Animal Management and Zoology

Animal management and zoology is a combination that brings together the practical skills of working with and caring for animals with the scientific understanding of animal biology, behaviour and ecology. Animal management encompasses husbandry, welfare assessment, health monitoring and the operational challenges of running facilities that house animals, from zoos and wildlife parks to research facilities and agricultural settings. Zoology provides the biological and ecological underpinning, asking how animals function, how they have evolved, how they behave and what role they play in ecosystems.

At the Royal Agricultural University, this two-year full-time degree allows you to develop both sets of skills within a focused and practically grounded programme at an institution with deep roots in the land-based industries.

You will study animal anatomy and physiology, behaviour and ecology, health and welfare, and the management of different animal species in captive and semi-wild settings, developing hands-on skills alongside scientific understanding. The Royal Agricultural University's distinctive setting and land-based connections give the programme a practical character that suits students who want to work directly with animals in applied contexts rather than primarily in laboratory or academic settings. A typical entry tariff of around 104 points is expected, and the two-year duration makes this a more accelerated route into the field.

Graduates work in zoos, wildlife parks, conservation organisations, agricultural settings, animal welfare charities, veterinary support roles and research facilities. The combination of management competence and biological knowledge makes graduates effective in roles that require both practical animal care skills and the scientific understanding to assess welfare and support animal health. Many graduates go on to further study in zoology, animal behaviour, veterinary nursing or conservation biology.