This course is also available part time and as a foundation degree.
Merrist Wood is highly regarded in the animal industry as the leading animal education establishment in Surrey, with a wide range of animal care courses. There are well-equipped animal management resources including collections of domestic, companion, and exotic animals as well as a grooming parlour and supporting facilities for canine care. The College has wide links with industry and tuition is by highly qualified and experienced tutors who will ensure you gain the best possible grounding in your chosen career.
This programme validated by Kingston University is designed for students who have already completed a Foundation Degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare or equivalent qualification. It allows for more in-depth specialist knowledge development and the opportunity for research into a chosen field of study.
You will assess animal welfare and behaviour in a range of settings, including farming, zoos, the leisure and entertainment sectors, laboratory and domestic environments.
During this course you will benefit from the following:
- Taught by expert, passionate tutors with industry experience.
- Extensive grounds which include ancient woodland, species rich grassland and wetland areas. Rich fauna, including protected species of bats and amphibians.
- Friendly learning environment with small class sizes and excellent student support.
- Merrist Wood College is highly regarded in the animal industry as the leading animal education establishment in Surrey
- Animal Management Centre including facilities such as a desert biome, tropical biome and nocturnal room.
- Industry experience provides an invaluable opportunity to work in a variety of settings to support your chosen career path.
Course duration: 1 Year full-time. This course can also be taken on a part-time basis over 2 years.
What you'll learn
Practical experiments in animal behaviour (30 credits), animal cognition (30 credits), concepts in animal welfare (30 credits), research project (30 credits). Total 120 credits.
All students are supported with academic development and you will have access to a personal tutor.
How you'll learn and be assessed
Teaching and learning will include a range of strategies including lectures, seminars, group work, tutorials, and work experience. Teaching takes place on the 400-acre Merrist Wood campus and is supported by an extensive animal collection that is utilised throughout the course where students will encounter a range of familiar and unusual species.
Assessments are designed to allow students to research into their topics and species of interest for subject areas they would wish to specialise in, linking to career aspirations. The teaching team undertake vocational continuous professional development to keep up to date with their subject specialism. This vocational currency gives a real edge to course content and value is added through guest speakers, visits, and realistic work-based learning assignments. These are shared with our colleagues employed within the animal behaviour and welfare sector.
Throughout the course you will be able to research chosen topics and species of interest for your assessments enabling you to focus on subject areas that you wish to specialise in, and link to career aspirations. Each module will be assessed with 2-3 pieces of work. These could include academic poster creation, conference style presentations, written exams, reports, seminars, media article design, portfolios, video productions, case studies and a dissertation.
Academic skills support is available throughout the year to help you prepare for this range of assessments, including exam preparation.
Course duration: 1 Year full-time. This course can also be studied on a part-time basis over 2 years. Fees for part-time study are £4,000 per annum. To apply for the part-time option please email: HE@activatelearning.ac.uk
Progression
Continue your studies with a Masters degree in a range of specialist areas or apply for membership of professional bodies including the Zoological Society of London, Institute of Biology or the British Ecological Society and attend further courses.
You could become a zoo keeper, animal behaviouralist, welfare officer or post-graduate researcher with organisations such as the RSPCA or WWF, zoos, safari parks, local government agencies or consider teaching.
Entry requirements
Animal Behaviour Welfare Foundation Degree or HND (or suitable equivalent subject) with a minimum Pass profile.
Plus a minimum of Grade C at GCSE for English, maths and science.
A minimum IELTS score of 6 /TOEFL equivalent is required for those for whom English is not their first language.
Additional information
Home/EU* Full-time Fee for September 2025 entry: £8,000 per year. (Part-time: £4,000 per year)
Please note:
Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
*Fee information for European Union (EU) students: If your course starts on or after the 1st August 2021, you will no longer be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England unless you meet one of the following criteria:
- you are able to benefit from the citizens’ rights agreements
- you are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland – benefits of Irish nationals under Common Travel Area guidance arrangement will continue
Additional costs include:
Optional trips for work experience, especially if you wish to volunteer overseas, as some of our previous students have done. Additional printing over and above the £10 allowance provided by the college, and the cost of books that you might wish to purchase.
We strongly recommend that you purchase a laptop for your course.
If you need any further information or guidance, please contact us at HE@activatelearning.ac.uk
How to apply
Applicants should apply through the Activate Learning Application Portal.
You are advised to ensure that anti-tetanus protection via a course of injections or booster is up to date prior to the commencement of the course. You should also ensure that you have adequate clothing for outdoor work in inclement weather. Fees shown are per year. Please contact the College if you require further information.
The academic regulations for this programme can be found on Kingston University’s website
Terms and conditions for enrolment can be found on our website
Merrist Wood offers accommodation for new and existing full-time students who wish to live in our halls.
