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Key details

Course area
Animal Science
Student type
16 - 18 courses
Course type
Full-time Further Education course
Course level
Entry Level
Start date
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Location
Basford 664 Nuthall Road, Nottingham, NG8 6AQ
Course code
Parent course code:C050256 Child course code: Q050257
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Course introduction

This college qualification is for you if would like to gain core knowledge and understanding of a range of occupational roles from across the land base and animal care.

The course has been specifically designed to provide you with valuable employability skills in communication, problem solving and study skills. You will have the opportunity to improve your maths and English, along with gaining an understanding of working within the animal care industry.

This course allows you to achieve a maths and English qualification alongside a college qualification which will allow you to progress into a higher level of study the following academic year.

Modules include

  • Working safely within the industry
  • The animal care industry and career pathways
  • Sustainability within animal care
  • Introduction into care of animals
  • Introduction into correct handling, assisting in feeding and watering
  • Study skills
  • Team work
  • Maths and English

You can expect:

  • Support from well-being and behaviour mentors, learning support assistants (LSAs) and supportive tutors.
  • Project based learning around your interests and current real-world experiences or problems within the animal industry
  • An opportunity for trips/visits and guest speakers.
  • Animal involvement
  • 1-1 career advice, mock interviews to prepare for your next steps

You can expect both practical and theory taught lessons on the course.

Course information

1 year

College Certificate

There are no formal entry requirements, but you must have a keen interest in animals.

Assessment methods within this course include in class knowledge assessments and practical assessments. They have been designed to assess the knowledge, understanding and skills of all units.

Students that have either GCSE English or GCSE Maths at grade 2 or above can progress onto the Level 1 Land Based Studies (Animal Care) course at Nottingham College. If students pass either GCSE English and Maths with a grade 4 can jump straight to the Level 2  course in Animal Studies.

Students aged 16-18 don't have to pay tuition fees.

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National, please visit our EU Settled Status scheme page for more information.

Careers related to this course

Animal Care Services Occupations

Potential Earnings

£31,073.04

Average Earnings

£18,533.80

Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

Pathways

Agriculture and Animal Care

People in these occupations plant and harvest crops, run farms, carry out fishing and aquaculture operations, and care for livestock and other animals.
View more about this career

Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.

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