Our programme has an international reputation and respected teaching staff and will prepare you for a career Non-governmental Organisations, research or animal management.

Course overview

This course aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the scientific study of animal behaviour and animal welfare that can be applied effectively in science and practice.

We run this course in conjunction with the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (also known as Dick Vet), which has an impressive international reputation in Animal Welfare. This creates a solid platform for education and will give you a variety of research opportunities.

At the end of the course, you'll be able to understand the application of scientific principles to the study of animal behaviour and welfare and utilise effective, modern methods for describing and analysing scientific data.

You'll know how to assess the welfare of animals in captivity and in the natural environment, offer advice on applied animal behaviour and animal welfare issues and understand philosophical debate relating to the use of animals by humans.

You'll also have a solid grounding in the global issues that have an impact on animal welfare.

The MSc is awarded by the University of Edinburgh.

What you'll learn

The programme involves a combination of taught courses and your own dissertation. Throughout the taught courses you'll visit many farms and animal facilities, and study courses in a range of topics, including an introduction to applied animal behaviour and animal welfare, the biology of suffering, and animal cognition and consciousness.

You'll also learn about scientific methodology and animal welfare applications, before researching and writing a dissertation project on a related subject of your choice.

The MSc is a one year course for full-time students, however it's also possible to complete it over two or three years part-time.