Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare (Top-up)

Boost your career with Plumpton College’s Animal Behaviour and Welfare BSc (Hons) Top-Up Degree validated by the University of Greenwich —a one-year programme designed for students ready to top up their existing Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject. You’ll upskill and enhance your work experience, studying advanced topics such as Animal Cognition and Neuroscience, Animal Welfare and the Law, and a choice of specialist modules including Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling, Human–Animal Interactions or Contemporary Advances in Animal Behaviour. Benefit from excellent industry connections across the animal welfare sector through Lunch & Learn guest speaker sessions, applied learning in our new Animal Education Centre (200+ species), and expert lecturers committed to helping you progress into a rewarding animal-related career.

What will you learn on this top-up degree?
Explore current issues in behaviour and welfare science, learning how to assess animals across different context and develop real world solutions to complex animal welfare challenges.
You will examine global industry case studies, meet professionals working in the field, and build critical thinking and problem-solving skills for roles in management, consultancy, or husbandry.

The top-up degree (1 year full time; 2 years part time) is delivered by a team of highly experienced lecturers and researchers with specialist expertise across the animal sciences. Staff maintain strong professional links with national and local animal welfare organisations, zoos, rescue centres and research institutions, ensuring the course remains industry-relevant and career-focused. You also have the opportunity to do an international fieldwork trip to a wildlife centre.

Why study at Plumpton?

• Enhance your employability in a wide range of roles within the animal behaviour, welfare, and husbandry sectors.

• Opportunities for immersive education, real-world case studies, and career networking

• Strong links with local and national animal welfare organisations, rescue centres, and zoos.

• Top up your animal-related foundation degree in one year

• Exclusive use of our Uni Student Common & Study Rooms

• Access to the updated Plumpton Animal Education Centre with 200+ species

• We are Plumpton - experience 100 years of leading animal- and land-based education!

You'll study a suite of modules over the duration of the animal behaviour and welfare degree including -
• Independent Research Project on an area of your interest;
• Animal Cognition and Neuroscience;
• Animal Welfare and the Law.

You will also study two modules from the below:
• Human-animal Interactions
• Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling
• Contemporary Advances in Animal Behaviour.

Please note, depending on cohort size not all optional modules may be available, please speak to the Course Leader for more information.

A range of summative assessment methods are integrated into the programme, which includes written reports, essays, case studies, presentations (oral and poster), practical assessments and a portfolio. The independent research project is a core part of the degree, and you will be supported by a supervisor enabling you to develop key research skills including applying for ethical approval, research design and data analysis. Assessments have been designed to be industry-relevant, and reflective of real-world scenarios and working practices. Assessment are also designed to be flexible in terms of the case studies or examples covered, enabling you to explore your own personal and professional interests via your studies.
Students with declared needs may be able to access reasonable adjustments for their assessments.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS