of original research or a critical literature review. You'll be supervised and mentored by our academics and researchers. You can study livestock, companion, laboratory or zoo animals. Some projects involve the University Farm and Dairy Centre. You can work also on projects offsite, for example at Twycross Zoo.