Where will this course lead?

This course aims to produce graduates at the cutting edge of their profession and will emphasise current thinking on animal behaviour and animal welfare. this course provides an ideal progression route onto our BSc (Hons) year in Animal Behaviour & Welfare, or into employment in welfare organisations and charities; animal collections such as rescue centres, zoos, farm parks, catteries and kennels; work in central and local government departments; doing research; behaviourist work and animal training or teaching. Our graduates often progress to careers in animal behaviour and training, education, scientific research, the veterinary or retail sectors, zoos or conservation, or start their own business.

What will I study?

The course will offer both a broad grounding in the practical skills and the underlying scientific knowledge needed to graduate and work in a range of animal-related industries. In the first year you will be introduced to areas such as critical thinking and academic writing and will develop a portfolio to support your professional development alongside a work placement. You will also progress practical handling and husbandry skills. In the second year you get the opportunity to start applying this knowledge and focus on developing research skills through an individual industry-based project.

The modules you will study are:

Year One

Principles of Animal Behaviour - focuses on the main theoretical principles within the study of animal behaviour. You will explore the evolution of species-specific behaviours, the development of individualism, the effect of the external environment on behaviour and the function of behaviour in terms of species survival. Once you have gained a basic understanding of these principles, you will learn methodologies to observe and record animal behaviour which will be built on further in the Applied Animal Behaviour module.

Animal Welfare - develops student understanding of animal welfare and encourages sharing of ideas on this topic. Students will learn to monitor and analyse the welfare status of a variety of animals using behavioural and physical indicators. You will explore UK legislation and its limitations and explore the role of charitable organisations in improving and maintaining legislative guidelines.

Animal Biology - enables students to develop laboratory skills and the underpinning knowledge required for other modules of the course. You will learn about health and safety in the laboratory and take part in laboratory experiments to build an evidence based, practical laboratory portfolio. During the laboratory sessions you will use a light microscope, ice baths, bunsen burners and a range of chemicals.

Anatomy and Physiology - explore comparative anatomy to learn about the structure and function of a range of species. Some of the sessions will be practical dissections taking place in the laboratory. This module will develop student appreciation for species differences and link the understanding of species-specific adaptations to animal welfare.

Professional and Academic Skills - designed to equip the student with the skills required to complete assessments. Learners will develop their writing skills and good academic practices including learning how to paraphrase and correctly use Harvard referencing. Students will learn some basic excel skills to set them up for data handling in other modules. The student will be nurtured to understand themselves as individual learners and as professionals in animal-related industries through reflective practices.

Throughout the first year of the programme you will be required to demonstrate competency in an animal related role through a placement position, this will give you substantial industry experience, a minimum of 30 days, which is in addition to the 150 hours of learning hours required to complete the module.

Practical Animal Husbandry - a practical module which will run over two semesters, gaining invaluable hands-on experience with the range of animals housed on the colleges animal unit, this aims to help you to obtain, or improve your animal handling skills and allows you to experience many of the day-to-day aspects of working within the animal industry; including handling, health checks, preventative treatments, nutritional and housing requirements of small domestics, farm livestock and exotic species. The module requires students to attend two trips to differing organisations to gain an understanding on how large collections manage their animals; it will provide students with opportunities to evaluate techniques and identify improvements that could be made.

Animal Ethics - designed to introduce students to a range of complex ethical considerations and philosophies through understanding domestication, human-animal interactions, different viewpoints and politics. The module incites lots of interesting discussions and explores differences of opinion. Students will also develop an understanding of how legislation that can be influenced by ethical viewpoints and theories.

Business Skills for the Animal Sector - This module aims to provide an opportunity to focus on and actively engage in the development of business ideas. Students will learn to recognise the competencies and skills needed for the successful start-up of a new business such as marketing and financial planning and develop these concepts into a small commercial business or not-for-profit business idea.

Year Two:

Research Methods for Industry (Double module), Applied Animal Behaviour, Animal Nutrition, Animal Health and Disease, Exotic Animal Trade, Animal Breeding and Genetics Zoo Practices, and Conservation. All modules are compulsory.

How will this course be delivered?

The course is delivered in a variety of ways including face to face in the classroom with lectures, group activities, discussions and seminars; via practical work in the laboratory or the Animal Care Centre, plus240 hours of industry work placement; also, online resources and activities are used in modules for independent learning; support is provided via one to one tutorials. Trips and guest speakers, in addition to a work placement and individual industry project, help strengthen links to the workplace and development of skills for employment. The Animal Care Centre is fully equipped to industry standards and houses a wide range of species to include reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, fish, small mammals, large farm mammals and birds. You will also be required to complete extensive independent study outside the hours spent at college. You should allow a minimum of one full day per week for independent study.

The full-time mode requires you to attend college 3 days a week in semester 1, 2 days a week in semester 2 and attend a work placement on an additional day in the first year. Part-time students will have 1.5 days of lectures, dropping to 1 day in semester 2, and will also need to complete the work placement. Work placement can be arranged any time outside of your scheduled lectures, to suit the student. The college will be following government guidelines on social distancing, and therefore we at times may need to increase the balance of online learning, with online lectures delivered both synchronously and asynchronously. Tutorials will take place online.

What qualifications will I get?

Oxford Brookes University FdSc in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. To be successful in gaining this award, you need to complete 120 credits at Level 4 plus a further 120 credits at Level 5. All modules are compulsory.

How will I be assessed?

Assessments are through a range of different coursework designed to develop academic and employability skills, and through examinations in some modules.

How do I get a place on the course?

Full-time applications should be submitted via UCAS using the following codes: Course Code C866; Institution Code O66 (Oxford Brookes University); Campus Code L (Solihull College & University Centre). Applications will go Oxford Brookes University via UCAS before being forwarded to Solihull College.

Oxford Brookes part-time applications are to be made via the university's website: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/applying-directly 

To gain a place on this course, applicants must meet the entry criteria and attend a formal interview at Solihull College & University Centre and may also be asked to complete a written and/or practical task as part of this process.

If you have a learning difficulty or disability, please let us know when you apply. You will be offered support in your interview. If you need help completing your application, we can help with this too. https://www.solihull.ac.uk/uni-level-learner/student-services

What are the entry requirements?

Entrants to the programme should normally possess the following: Either:

• A minimum of two years' relevant work experience and a current role in an appropriate workplace setting, and

• A Line Manager's letter of support and recommendation. Or:

• A minimum of 80 UCAS points, which could arise from a combination of the following:

• A-levels (e.g., 2 A levels at Grade B)

• A BTEC National Diploma at DM, or Extended Diploma at MMP, or other equivalent qualifications, such as GNVQ/NVQ

• A T-level qualification at Pass with a C or above on the core

• A minimum of one pass at A-level or 6-unit Vocational A-level, plus three passes at GCSE (grades A-C), or O-level (grades A-C) normally including Mathematics, English Language and Science. Other qualifications and combinations of qualifications will be considered and maybe also acceptable -please contact HE.Admissions@solihull.ac.uk

Institutions Own Test

Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria but have appropriate industry and life experiences may have their prior learning and skills considered. Applicants may be required to complete an aptitude assessment (this will be advised at interview).English language requirements Students who are non-native English speakers or who have not studied the final two years of school in English but can demonstrate capability in English at a standard commensurate to IELTS 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 being awarded on individual sections for a level 4, 5 or 6 qualifications may be considered as eligible to apply for the programme.

What else do I need to know?

Some students may be required to pass a DBS check for particular industry placements. There is an exit point where students can leave with a Certificate in Higher Education. This course is a full-time programme, and you will be expected to attend 3-4 day per week between the hours of 9-5, timetables will be issued to successful applicants during induction and enrolment in September of the current Academic year. If you are applying for financial help from Student Finance England, then you should do this as soon as possible to ensure your funding is in place for the start of your course.

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

The degree is validated by Oxford Brookes University.

To find out how studying at a partner college works, please see this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wnzMXrM58U

What can I do after this course?

Upon completion of this year, you may wish to progress onto the BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. The qualification also provides you with a broad range of skills to progress directly into your career now and in the future.