BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare (including Foundation Year)

• Introduction to Behaviour in Animals
• Animal Husbandry and Handling
• Animal Welfare Issues
• Animal Anatomy and Physiology
• Principles of Evolutionary Biology
• Behavioural Data Analysis and Project Design

Click here to view the module descriptors.

Delivered at University of Chester

• Research Methods
• Experiential Learning*
• Behavioural Ecology*
• Adaptations to the Environment*
• Wildlife Crime and Conservation*
• Welfare and Behaviour Management
• Marine Animal Behaviour*
• Learning in the Wider World*
• The Study Abroad Experience (120 credits)*
• Enhancing your Employability through Work Based Learning*

* Denotes optional modules

Delivered at University of Chester

• Dissertation^†
• Animal Behaviour and Conservation*
• Physiology and Behaviour*
• Zoo Biology and Management
• Stress and Welfare Assessment in Animals
• Applied Conservation Genetics*
• Managing Marine Environmental Impacts*
• Behavioural & Evolutionary Ecology*
• Domestic Animal Behaviour and Welfare*
• Parasitology*

* Denotes optional modules

† Dissertation is a double-weighted module, worth 40 credits. Therefore, only five modules are selected for study at Level 6 (Year 3).

Click here to view the module descriptors.

Teaching and Learning

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity, plus field trips. Your actual contact hours may depend on which optional modules you select, but the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each year of the course:

Year 1: 36% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment:       432 hours

Independent Study:                                        768 hours

Year 2: 30% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment:       364 hours

Independent Study:                                        836 hours

Percentage of course assessed by coursework

The balance of assessment by examination and assessment by coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework is as follows:

Year 1

85% coursework

15% written exams

Year 2

65% coursework

35% written exams

Feedback is supplied via Turnitin or directly from the module tutor. The majority of submissions are made via Turnitin and feedback for coursework is provided four working weeks after the submission date. If for unforeseen reasons this is not possible, the reasons will be communicated to the students within 2 weeks and the feedback prioritised within the department.

Written feedback will be supported verbally should the student require clarification. Formative assessment feedback will be provided at the time of completion where possible, with more detailed summative feedback for reports.

University Centre Reaseheath is committed to providing additional financial support to those who need it. To find out about the bursary schemes available visit the additional financial support pages on our website.

All Higher Education students are given the opportunity to apply for residential accommodation. First year students are guaranteed accommodation and this offer is made to all applicants who live more than a reasonable daily travelling distance from Reaseheath and who apply before 31st July of the year they intend to start their course. For full details on our halls of residence visit the accommodation pages.

We have a team of dedicated professionals on hand to offer you support when and if you need it during your time with us. These include our Student Services team, Higher Education Support Team (HEST), Library and Learning Resources and the Reaseheath Careers Service. You will find more information on the support provided at Reaseheath here.

Before you apply you can come and visit us at one of our HE Open Events to see what we have to offer. Once we have received your application we will invite you to attend an Offer Holder Day.

Applications for full-time Degrees and Foundation Degrees are made through UCAS. Applications for all other full-time courses such as Access to HE and Level 4 Diplomas should be made directly to Reaseheath via the online application form. You can find out more here.

For students to get the best out of their time at University Centre Reaseheath, we must both recognise that we owe obligations to each other. These obligations are set out in our Higher Education Student Contract. Before you accept an offer of a place at University Centre Reaseheath, it is important that you read these contract conditions. If you are going to be living in Halls of Residence, you will also need to read the Student Accommodation Licence Conditions. Both of these contracts can be found here.

Click here to view the University Centre Reaseheath Student Protection Plan.