FdSc Animal Management (Zoo and Wildlife) – 2 years

If you have a real passion for working with animals, and want to specialise in zoo and wildlife conservation, this course will lead you to a wide choice of occupations in what is a thriving and varied sector. It gives you a solid introduction to all aspects of zoo and wildlife management to prepare you for a highly successful career. 

Our foundation degree course has been designed to give you the right aptitude and attitude to work within the zoo and wildlife conservation sector. You will develop your hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge through a fascinating range of academic study, practical classes, national and international trips, and industrial visits.

The two-year course consists of 12 modules designed to reflect the diverse nature of zoo and wildlife management.  These will be delivered through engaging lectures and practical studies in our laboratories, on-site animal unit and within local zoological collections.  Your learning will be enhanced through field trips to enable you to apply theory to practice. 

You will also take part in relevant work-based learning equivalent to one day per week. Support in identifying appropriate work placement opportunities will be provided. 

Your learning will be supported by our highly qualified teaching team who have a wealth of academic and professional experience in many specialist areas. Guest speakers will ensure that you receive the most up-to-date professional experience and knowledge. 

Delivered at our Broomfield Hall Campus, the full-time option* includes 15 hours of taught material each week with a minimum of eight hours of expected self-study per week.  

(*This course can also be studied part time – 1 day a week.)

(Course fee application is under the FdSc Animal Management code for the SFE)

The course is regulated by OfS and the qualification is awarded by the University of Derby.

All students have access to the UDO online platform, the Derby College Group Learning Resources Centre, the University of Derby library, and the College’s Moodle pages. 

The programme will run with a minimum of six students.  

The core higher education academic year will be for a duration of 33 weeks for the purposes of maintenance loans. You will receive a proportion of this time as direct delivery, with any additional time – as deemed appropriate by the programme team and the awarding body – for activities such as induction, tutorials, research, directed study, reading weeks etc. The direct delivery time for this course will be 28 weeks. 

All applicants will be invited to an interview to discuss their qualifications, experience and any other related issues.

You should have 64 UCAS points in a relevant subject area.

You will also need four GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*-C), or the equivalent, to include English, Maths and Science.  

We also welcome applicants who lack institutional qualifications.  All such applicants will be interviewed and may be set an appropriate piece of work upon which a judgement will be made, taking into account their academic potential and relevant experience. 

You will need to be aged 18 or over at the beginning of the course.

All applicants are subject to approval from the University of Derby.

Year 1 Modules:

• Frontiers in Zoo Biology (20 credits)
• Principles of Ecology and Biodiversity (20 credits)
• Principles of Animal Biology (20 credits)
• Introduction to Animal Health and Welfare (20 credits)
• Introduction to Animal Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits)
• Introduction to Work Experience in the Animal Management Sector (20 credits)
• Essential Study Skills for Lifelong Learning (0 credits)

Year 2 Modules:

• Zoo Animal Husbandry (20 credits)
• Applied Animal Nutrition (20 credits)
• Captive Breeding for Species Conservation Programmes (20 credits)
• Animal Psychology and Ethology (20 credits)
• Continuing Work Experience in the Animal Management Sector (20 credits)
• Research Methods and Scientific Communication (20 credits)

Did you know?  

While studying this programme, you will build upon your own sustainability and digital skills which will be embedded throughout your time at Derby College Group.  For sustainability we envisage you will become attuned to supporting the Net Zero strategic plans and will be able to embed this into your daily lives through recycling, awareness of product sourcing and reducing carbon emissions.  Your digital skills will grow through the use of key technological platforms, app usage and awareness of current trends such as AI to support your learning.

This course will be delivered on-site.

You are required to meet the entrance costs to various visitor attractions, such as zoos, to support your studies. These would need to be paid at the time of the event.  The anticipated costs will be approximately £45 per year to cover the costs of two external visits.

You will be required to purchase a Derby College Group polo shirt for assessments, plus a lab coat and steel toe cap boots for practicals. These can be purchased at enrolment. 

A laptop and note-taking materials will be needed for lectures and completing assessments. 

While on the course, you will be assessed using a variety of methods, including assignments, practical work, reports, group presentations and poster presentations.  All assessment methods have been designed to focus on skills specific to the industry while incorporating key transferable skills.

Upon successful completion of this two-year course, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to pursue a new career or advance an existing one in a wide variety of zoo and wildlife conservation management fields.

The course will provide excellent practical skills, enabling you to develop necessary industrial experience with a wide variety of animal species.

This course also provides an ideal platform to top-up to a Level 6 (degree) course specialising in a wide variety of subjects such as Anthrozoology and Wild Animal Veterinary Science. In addition, it could lead to zoo management training courses and setting up a successful zoological or educational business enterprise. 

This qualification is awarded by the University of Derby.

www.derby.ac.uk

For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk