Program Overview

Overview

The Animal Welfare MRes is a postgraduate program that explores the welfare of laboratory, farm, companion, and wild animals. It is available to graduates with a BSc in the life sciences or related disciplines and is also suited to intercalating and qualified MBBS, BDS, and veterinary students.

What You'll Learn

You'll study subject-specific content in animal welfare alongside a broad range of complementary options. Topics include:

• key concepts in animal welfare science
• ethical consideration and legislation relevant to animal welfare science
• the validity, sensitivity, and specificity of behavioral, cognitive, physiological, and neural welfare indicators
• sentience and welfare of invertebrates
• hypothesis testing and experimental design in animal welfare research
• using R to analyze and visualize welfare data

How You'll Learn

You'll be taught using a range of methods, including:

• lectures
• seminars
• group work

Assessment methods will depend on your modules, but may include:

• case study
• computer assessment
• design or creative project
• dissertation
• essay
• oral examination
• oral presentation
• PC examination
• practical lab report
• poster
• problem-solving exercises
• report
• reflective log
• research proposal
• written examination
• written exercise

Your Development

You'll develop a range of research and practical laboratory skills.

Your Future

This MRes can be a pathway for a career in scientific research in academia and industry. It is also excellent preparation for a PhD. Graduates from the Faculty of Medical Sciences MRes at Newcastle have undertaken a wide range of roles, including:

• project manager
• research associate
• associate consultant
• senior analysts
• research scientist
• Marie Curie early stage researcher
• clinical research associate
• medical information and patient safety executive
• medical writer
• medical doctor
• research laboratory technician
• sales representative
• immunology development manager

Quality and Ranking

• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• Global Top 140 University – QS World University Rankings 2026
• Global Top 160 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
• Top 95 for Life Sciences and Medicine - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Facilities

This Masters is hosted by the Faculty of Medical Sciences but benefits from a collaboration with the Faculty of Science, Agriculture, and Engineering. These are part of our city-centre campus. Our facilities across the two faculties include:

• individual research laboratories where students carry out their projects
• a dedicated library with a wide range of specialist books and journals
• hi-tech computer clusters and study spaces
• dedicated facilities for a range of key bioscience applications, including:
  • an animal facility housing rodents, birds, fish, and non-human primates
  • imaging facilities for small and large animals
  • an animal motion-capture lab
  • the Centre for Digital Innovation Applied to Livestock
  • a commercial farming operation with dairy, pig, and poultry units
  • a mobile laboratory for dog behavioral assessment
  • an insect laboratory
  • bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics facilities

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

• Qualification: MRes Full time
  • Home students: Full time: 12 months, Tuition fees (per year) £12,500
  • International students: Full time: 12 months, Tuition fees (per year) £30,700

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements

• A minimum of a 2:1 honors degree, or international equivalent, in:
  • a life science or a related discipline
  • or an MBBS/BDS degree

Qualifications from outside the UK

Select your country to find the equivalent qualifications.

English Language requirements

Select your qualification to find the equivalent English language requirements.

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University.

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills, and experience into credits towards a qualification.

How to apply

Before you start

• Start Dates: The course starts in September.
• Closing Dates: We suggest international students apply at least two months before the course starts.
• Specialised application information: Research proposal - You are NOT required to submit a research project proposal for MRes programs in the Faculty of Medical Sciences as part of your online application.
• Deposit: If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you must pay a deposit of £1,500 or submit an official letter of sponsorship.

Programme codes

Qualification: MRes Full time

• Full time: 12 months, Programme Code: 4873F

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.