Animal care is a diverse and expanding industry, worth £1 billion to the UK economy. With 46% of households owning a pet, and a rise in the number of people visiting zoos and wildlife parks, there are many job prospects for those with the right qualifications both in the UK and abroad.
The Access to Higher Education – Animal Studies Pathway course due to start in September at Wakefield College, offers adults 19+ the chance to develop their skills, techniques and overall understanding of animal care and management giving students all the experience needed to prepare them for a career within the Animal Care industry.
This one-year course offers excellent progression opportunities internally to the College’s own Level 4/5 HNC/D Animal Management (Animal Behaviour and Welfare) course but also at local and national Higher Education institutions. This week, the University of Nottingham confirmed that students who successfully pass our Access to HE course will be considered for entry to their Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree with a preliminary year stating “We will consider applicants who have undertaken access courses on an individual basis. 60 credits overall with 45 at level 3, of which 30 credits must be distinction. Minimum of grade B (level 6) in maths and English language GCSE.”
Lecturer Hellen Jordan said: “This is great news for our students, this means that our Access course will allow potential students to follow their dream of becoming a vet.”
The access course is taught through both work-based, practical and classroom-based activities at the College’s specialist facilities with state of the art science labs, a dedicated university centre and our own animal unit with a collection of exotic and mammalian species.