Animal Science with Foundation Year

Get ready with a foundation year and learn the foundational skills and knowledge to complete a full Honours degree. You'll be able to embark on this qualification without meeting the level 3 entry requirements, giving you the opportunity to study at degree level through this four year course.

Turn your passion for animals into a career with our BSc (Hons) Animal Science with Foundation Year degree. Designed to prepare you for graduate employment in a range of sectors that work with animals, this Animal Science degree will blend theory and practice through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.

From genetics and behaviour to welfare and disease, you’ll explore how science can improve the lives of both domestic and wild animals.

With access to state-of-the-art labs and industry connections through our Life Sciences Industry Liaison Lab at the nearby Discovery Park, you’ll gain the practical and professional skills that animal care, research, and conservation employers are looking for.

What you'll learn

• Investigate animal behaviour, reproduction, and physiology in lab and field environments.

• Explore genetics, diseases, and biochemistry to understand animal health and welfare.

• Conduct field studies and research, including a residential trip to observe animals in natural habitats.

• Apply scientific techniques to real-world problems in animal care, conservation, and veterinary settings.

• Collaborate with industry experts to develop your skills and career ambitions.

Whether you want to work in zoos, wildlife conservation, veterinary care, or research, this Animal Science degree will give you the skills and experience to thrive. Take the next step toward a future where you make a real difference in the lives of animals.

Specialist facilities

You will learn in our flagship STEM Verena Holmes building with impressive, modern science labs and a team of highly qualified lab technicians to support your work, alongside being out in the field at local wildlife parks and conversation trusts in Kent.

Career prospects

We host a careers fair specifically for our life science students where you can talk to employers, find out about the exciting careers they offer and get advice on how to progress into those careers with the skills you have learned.
Previous graduates from Animal Science courses at Canterbury Christ Church University have gone on to work in and progress into leadership positions including:

• Carnivore Keeper at Skånes Djurpark in Sweden

• at the Dog Trust and within the RSPCA

• Senior Research Laboratory Technician at the University of Cambridge and Pollinator Ecologist in London

Some of our graduates also go on to complete MScs or PhDs or pursue postgraduate courses in veterinary medicine or teacher training.

4th in the UK for the quality of teaching in the subject area of Animal Science.
(The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)