Animal Biology, Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics
Animal biology, behaviour, welfare, and ethics is a discipline that takes the lives of non-human animals seriously as a subject of scientific inquiry and moral concern. Understanding how animals are built, how they function physiologically, what drives their behaviour, what they experience, and what obligations humans have toward them requires engagement with biology, psychology, philosophy, and policy. As awareness of animal sentience grows and regulatory frameworks evolve, practitioners with expertise in this area are increasingly sought across research, veterinary services, agriculture, and conservation.
At the Royal Veterinary College, one of the world's leading veterinary and biomedical science institutions, this three-year full-time programme builds on RVC's international reputation in animal welfare science. You will study comparative anatomy and physiology, evolutionary biology, animal cognition and behaviour, the science of animal welfare assessment, and the ethical frameworks that inform how humans should treat animals in agriculture, companion animal settings, research, and the wild. A sandwich year places you in a professional environment for an extended period, and a year abroad deepens your understanding of how animal welfare is approached across different regulatory and cultural contexts.
Work placement experience is integral to the programme, giving you practical exposure to applied welfare science.
Graduates pursue careers in animal welfare organisations, government regulatory bodies, agricultural policy, companion animal charities, zoo and wildlife management, veterinary practice support roles, and academic research. The ethical and scientific depth of the programme is particularly valued by organisations developing animal welfare standards and by research institutions working on the science of sentience and wellbeing. Postgraduate study in animal welfare science, veterinary public health, conservation biology, and related fields is a common route for those who wish to move into research or specialist practice.