International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev
Online
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
GBP 19,100 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* estimated tuition for international animal welfare, ethics and law (MSc) | PgCert: £6,370 | PgDip: £12,735
Introduction
The overall objective of this online distance learning programme is to provide knowledge and an understanding of animal welfare science, with a focus on the international issues arising from animal use in all its forms.
The programme is delivered by researchers and teachers from both the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (within the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) with a series of guest lecturers from around the world.
The programme offers courses in a variety of areas, including:
- history, culture and concepts of animal welfare
- animal behaviour
- animal welfare assessment
- animal ethics
- recommendations and policy
- legislation, regulation and enforcement
- science communication
- applied animal welfare - production, companion and captive wild animals
Online learning
The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online postgraduate programmes since 2005 and is the largest provider of online programmes in the prestigious Russell Group of universities.
Online learning is aimed at people who want to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside ongoing personal and professional commitments. You can study at times most convenient to you and tailor the timeframe of your studies to suit your needs. Most of our students continue in their employment while they study.
Student support for online students is given as much emphasis as for our on-campus learners. The learning technology is fully interactive, and award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your home or workplace.
A dedicated e-learning team ensures the programme runs smoothly and the programme is supported by an experienced team of a programme director, co-ordinator, administrator and course leaders. Each student is provided with a personal tutor. Courses are taught and completed entirely online.
The varied teaching includes:
- online lectures
- tutorials
- specialist external lectures
- scientific group discussions
- case studies
- problem-based learning scenarios
- literature based research
- computer-assisted learning
- quizzes
Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh's excellent resources but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
Rankings
The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked 15th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Gallery
Program Outcome
Animal Welfare
You will aim to be able to:
- discuss the meanings and definitions of animal welfare. You will also be able to describe how the concepts of animal welfare have changed over time and in different parts of the world
- discuss how animal learning and motivation affect welfare. You will also be able to explain how animal cognition and consciousness affect animal quality of life
- describe the concepts of stress, pain and suffering and how these relate to animal welfare
- describe the present and likely future uses of animals in research, testing and education
- analyse how the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (three Rs) have been implemented in peer-reviewed scientific literature involving animal use and alternative methods
- describe the main welfare issues of animals in laboratories, and apply knowledge of appropriate methodologies to assess welfare
Ethics, policy and law
You will aim to be able to:
- discuss the animal welfare policy and recommendations made by governments and other groups. You will also be able to describe how economics affects animal welfare policy
- describe animal welfare law around the globe and discuss the enforcement issues
International and global issues
You will aim to be able to:
- describe the use of animals for food and discuss the patterns and changes in global animal agriculture over time
- explain the effects that different housing and husbandry systems have on animals and discuss the associated welfare issues
- discuss the welfare consequences of live animal transport, markets and slaughter of animals across the globe
- review the cultural, social and historical influences on our attitudes toward dogs and cats
- discuss infectious disease control; rabies in Europe, India and the USA
- discuss the dilemmas that can arise from conflicting concerns for individual animal welfare and the conservation of species, populations or communities
Career Opportunities
Graduates can use their qualification to enhance their career prospects in:
- academia
- research
- governmental and non-governmental organisations and consultancies
Program Tuition Fee
Curriculum
The degree programme is structured to allow sequential progression from individual courses to Certificate, Diploma and MSc phases. Students may also exit the programme on completion of each phase.
The programme is designed to be taken part-time over three years at 20 hours per week, with the option to complete in up to six years if required.
The completion times are as follows:
- PgCert: 1-2 years
- PgDip: 2-4 years
- MSc: 3-6 years
Year 1: Certificate
You will take two compulsory courses - International Animal Welfare Science and Animal Ethics, Policy and Law - plus an optional course.
Year 2: Diploma
You can choose up to 60 credits of optional courses, which include:
- Production Animal Welfare
- Cat and Dog Welfare
- Captive and Free-ranging Wild Animal Welfare
- Animals in Research, Testing and Education
- Clinical Animal Behaviour
- Equine Behaviour and Welfare
- Equitation Science
- Anthrozoology
- Poultry Behaviour & Welfare in Commercial Systems
- Making Science Relevant to Policy and Decision-Making
Year 3: Masters
You complete a dissertation between 10,000-15,000 words which can be a research project or an extended systematic review of the literature on a topic of Animal Welfare Science, Ethics or Law.
Postgraduate Professional Development
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through postgraduate-level learning, without the time, or financial commitment, of a full award.
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within this degree over two years and gain a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.
It may also be possible to continue your studies after one year and put credits towards a postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or full Masters's degree. Any time spent taking courses through the PPD scheme will be deducted from the amount of time you have left to complete the higher award.
Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in September.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
The University of Edinburgh offers a small number of scholarships to outstanding candidates. These are very competitive. We publish data on the success rate for scholarship applications to help you understand the level of demand.