Animal Behaviour And Welfare

Animal behaviour and welfare is a discipline that asks fundamental questions about how and why animals behave as they do, and what obligations arise from our understanding of their mental and physical needs. It draws on ethology, evolutionary biology, comparative psychology, and welfare science, combining rigorous observation and experimental methods with a deep engagement in the ethical dimensions of human relationships with animals across a wide range of settings, from farms and laboratories to wildlife reserves and companion animal care.

At the University of Lincoln you will study across four years on a full-time programme, with a sandwich year for professional experience, a year abroad for international study, and work placement integrated throughout. Lincoln has built a strong reputation in animal behaviour and welfare, supported by excellent facilities and research links to conservation, farming, and companion animal sectors. The curriculum spans the scientific study of behaviour, cognition, and welfare assessment across species, alongside the practical and professional skills needed to work in animal-related industries and organisations.

You will develop skills in behavioural observation and data collection, welfare evaluation, and the design of environmental enrichment and management protocols. The sandwich year and placement activity give you real-world experience in settings such as zoos, wildlife organisations, farms, veterinary practices, or animal shelters, which is invaluable in a field where practical knowledge and professional networks matter enormously.

Graduates of animal behaviour and welfare work in zoos and wildlife parks, conservation and rewilding organisations, animal rescue and shelter management, farm animal welfare, companion animal behaviour and training, and research institutions. Government and regulatory agencies concerned with animal welfare are further employers. Many graduates pursue further professional qualifications or postgraduate study in veterinary science, conservation, ecology, or animal-assisted therapy, extending their expertise in specific directions that the undergraduate degree opens up.