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BSc (Hons) Equine Health and Nutrition

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Subject

Equine

Level

Bachelors Degree (Level 6)

Study Mode

Full-Time

Duration

3 years

Start Date

September 2025

UCAS Course Code

D4R7

The course

Animal and equine feed companies are expanding research and development of products to improve performance and health status within the equine industry, and such companies require knowledgeable graduates with nutritional expertise and understanding of clinical health conditions. This programme is designed to provide you with an in-depth specialist understanding of wellbeing of the horse through study of the principles underpinning health and nutritional management.

You will utilise our excellent laboratory facilities, including nutritional analysis equipment, to become confident and capable in conducting a breadth of protocols in preparation for working in scientific and research settings with equine and animal industries as well as wider areas. The inclusion of Immunology, Molecular Biology, and Equine Sport Injury and Diagnostic Technologies further ensures that you have in-depth scientific knowledge and practical competency in relevant scientific disciplines.

The potential threat of various infectious equine diseases to our UK shores and the international nature of the equine industry is of key focus; our programme explores disease monitoring, biosecurity control and preventative technologies to prepare graduates for such roles. The inclusion of Equine Clinical Nutrition in your final year allows the combination of health and nutrition to give you an independent opportunity to review case studies with regards to nutritional management of clinical disorders and is a chance to experience industry practice in a supportive setting.

The programme seeks to provide you with a stimulating and challenging experience in order to promote health, welfare and optimise nutrition of the equine athlete, ensuring sound research and analytical skills are developed to apply scientifically informed processes.

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Course Information

  • Allow you to become critically informed, reflective and adaptable, preparing you to enter a wide variety of scientific roles.
  • Provide you with skills and knowledge in nutritional science to effectively practice in the area of animal nutrition with specialist focus on the equine.
  • Equip you with the laboratory skills and in-depth knowledge necessary to forge a career in the equine health sciences.
  • Encourage an inquiring, analytical and critical approach to appreciating and solving problems using modern technology
  • Develop your creativity, self-confidence and independent judgement.
  • Encourage an appropriate professional attitude such as initiative and motivation as benefits the needs of contemporary employers.
  • Provide you with the appropriate skills and understanding to enter a diverse range of employment opportunities in the equine science sector in the UK and abroad.

Year 1

  • Academic, Employment and Professional Skills
  • Equine Health and Husbandry
  • Grassland Management and Forage Conservation
  • Equine Anatomy and Physiology
  • Introduction to Research Skills
  • Scientific Principles and Laboratory Skills
  • Introduction to Nutrition
  • Cell Biology

Year 2

  • Research Methods and Analysis
  • Equine Exercise Physiology
  • Equine Ration Formulation and Micro-Nutrition
  • The Nutrition Industry
  • Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
  • Equine Infectious Disease

Year 3

  • Dissertation
  • Equine Sport Injury and Diagnostic Techniques
  • Immunology
  • Equine Clinical Nutrition
  • Molecular Biology
  • Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry

You will be required to have:

- A minimum of 96 UCAS points

OR

- A relevant BTEC Level 3 and significant industry experience

AND

- GCSE English at grade 4 or above, or an equivalent qualification

- A suitable reference

UCAS points may be from qualifications such as A Levels, T Levels, BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas, Access to Higher Education Diplomas, and City and Guilds Advanced Technical Diplomas amongst others. Please use the UCAS Tariff points calculator to determine the UCAS points value of your qualifications.

Life and/or experience of non-traditional students will be taken into account when considering applications. The successful completion of an entry task may be required when considering applications without the required formal entry qualifications.

If your first language is not English, or a Tier 4 student visa to study is required and GCSE grade C/4 English or equivalent is not held, English language proficiency level such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.0 overall (with a minimum 5.5 in each skill) will need evidencing.

Advanced entry may be possible due to prior experience or certificated learning; applicants are invited to complete the accreditation of prior learning approval process.

This programme is delivered with a variety of learning and teaching approaches, utilising excellent onsite resources and extensive industry links for applied aspects.

For all modules, there are theory lectures delivered, aimed at providing the core content and underpinning knowledge. Lectures are used to convey the basic concepts, and facilitate further expansion of such concepts through independent study.

To complement the theory lectures, students have group seminars that are used to reinforce those concepts delivered theoretically. This programme has a focus on practical ability in a laboratory setting, therefore many modules will have theory content supported by active development of laboratory skills utilising specialist equipment.

The teaching methods focus on facilitating a student-centred approach to enhance your independent learning outside of the classroom.

You will learn from experienced, supportive and motivated staff with both academic and industrial experience. Your learning will be supplemented by guest lectures and demonstrations from a range of visiting speakers and off-site trips, as well as access to an online Virtual Learning Environment called iLearn.

Contact time includes approximately 13 hours a week to include lectures, seminars, practical's and tutorials.

You are also expected to carry out a significant amount of independent study in addition to contact time (approximately 25-30 hours a week). Independent study includes reading around the subject, preparing for tutorials and seminars, preparing for, and completing, module assessments and revision for examinations; forming an essential part of your learning journey.

There is no formal work experience as part of this programme, however, you will participate in activities in some modules that are reflective of industry practice such as a clinical nutrition case study. We encourage and will support you to undertake relevant extra-curricular activity and work experience.
The programme will incorporate a variety of assessment methods across each academic year. The mix of assessments will seek to challenge and evaluate your knowledge, understanding and skills. Assessments for this programme may include written assignments, time constrained assessments, log books and portfolios, practical assessments, seminars and presentations, project-based assessments, examinations and a dissertation. Tutors provide support for assessments in class. There will also be opportunity for formative assessment and feedback during the delivery of each module to monitor learning, and to support and prepare you for the summative assessments which make up the module. Feedback on your summative assessments will be given which will allow you to guide efforts and activities in subsequent modules. Staff aim to return assessed work within a 20 working day timeframe (not including holidays) so that you can most benefit from the feedback.
  • A tablet, smartphone, laptop or stationery to take notes in lectures and seminars.
  • College-branded white laboratory coat.
  • Riding hat to current (PAS015 with BSI kitemark) standard in a dark plain colour or silk.
  • Plain, dark coloured trousers or breeches or jodhpurs, not jeans.
  • Gloves for horse handling.
  • Yard boots or wellington boots (NB: Boots are not permitted within the classroom, so a change of footwear will be required.)
  • If you are undertaking any riding at Bishop Burton, you will also need: A body protector (BETA Level Three 2009. We do not permit air jackets in any day to day sessions), long riding boots or short boots with gaiters, schooling/jumping whip, long sleeved base layer or thin top, soft peaked hat or preferably jockey skull hat and silk to the standards listed above.
  • Any educational visits/trips and enrichment activities will be additional to the course fees, students will be made aware of these optional visits and associated costs as required.
  • Students can access free British Horse Society exam training onsite during their studies, the examination cost and BHS membership is an additional cost (exams can be undertaken onsite).
  • On successful completion of the programme, you will have the opportunity to graduate at a ceremony wearing formal dress. The hire of the formal dress is an additional cost.
The programme is designed to enable you to progress to postgraduate level including MSc, MRes, PGCert, PGDip, PhD.
Upon graduating from this programme, you could follow a career within the equine industry or wider biosciences, including as an: independent nutritionist, nutritional adviser, assistant or operative in an equine health and welfare setting, laboratory technician or feed analyst.

Validated by University of Lincoln

We are proud to collaborate with University of Lincoln on the validation of this course.

View the policies and procedures you would be agreeing to comply with by registering for this programme.

Financial Information

Find the full details of the fees associated with this programme and the financial support available.

Careers this course could lead into

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