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Animal Care, Science and Management

If you want a career looking after animals, you will need some qualifications to get you started.

Wiltshire College has the courses, facilities, staff and animals to set you on the path for success!

The Animal Centre holds a Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) licence, so they are able to keep animals normally found only in zoos. As part of the course, students combine theory with practical duties in the Animal Centre, which gives them valuable work experience when it comes to finding a job.

Wiltshire College Lackham also has 'Home Farm', an Equine Centre and a Grooming Parlour on campus, which the Animal Care students use to further their learning.

Trips are organised to places such as zoos and Crufts Dog Show, which deepen students understanding of the animal industry.

Our Animal Centre is the main attraction for animal care students. Housing a wide range of domestic and exotic animals, you will learn how to care for them in professional surroundings.

• Meerkats
• Lemurs
• Racoons
• Wallabies
• Pigs
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish
• Small mammals
• Rare sheep breeds
• Miniature Zebu cattle
• Ponies
• Donkeys
• Alpacas
• Bats
• Opossums

Expert staff

All of the staff have experience of working in the industry and will be able to pass on their expert knowledge to you.

The Animal Care Division has:

• 11 full-time lecturers
• 1 laboratory instructor demonstrator
• 1 Animal Centre Manager
• 2 Animal Centre technicians

After your course finishes :

Students who take the First Diploma in Animal Care will be eligible to start work in the Animal Care Industry. Alternatively if you achieve good grades you can progress onto the National Diploma in Animal Management.

Students who get good results on the National Diploma in Animal Management can continue to Higher Education to study a Foundation Degree in Animal Science and Management at Lackham campus or a BSc Degree at a University. Or, if you wish to go straight into employment, you can start at a higher level.

Students who achieve well on the Foundation Degree in Animal Science Management can progress on to a top-up year to obtain a BSc in Animal Science and Management.

Areas of the animal industry that you can work in:

Kennel/cattery work, zoo keeping, farm work, rescue work, veterinary, pet store retail, conservation, research work, pet food manufacturers and other animal related industries.