Animal Science BSc Honours

Course overview

We place a particular emphasis on the scientific study of livestock and companion animals (including horses). You'll study subjects that reflect the whole life of an animal:

• microbiology and biochemistry
• animal health and behaviour
• animal reproduction and nutrition

We bring your learning to life through extensive interaction with animals throughout your degree. You'll gain practical experience through regular visits to local animal centres and the University's two farms. You'll also enjoy input from professionals in the animal science industry.

Your third year group project to organise a conference on animal science equips you with marketable skills such as project management, organisation and teamworking.

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Stage 1 provides a solid base in the underlying science of domestic animals, covering genetics, microbiology, biochemistry and physiology. You undertake training to support and enhance your success in your degree and beyond.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Agri-Food Supply Chains	10
Animal Health	10
Introduction to Animal Physiology	10
Sustainability in Practice	20
Academic and Professional Skills	20
Introduction to Sustainability	20
Cells and Biomolecules	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Introduction to Business Management	10
Natural Science Research Impact	10

You continue to develop your knowledge of animal biology, applying scientific principles to areas such as nutrition, parasitology and immunology. We introduce you to more applied topics such as animal husbandry, breeding, behaviour and feed science.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Animal Feed Science and Technology	10
Domestic Animal Reproduction and Genetic Improvement	10
Sustainable animal production systems	20
Dissertation and Research Preparation	10
Sustainable Solutions	10
Macro- and Micronutrients	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Human Resource Management	20
Career Development for second year students	20
Animal Parasitology	10
Marketing Strategy	20
Animal Behaviour	10
Animal Function (Physiology and Development)	20
Insect Biology and Origins	20
Vertebrate Biology	20

Other optional modules may also be available.

Teaching in the final year draws on the latest scientific discoveries. You have a choice of modules that allows you to focus on the management of particular species, or a broader view.

A research project accounts for 25% of your marks, and can be laboratory based, carried out at a University farms, or at an animal centre. As well as knowledge and practical skills, our degree is designed to nurture and develop professional skills that employers covet.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Animal Science Conference - Current Issues and Debates	20
Reproduction in Farm and Companion Animals	10
Applied Animal Nutrition	10
Animal Welfare and Behaviour	20
Dissertation	30

Optional Modules	Credits
Career Development for final year students	20
Forage Utilization	10
Your Future - occupational awareness	10
Science Communication for Sustainable Development	10
Creativity, Innovation and Market Research in Science and Engineering UG	10
Physiological Zoology	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2022-23.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

On average, you'll have around 25 contact hours a week through a combination of lectures, seminars, and group tutorials.

Theoretical teaching is reinforced through visits to animal centres, the University's farms and other farming businesses.

Throughout the course, you carry out project work and submit reports, both as individuals and in groups.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assignments – written or fieldwork

• 

  Case studies

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Projects

Skills and experience

Research skills

In the final year of your degree you'll complete your Animal Science Research Project in an area of interest to you, such as:

• animal health
• behaviour
• welfare
• reproduction 
• nutrition

Your project is an opportunity to review literature, plan and implement a piece of research before discussing your findings. 

Hands-on experience

We arrange frequent field trips to a range of animal centres – as well as our farms – to ensure you develop your hands-on practical skills and help form a close-knit bond between you and your peers. 

Opportunities

Study abroad

Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

You can choose to spend up to a year studying at a partner institution overseas.

If you choose to study abroad, it will extend your degree by a year. 

Find out more about study abroad

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year.  Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

Agriculture is based in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at our city-centre campus. During your studies, you'll have access to two commercial farms near Newcastle.

Our University farms, Cockle Park Farm and Nafferton Farm, will give you an insight into how real-world farms operate, so you're prepared for your future. Our farms are used for research, teaching and demonstration.

You'll have the opportunity to access modern laboratories equipped with industry-standard equipment. You'll also use NU-Food, our food and consumer research facility.

You'll be able to use our computing facilities, including computers running industry-standard software used in agriculture businesses, to help ensure you're career-ready.

Support

To support you in your studies, all new students entering year 1 or year 2 will receive a tablet. You can download the online learning resources you'll need for your course (helping us to make our campus more sustainable).

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

There's also a staff-student committee, to give you an opportunity to have a say in how your degree works.

Your future

A degree in animal science provides an excellent basis for employment in one of the many different areas of animal science and related agricultural and environmental sectors.

This degree would help you to pursue a career in:

• animal welfare
• animal nutrition
• animal breeding

You could also work in animal health, as a research scientist working in product development, or an account manager for an animal health company selling pharmaceutical products to veterinary practices and agricultural merchants.

Employability at Newcastle

96% of Newcastle University graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating, with 85.5% in graduate-level employment or further study.

Take a look at the most recent data available for our graduates. See what they have gone on to achieve and be inspired to follow in their footsteps.

Statistics are based on what graduates were doing on a specific date, approximately six months after graduation (Destinations of (undergraduate and postgraduate UK domiciled) Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2016/17).

Enterprising students

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Careers support

Our Enterprise Challenge gives students the opportunity to work with industry on a project that tackles real-world issues. Watch the above video to find out more.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: BSc Honours
Home students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) 9250
International students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) 26400

Home Fee Students

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• different tuition fees
• additional costs

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages