Equine and Veterinary Bioscience
Equine and veterinary bioscience sits at the intersection of animal science, veterinary medicine, and applied biology, with a particular focus on the horse. Horses occupy a unique place in human culture and economy, from competitive sport and leisure riding to therapy and working roles across the world, and the science of equine health, reproduction, nutrition, behaviour, and disease has become a genuinely specialised field. Studying this alongside the broader principles of veterinary bioscience gives you a distinctive combination of species-specific depth and transferable scientific knowledge.
At Aberystwyth this four-year full-time programme builds on the university's established strengths in equine education and research in areas including animal disease, nutrition, reproduction, and behaviour. You will develop a thorough understanding of equine anatomy, physiology, and health, examining how horses are bred, managed, and cared for across a range of contexts. Veterinary bioscience broadens your scope to include other species and the scientific principles that underpin veterinary practice more generally.
The programme's collaborative links with practising veterinary surgeons at the Wales Veterinary Science Centre give you access to applied clinical knowledge alongside the academic curriculum.
A year in industry is embedded in the degree, giving you structured professional experience in equine or veterinary settings before you graduate. This practical exposure is invaluable for developing the professional competence, network, and portfolio that employers in the equine and veterinary sectors look for.
Graduates move into roles in equine management and stud management, equine therapy and rehabilitation, veterinary nursing, laboratory science, animal welfare and breeding programmes, and the racing industry. The scientific grounding also supports progression into postgraduate study in animal science, veterinary science, or related fields, and some graduates go on to graduate-entry veterinary medicine.