This course has been designed with input from local employers to meet skills shortages in animal-related industries. The total UK animal health market is worth around £360 million per annum. As well as being enrolled at a partner college, you are also enrolled at Oxford Brookes University and so are entitled to use many of the University’s facilities, such as the library and online resources. To find out more about what it is like to study at an Oxford Brookes partner college, visit our partnership course pages. As with most foundation degrees, the course is for people who have previous experience of their chosen subject of study. You might, for example, have current or previous experience of working with animals or have studied for qualifications such as a national diploma in animal or equine science. However, we also welcome applications from those of you with a desire to gain qualifications which would equip you to work in an animal-related industry.

Employment in the animal care industry is multi-faceted. There are many related areas that centre on animals but require skilled personnel for a variety of tasks. Graduates of this course may choose to work in zoology and animal conservation, animal collection management, or kennel, cattery and pet shop management, or pursue careers as insurance agents, nutritionists, journalists, lecturers or facility managers.