Animal Welfare MSc draft

Program Overview

Course overview

The assessment and enhancement of animal welfare are key to a variety of industries including farming, scientific research, zoos, the pet trade and service animal training. On this course you will learn from experts in industry and research how this is achieved using modern techniques.

Why study this course with us?

You will assess how an evidence-based approach can be applied to improve a range of scenarios such as housing, training and transport practices. You will gain an understanding of key ethical dilemmas in the field, have the opportunity to improve your research skills and explore a topic of interest to you in a personal dissertation project.

At Chester you will learn directly from leaders in the field of animal welfare research. Regular research seminars and approachable, supportive staff make our department a friendly, welcoming community to students from a range of backgrounds. From hormone assays to genetic analysis, we have the facilities you will need to develop key laboratory skills. Staff also collaborate with a range of industrial partners such as farms, veterinarians and zoos, so are able to provide real-life case studies to students.

Various long-term departmental research projects, both in the UK and abroad, allow a diverse range of dissertation opportunities and participation in ground-breaking research. Our teaching team also has strong links to industry; your dissertation project could provide you with valuable networking opportunities and experience in a specialist field such as production animal welfare assessment or laboratory animal management. Our department also has close links with zoos, aquaria, charities and NGOs – invaluable for helping you on your future career path.

There is a key focus on practical applications in this course. Problem-solving skills will be targeted by authentic coursework and you will build a careers portfolio with help from a designated personal tutor. Tasks such as grant application writing, evaluative reports, oral and poster presentations are both engaging and highly applicable to a range of employment opportunities.

Program Outline

Teaching methods

Teaching is usually delivered in small groups via seminars, workshops and discussion groups. There may also be laboratory practicals and field trips on some modules.

Assessment

Assessment methods are varied and are targeted towards future employment. These could include poster presentations, grant applications, oral presentations, synthetic reviews or laboratory reports.

Job prospects

Our course is specifically targeted at giving you the skills you need to pursue a successful career. Whether this is in a welfare-related field (perhaps managing wild or captive animals, assessing welfare in a professional capacity, or in academic research) or in a broader career (journalism, teaching or policy making perhaps), we will help you stand out from the crowd in your applications.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability - Student Services aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Students and graduates of the University of Chester can use our services free of charge for up to two years after graduating.

The location

The campus is close to the city centre of Chester, a city like no other and an amazing place to live as a student. While it is undoubtedly beautiful and packed with history, Chester is also a bustling 21st-century city balancing big-name shopping, eating and living with a thriving independent scene.