Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare (Final Year Entry) (QA Only), BSc (Plumpton)
If you are looking to top up your degree to help you on your career journey, this is the ideal course for you.
This top-up programme will provide you with a systematic understanding of key aspects of animal behaviour and welfare, including acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge. Through different subject delivery you will be able to devise and sustain arguments and solve problems, using ideas and techniques at the forefront of the discipline. You will be able to apply the theory to practical scenarios giving you the qualities and skills necessary for employment or academia.
You'll be encouraged to develop your analytical and critical skills; enabling you to assess animal welfare and to use assessment procedures of animal behaviour to evaluate animal wellbeing. Focusing on issues that relate to the animals, you'll study a wide variety of species and look at the impact on the animal behaviour, welfare and management industries.
The course is offered by one of the university's partner colleges: Plumpton College, based at Lewes, East Sussex.
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Course/institution codes
P301
Location
Duration
- 1 years full-time
- 2 years part-time
Start month
September
Home* /international fees 2025/26
TBC /TBC
What you should know about this course
* Fees for this programme are being reviewed by the partner college and may be subject to change for 2025-26 up to a maximum of £9,535 per year.
What you will study
Validated / Quality Assured (QA) Programmes: these are programmes approved (‘validated’) and quality assured by the University of Greenwich for delivery by one of our Partner Colleges. They lead to a University of Greenwich award.
About the course team
The programme is delivered by a team of highly experienced and dedicated staff, with expertise in a range of disciplines within the animal sciences and related fields. Staff teaching on the programme benefit from maintaining strong professional links to organisations in the animal industry, operating at both a local and national level.
Entry requirements
Successful completion of a Foundation Degree in Animal Science or Animal Management (or equivalent science-based such as HND) degree allows consideration for advanced entry on to this degree.
Successful completion of the FdSc Veterinary Nursing degree (Pass or above) allows transfer to the Final Year of this BSc degree.
Students with English as a second language will be required to have gained IELTS at 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing.
For more information, use our contact form or call us on 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
We will also consider an individual basis to mature applicants with experience in a relevant field or related industries who may lack formal qualifications.
For more information, contact the HE Office (HEoffice@plumpton.ac.uk).
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use Prior Learning?
Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.
How you will learn
Teaching
Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.
You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.
Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your courses and tutorials.
Class sizes
The class sizes for this Top-up programme are typically between 15-20 students for the 30 credit core modules. For the 15 credit optional modules, class sizes are usually are usually smaller, at between 10-15 students. During some practical sessions working with animals, class sizes may be reduced to maintain high standards of animal welfare and to ensure appropriate supervision of students.
Independent learning
At university, you must develop the ability to work more independently than you may have done so before. During your qualification, you will receive support from module leaders and personal tutors regarding how to do this effectively. Independent learning is an important aspect of your progression and completion of your qualification. You must ensure you are prepared for this and have the correct environment to undertake this.
Overall workload
You should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job.Each module you study towards this degree is worth 15 or 30 credits. These represent around 150 or 300 study hours respectively. If you receive 100 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 200 hours to independent study to complete it successfully
Assessment
You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.
Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.
Feedback summary
We aim to provide feedback on assignments taken at the college and to release examination results within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
The academic year runs from September to June.
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, contact the HE office (HEoffice@plumpton.ac.uk).
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home* | TBC | TBC | N/A |
| International | TBC | TBC | N/A |
University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.
(Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2023/DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).
* Fees for this programme are being reviewed by the partner college and may be subject to change for 2025-26 up to a maximum of £9,535 per year.
Other costs
Safety equipment
Students will be asked to provide their own protective clothing, steel toe capped boots and equipment if needed.
Field trips
The cost of field trips is activity dependant. Some are free, while others may require a contribution. You are not obliged to pay for field trips in order to complete your course.
Resources
Course texts and other study resources are available from Library. You may wish to purchase your own copies. You receive a small allowance for printing costs, which you can top up if required.
Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.
The Greenwich Bursary
This bursary is worth £700 for new undergraduate students with a low household income, entering Year 0 or 1 who meet the eligibility criteria.
EU Bursary
Following the UK's departure from the European Union, we are supporting new EU students by offering a substantial fee-reduction for studying.
Financial support
We want your time at university to be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress, so planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
Careers and placements
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
Our graduates are able to progress into a variety of different roles within the animal industry and related fields upon completion of this degree. Graduates from the programme typically gain employment with local authorities, government agencies and regulatory bodies, animal rescue and rehoming centres, welfare organisations, zoological organisations and in the animal charities sector. Another potential pathway following completion of this Top-up will be to progress onto a postgraduate programme within the field of animal behavioural science and welfare or related fields.
Do you provide employability services?
We offer impartial careers guidance to all of our students, email careers@plumpton.ac.uk to explore your next step or to book an appointment – we’re here to help.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
The College’s Inclusive Learning and Development Department offers dedicated support for HE students, this can take the form of one-to-one support, exam access arrangements. Students who have a learning disability are able to access support with making an application to the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) from the College’s Inclusive Learning and Development Department.
Support from the department
The Library boasts a collection of over 8,000 books, covering a range of key subject areas within land-based curriculum. The Library also provides students with access to a variety of magazines, periodicals and academic journals through online databases. Learning technology is central to the learning experience of students at Plumpton College and therefore is supported by dedicated staff within the College Teaching and Learning Team. The responsibilities of this team are to help support students with learning technology to enhance the overall learning experience.
Mode of study
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