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Our Animal Studies department is based in a 12-acre farm and small animal centre, home to a wide range of animals from sheep to a giant python! We pride ourselves on providing our students with a supportive and challenging environment, where the passion for caring for animals will be developed into the skills for a rewarding career.
Department informationAvailable courses
If you are interested in working in the landbased industry, or specifically with animals, our department is ideally equipped to prepare you for this most rewarding and fulfilling career. The courses we teach attract people with many different career aims, from potential veterinary nurses and zoo keepers to stock managers and conservationists. Practical sessions are reinforced by theory classes to ensure that you are well equipped to begin a career in the land-based industry. This approach has seen Ofsted consistently award us a Grade 2 for our teaching since 2004.
In the Animal Studies department we recognise that the transition to college can be exciting but daunting. We pride ourselves on providing our students with a warm, supportive but challenging environment in which anything is possible. We use a wide range of teaching and learning methods because we know that students are as diverse as the animal kingdom.
Our Tutors are passionately committed to teaching you the latest practices in landbased skills and Animal Management. All our staff have industry experience and undertake continuing professional development so that we remain up-to-date with current thinking and practices. Our Animal Management experience ranges from zoos and veterinary nursing to re-homing for animal charities and wildlife rehabilitation.
All of the landbased courses at Nescot take place in purpose built facilities which surround the main campus buildings. Including the Animal Care Unit, more than half of the College's available space is dedicated to supporting the studies in our courses. We are equipped with more than 400 exotic, agricultural and domestic pet animals, which you will learn to care for.
Our students have gone on to higher education including:
Or directly into employment in:
Some students have set up their own businesses, such as:
We believe that Landbased subjects are a way of life as well as a job. While many of the skills you learn are practical, we also want to give you a deep understanding of the various parts of the industry and how they all fit together. We will prepare you to give the best levels of care to the animals you will take charge of and help you turn your passion into your livelihood. Search for a career on Animal Jobs Direct.
At Nescot we encourage our students to think ahead, so that they can choose the right courses to fit them and their future. We also use an innovative online platform called Start, which is a free and comprehensive digital platform, offering students a single starting point to help simplify careers guidance. Students can build a personal profile aimed at guiding them throughout their career. Find out more here.
This chart shows some details about employment trends in the sector, and companies Nescot works with.
Skills you will gain
Through your learning in both practical and classroom sessions you will gain the skills and know-how to work in a range of roles in the animal care sector, and progress to higher education. You studies will develop contextual skills including:
- Day-to-day animal care
- Understanding animal behaviour
- Customer service
- Team working
- Professional standards in animal care
- Flexibility and working in a ‘round-the-clock’ industry
- Organisational Skills
- Admin Skills
- Work stamina and productivity
- Budget awareness and management
Other subjects