Animal Therapy (with Foundation Year)

Acquire hands-on skills in animal therapy, including techniques like massage therapy and patient assessment skills, while working with both equine and canine patients.

You’ll learn from an experienced team of tutors including veterinary surgeons, nutrition and behaviour specialists, biomechanists, and staff qualified in veterinary physiotherapy, massage and myofascial release.

Writtle is the perfect place to get hands-on experience, with the campus being home to dedicated canine and equine therapy centres, a small animal unit and a working farm.

As a BSc (Hons) Animal Therapy graduate, you’ll be able to apply for membership of the Animal Health Professions’ Register (AHPR).

Our Animal Therapy degree runs alongside the MVetPhys Veterinary Physiotherapy course. You may have the opportunity to move on to the MVetPhys course at the end of your first year. To do this, you’ll need to achieve a 50% overall stage average and get a pass in both the equine and canine OSPE (practical exams).

There are a number of ways to study this course. As well as our 3-year full-time degree, you have the option of studying over:

• 4 years including a foundation year, to gain a BSc

You can apply through UCAS (UK students) or directly to us (international students).

All BSc students study the same modules, with the addition of foundation year modules for those taking the 4-year course.

Year 1: Academic and Personal Management Skills, Biological Concepts (Introduction to Laboratory Skills), Maths for IT and Science, Chemistry for Life Sciences, Applied Industry Techniques, Independent (Themed) Project. Year 2: Introduction to Veterinary Physiotherapy, Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology, Functional Anatomy, Human-Animal Interaction, Ethics of Animal Use, Canine and Equine Nutrition. Year 3: Research Methods, Applied Anatomy, Animal Therapeutic Techniques, Rehabilitation and Performance, Exercise Physiology, Animal Health Science, Introduction to Animal Biomechanics, Working in a Multidisciplinary Team. Year 4: Capstone Project, Massage Therapy and Remedial Exercise, Animals in Motion, Sports Medicine, Veterinary Pathophysiology, Business and Client Management.

Students are assessed in a number of ways to ensure practical and academic competence, including: - Assignments. - Reports. - Written examinations. - Observed structured practical examinations. - Observed structured clinical examinations. - Oral presentations. -Debates. - Dissertation.