Learn the basic skills to start your career working with animals on our Level 1 Animal Care course. If your GCSEs were not what you expected, this course is an ideal starting point in order to progress onto Level 2.
You will learn the basic skills and knowledge associated with animal care working with a wide range of animals including: feeding, cleaning and exercising and general care. Our campuses are also home to a large variety of animals which include bearded dragons, snakes, pigs, tortoises, rats, rabbits, donkeys, poultry and cattle.
Caring for animals can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries to pet shops, rescue centres or sanctuaries, there is a wide range of careers available on successful completion of your course. With access to animal collections on campus you will gain the practical training you need to pursue a career in this exciting industry.
If you ask anyone why they want to study animals, the chances are that it is because they love them and want to work with them! If this is you, then this course could be the ideal first step into your career in the animal care industry.
Our specially designed animal husbandry school is set in the beautiful grounds of Bicton, boasting an impressive collection of animals, with over 150 different species.
This course gives you experience and confidence with working with a range of domestic and exotic species, you will get to study and work alongside an array of animals from lemurs and coatis, to llamas and snakes.
Health checking, nutrition, preparing accommodation and even dissections are just some of the essential skills you will learn as you progress through this one year course.
As a level 2 Course, it is ideal should your GCSE results not be what you expected, or if you prefer a course with a mixture of assignments, practical and exam based assessments. This is also the best option for progressing onto the level 3 course. You will be learning from our experienced lecturers and technical staff, who have worked in the industry before and can pass on the skills to help you pursue your career in the animal care industry.
Caring for animals is an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries, pet shops or rescue centres, there are a wide range of careers available on completion of this course.
As part of your course, you will be required to carry out work experience in an animal care establishment of your choice, giving you ‘real life’ experience of what it takes to work in the industry, as well as being able to enjoy visits to local zoos and wildlife parks.
Our Level 3 Animal Management Diploma at Bicton College offers you the choice of university study or employment on successful completion of your course. There are one and two year options available with this pathway and we will work with you to decide which is best for you.
This is a 2 year course but you will need to pass the first year in order to progress onto the second.
Caring for animals can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries to pet shops, rescue centres or sanctuaries, there is a wide range of careers available on successful completion of your course. With access to an array of animal collections on campus you will gain the practical training you need to pursue a career in this exciting industry. Our state of the art animal husbandry school at Bicton College provides dedicated access to a huge range of animal species such as our monitor lizard, coatis and lemurs.
We offer three options for you to start your studies in the animal management industry depending on your GCSE results, our Level 2 and Level 1 courses are ideal should your GCSEs not be what you expected, with the option to progress to Level 2 or Level 3.
If you want to study a practical course in animal care, then this is the pathway to support your future career in the animal care industry.
Our specially designed animal husbandry school is set in the beautiful grounds of Bicton, boasting an impressive collection of animals, with over 150 different species.
This course gives you experience and confidence with working with a range of domestic and exotic species, you will get to study and work alongside an array of animals from lemurs and sebastopol geese, to llamas and axolotl.
Health and wellbeing of animals, preparing accommodation, feeding and grooming are just some of the essential skills you will learn as you progress through this course.
As a level 2 course, it is ideal should your GCSE results not be what you expected, or if you prefer a course with a mixture of portfolio evidence and practical assessment. You will be learning from our experienced lecturers and technical staff, who have worked in the industry before and can pass on the skills to help you pursue your career in the animal care industry.
Caring for animals is an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries, pet shops or rescue centres and zoos; there are a wide range of careers available on completion of this course.
As part of your course, in your first year, you will be required to carry out work experience internally on the Animal Husbandry School. In the second year, you are required to complete an external work experience placement, in an animal care establishment of your choice. This gives you ‘real life’ experience of what it takes to work in the industry, as well as being able to enjoy visits to local zoos and wildlife parks.
Learn the basic skills to start your career working with Horses on our Level 1 Horse Care course. If your GCSEs were not what you expected, this course is an ideal starting point in order to progress onto Level 2.
You will learn the basic skills and knowledge associated with horse care including: feeding, cleaning and exercising and general care.
Caring for horses can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career and there are a wide range of options available on successful completion of your course.
Our top class facilities include stabling for 24 horses, horse walker, solarium, and covered practical area, 20m x 60m indoor arena with viewing gallery and 30m x 60m outdoor arena. We provide a range of horses to suit all abilities including cobs, thoroughbreds, young horses and competition horses.
Our Level 3 Animal Management Diploma offers you the choice of university study or employment on successful completion of your course. There are one and two year options available with this pathway and we will work with you to decide which is best for you.
This is a 2 year course but you will need to pass the first year in order to progress onto the second.
Caring for animals can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries to pet shops, rescue centres or sanctuaries, there is a wide range of careers available on successful completion of your course. With access to an array of animal collections on campus you will gain the practical training you need to pursue a career in this exciting industry.
Our Newquay campus has classrooms at Newquay Zoo and Blue Reef Aquarium, designed to immerse you in the animal world and ensure you learn all you can from the expert members of staff who work there. Newquay students will have access to the animal centres at Duchy College.
We offer three options for you to start your studies in the animal management industry depending on your GCSE results, our Level 2 and Level 1 courses are ideal should your GCSEs not be what you expected, with the option to progress to Level 2 or Level 3.
Level 3 • Full-time • Duchy College Rosewarne, Duchy College Stoke Climsland
Our Level 3 Animal Management Diploma at Duchy College is an exciting stepping stone on your way to a rewarding career working with animals.
This course can be studied as a one year Advanced Diploma in Animal Management Diploma or as a two year Extended Advanced Diploma in Animal Management, and we will work with you to decide which option will be the best choice for you.
Our state of the art animal management centres at Duchy College Rosewarne and Duchy College Stoke Climsland provide dedicated access to a huge range of animal species such as small mammals, exotics, birds, aquatics, and farm animals. Learners will also have the opportunity to visit and access real industry environments including Dartmoor Zoological Park.
Caring for animals can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career; from working in kennels and catteries to wildlife rescue, there are a wide range of careers available upon successful completion of the course. Completing this course will allow you to start your career in the animal care industry or prepare you for University.
If you find an area of study you love whilst completing the course you can choose to go on to further study at University and qualify as an animal nutritionist, behaviourist or conservationist.
We offer a Zoo Animal Management pathway at Level 3, which is perfect if you would like a career caring for animals in a zoo-based setting. We work in partnership with Dartmoor Zoological Park to ensure you gain the practical, real-life experience that employers look for.
Level 1 • Full-time • Duchy College Rosewarne, Duchy College Stoke Climsland
If you are interested in working with animals and are considering working in this rewarding and varied industry, the Level 1 Land-based Operations course is for you.
As you study you will learn, develop and practice skills required for employment and/or career progression in the Land-based sector and gain valuable transferable skills. Throughout the course you will be challenged, but the team of dedicated tutors will support you every step of the way to explore where you might want your career path to take you.
The Level 1 Diploma also offers the opportunity to improve on your GCSE grades in Maths and English if you want to gain a higher grade. This could assist you to progress onto a Level 2 programme or Apprenticeship.
At Duchy College, Rosewarne.
The Animal Care Unit is a wonderful learning environment and offers practical and theory sessions which are taught using the on-site facilities which are truly amazing. You will work in groups and complete practical tasks, under supervision, working on the College Campus with the wide range of animals in the Animal Unit. The animals you will be working with range from Large animals (Goats, Donkeys, pigs etc), Small animals (Rabbits, Guinea pigs, Chinchillas, Degus, Hamsters, Mice etc), Birds (Finches, Parakeets, Quails etc) and Exotics including (Reptiles, Amphibians and fish) so you can see there is literally something for everyone. You will also have the opportunity to learn about growing food plants, making use of the College’s diverse facilities.
At Duchy College Stoke Climsland
We have a large range of animals at the college including rabbits and guinea pigs, goats, pigs, and rodents. We also have snakes, lizards, amphibians as well as fish. Alongside practical lessons your theory lessons in the classroom will include Health and Safety, preparing to work in Land-based industry, assist with the health and well-being of animals, introduction to wildlife and conservation, assist with feeding and watering animals, assist with the preparation and maintenance of animal accommodation and assist with the handling and restraint of animals. All units are designed to give you the basic skills needed to care for a range of animals. Our animal care unit has been built to provide an environment for students to be able to learn the basics of animal care replicating industry standards. Our lecturers have background knowledge and experience in the animal care industry and are passionate about sharing this with students.
During the course there will be guest speakers to share their knowledge and experience to enhance your learning and personal development. You will also have the opportunity to visit some animal establishments to see how your learning can be put into practice in the world of work.
Level 2 • Full-time • Duchy College Rosewarne, Duchy College Stoke Climsland
This Level 2 Animal Care course is available both Duchy college campuses, which are each home to a large variety of animals.
The Level 2 Technical Certificate in Animal Care is about preparing you for any career with animals. Whether going into further study, wanting to become a pet shop assistant, a zoo keeper or work in rescue centres, this course sets you up for a career in the animal industry.
Caring for animals can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries to pet shops, rescue centres or sanctuaries, there is a wide range of careers available on successful completion of your course. With access to animal collections on campus you will gain the practical training you need to pursue a career in this exciting industry.
This is a one year course than runs from September to July. It is run over 4 days at college and 1 day at a work experience placement to gain at all important experience. This course uses a balance of theory and practice to help you develop the skills and knowhow to confidently work with animals’ great and small.
You will cover a broad range of topics that cater for all animals from small to large mammals, to birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians. You will learn how to maintain animal health and welfare, how to care for feeding and accommodation routines. You will explore animal behaviour and correct handling techniques, along with ensuring Health & Safety is paramount in the Animal and Land based industries.
You will learn about how to care for exotics animals and how animals’ biological systems work.
You will also get to choose between either Introduction to Caring for Horses or Livestock. You will trial both units before deciding which you would like to develop further.
You will study a combination of theory and practical work, and can expect to spend time both at college and in a work experience placement of your choice. You will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to local zoos, wildlife parks and animal sanctuaries.
You will need to purchase PPE to wear during your practical sessions. More information about what PPE will be required will be provided upon application.
