Animal Behaviour and Welfare

Animal behaviour and welfare is a discipline that examines how and why animals behave the way they do, and what those behaviours tell us about their physical and psychological needs. It draws on biology, ethology, psychology, and veterinary science to build a scientific understanding of animal experience, asking how we recognise and assess welfare, what conditions enable animals to thrive, and how human-animal interactions can be made safer and more positive for both parties. With the clinical dimension, the programme goes further, applying this scientific understanding to the practical management and care of animals in clinical, agricultural, and companion animal contexts.

At Harper Adams University, this four-year, full-time programme develops your understanding of animal biology in relation to behaviour and welfare, with particular attention to the complexity of the relationship between the two. You will learn about the range of research methods used in the scientific study of animal behaviour, how behavioural science is applied to improve welfare in different settings, and how human-animal interactions can be managed more effectively. The programme also introduces business management relevant to animal-related industries, reflecting the fact that graduates will often work in commercial or professional contexts where financial and organisational competence matters alongside scientific expertise.

Harper Adams has a strong reputation in applied agricultural and animal science, and its rural campus and farm facilities provide excellent resources for practical learning.

A typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects an accessible admissions threshold for a programme that combines scientific rigour with professional application. Graduates go on to careers as animal welfare officers, clinical animal behaviourists, zoo and wildlife care professionals, agricultural animal managers, animal welfare scientists, veterinary support staff, and researchers. The discipline is also relevant to policy work in animal welfare, where scientific understanding of behaviour and welfare is essential for developing effective legislation and enforcement.

Further study at postgraduate level in animal behaviour, welfare science, or veterinary science is a natural route for those who wish to develop specialist expertise.