Applied Animal Health and Welfare Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc

Do you dream of working with animals, ensuring their health and welfare while opening doors to an exciting career? This programme equips you with comprehensive expertise but also awards you the industry-recognised HTQ Vet Technician (Livestock) qualification, setting you apart in this competitive field. The programme allows you to explore the fascinating world of companion animals, livestock, and wildlife.

From our state-of-the-art laboratories to farm facilities and animal units, you will apply your knowledge in real-world settings to build confidence and competence. Work experience gives you invaluable industry exposure and the opportunity to develop practical, job-ready skills in professional environments.

Course Aims

* The Applied Animal Health and Welfare programme is designed to prepare you for working within the animal sciences industry, helping to improve and monitor the welfare and health of animals in a variety of roles across the industry.

* The programme will allow you to learn in-depth biology and physiology of the animal, and will include the science behind animal health, disease and welfare. It focuses on ensuring you have the necessary laboratory skills to work in a range of areas by completing a variety of lab-based modules in your first and second year. It will also allow you to perform basic diagnostic techniques.

* It is important that you are able to handle and have a good overall knowledge of a variety of animals. You will therefore also be completing modules in practical handling skills across a range of species such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

* Upon successful completion of this foundation degree, you could progress to top up your studies on the final year of the BSc Bioveterinary Science or BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare.

Learning and Teaching Approach\
This programme is delivered with a variety of learning and teaching approaches to include all students’ learning styles and preferences.\
For all modules, theory lectures are delivered that aim to deliver the core content and provide the underpinning knowledge.\
To complement the theory lectures, you will have group seminars/practical sessions that are used to reinforce concepts delivered theoretically. The teaching methods focus on facilitating a student-centred approach to enhance your independent learning that takes place outside of the classroom.

What is the contact time?\
Approximately 12 - 16 hours a week to include lectures, seminars, work experience, practical's and tutorials. Students are also expected to carry out a significant amount of private study (approx. 25-30 hours a week) Independent study includes reading around the subject, preparing for tutorials and seminars, preparing for, and completing, module assessments; forming an essential part of a student’s learning journey. The part-time route incorporates approximately 9-12 hours of contact time per week, and independent study of (approximately 12-15 hours a week).

Progression

Upon successful completion of this foundation degree, you may progress to top up your studies on the final year of the BSc Bioveterinary Science or BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare.

Careers\
You may pursue roles such as/in the following industries: Welfare/animal health inspector (e.g. DEFRA, RSPCA), laboratory animal technician, welfare scientist, environmental enrichment co-ordinator, agriculture consultant, laboratory scientist, animal rescue and rehabilitation, reproduction technologist, management positions, animal welfare societies.