Msc Animal Behaviour and Welfare
Queen's University of Belfast - Medical Faculty
Key Information
Campus location
Belfast, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 8,360 / per year
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
Introduction
Designed for students aiming to work in research, education, and industry in the life sciences sector. Specifically, this MSc will provide you with an advanced understanding of current and emerging issues in both Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare and provide you with an extensive range of lectures on a variety of topics.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2022 for courses that commence in late September. If any program receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the program application page.
Please note a deposit will be required to guarantee a place on the course. Due to high demand, applications may not be considered if the course has reached its maximum class size and will be placed on a waiting list. Please see the deposit terms and conditions for more details.
Animal Behaviour And Welfare Highlights
Career Development
Many of our graduates secure dream jobs around the world.
World Class Facilities
The School of Biological Sciences has a wide range of facilities to carry out Animal Behaviour and Welfare research. Our world-class facilities include access to: Animal Laboratory Services Belfast Zoo Farm Animal Research Facilities and Queen's University Marine Laboratory Collections throughout the UK and Ireland.
Internationally Renowned Experts
This course offers a unique opportunity to obtain a qualification in the fields of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare delivered by world-class scientists.
Student Experience
In contrast to most MSc programs at other UK universities, we will provide students with an extensive range of lectures on a variety of topics, and offer the opportunity to choose between a research project and a research placement to complete the MSc.
Admissions
Curriculum
Animal Behaviour is the scientific study of what animals do, from single-celled organisms, invertebrates to vertebrates. It is one of the most exciting and interesting scientific disciplines, expanding rapidly over recent decades. Animal behavior is key to understanding evolutionary processes, and there is a growing need to understand behavior due to the impact of an increasing human population.
In addition, an understanding of animal behavior is of fundamental importance to safeguard animal welfare. Thus, the study of animal behavior provides the foundation for successful conservation and increase and regulate the welfare of both domestic and wild animals. The course covers a wide range of animals, from insects to primates, taking in companion and farm animals. Thus, there is something of interest to everyone.
Throughout the course, students will get fundamental training in Animal Behaviour, Animal Welfare, Experimental Design, Statistics, and Presentation Skills to succeed in the competitive job market. The content provided during the course will also be useful for those who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in Behaviour, Behavioural Ecology, Conservation, Evolutionary Ecology, and Animal Welfare.
The course also offers the opportunity to undertake a work placement with a variety of organizations subject to the availability of placements. The School of Biological Sciences has provided work placement opportunities to students for more than 10 years, through a dedicated team of Career and Work Placement Officers that work for our School.
The work placement module is optional: students will have the option to either complete the module Professional Development and Work Placement, or the module Research Project: Animal Behaviour and Welfare.
The structure and contents of the program are detailed below and please note this is a full-time program that needs your full attention:
Animal Behaviour (30 CATS). This module provides an introduction to the scientific study of animal behavior. Topics include communication, contests, social learning, movement, etc.
Animal Welfare (30 CATS). This module provides an introduction to the formal study of animal welfare including farm animal welfare and veterinary welfare issues.
Foundations for Research in the Biosciences (20 CATS). This module will provide you with the underpinning of research such as the scientific method, ethics in research, scientific communication, and the impact of your research.
Key Skills in Animal Behaviour and Welfare (20 CATS). This module will introduce you to the principles, which will allow you to conduct animal behavior and welfare research successfully. This module will improve your skills in terms of study design and statistical analysis and it will also improve your oral and written presentation skills.
Literature Review: Animal Behaviour (20 CATS). You will write an in-depth quality review in an area of Behaviour or Welfare to improve your writing skills.
One of the following:
Research Project: Animal Behaviour and Welfare (60 CATS). Projects run usually from April/ May to August (inclusive) and allow a substantial piece of research to be produced and written in a good publishable style.
Professional Development and Work Placement (60 CATS). Work placement usually takes place from April/ May until the end of August, and is undertaken in an organization chosen among industry, the public sector, and governmental organizations in the area of animal behavior and welfare. During the work placement, you will increase your ability to relate academic theory to the work environment, develop identified work-related skills (cognitive, transferable, and subject-specific skills), enhance your career knowledge, be able to critically evaluate your learning from the placement to demonstrate its value to your future.
Scholarships and Funding
We offer prestigious, competitive scholarships of up to 50% off tuition fees to new international students. You must have an offer to study a full-time course with us in 2023 to apply for a scholarship. Find out more by contacting the university.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Current graduates have taken up further Ph.D. studies both here at Queen’s and further afield. Others have gone on to work in both the private (Sea Watch Foundation, Dogs Trust, ISPCA ) and public sectors (DOE Marine Division, NISRA) here in Northern Ireland and internationally (Canada, Thailand, and Italy).
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports, and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognized by a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.