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This programme involves an in-depth scientific approach to managing health and welfare, reproduction, behaviour, nutrition and exercise for horses. You will also learn how to practically apply a scientific approach to benefit horse health, welfare and performance.
Our online programme is the first and only Equine Science programme to be hosted within an international centre of veterinary excellence. It provides students with detailed knowledge and understanding of equine science and its applications and is excellent preparation for enhancing your equine career or future independent research such as a a PhD.
Our online learning technology is fully interactive, award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.
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.
The taught part of the programme consists of a series of courses, while the final year is devoted to a dissertation.
Certificate and Diploma courses:
Your final year dissertation of a maximum of 9,000 words will allow you to analyse and present relevant research data that you have collected yourself. Alternatively, you can undertake desk study to explore and develop your own area of interest.
Read more about how the programme is structured:
Programme duration
The full MSc Equine Science programme can be completed within two years if students wish to study several courses at any one time, so all taught courses are completed in one year and the second year is devoted to a dissertation project.
Alternatively students can take up to 6 years to complete the full MSc programme and there is also the option to graduate with either an Equine Science postgraduate certificate or diploma.
Postgraduate Professional Development
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit. Alternatively, after one year of taking courses you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to studying towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme. Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September. Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Graduates from this research-rich, taught MSc will be prepared for employment in research establishments, such as universities and research institutions; industry, such as feed companies, stud farms, pharmaceuticals and consultancy firms; government organisations, such as ADAS and DEFRA; and welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, WSPA and WHW.
Stand out from the crowd
The Master of Science will allow you to stand out from other animal science graduates
Find out more about the Master of Science parent structure.
Massey’s Master of Science (Animal Science) will allow you to make a major contribution to animal science.
Whether you want to take a first step in a research career or would like a specialised role in livestock or animal industries, a MSc (Animal Science) will give you the skills you need.
Animal science is a broad subject and you could engage in study and research in one of many subjects from livestock production, genetics, nutrition, reproductive physiology, lactation, animal behaviour and welfare.
A master’s builds your capability in sourcing, generating and interpreting quality information to make informed decisions. You’ll develop specialised knowledge in your chosen field.
Massey University provides an excellent environment for your animal science masters. We have an active research programme in many areas of applied and theoretical aspects of animal science and much of this is funded by industry. This means as a master’s student you have the opportunity to research a relevant issue and generate solutions for the real world.
Massey University’s proud record in land-based study dates back to 1927 when we offered New Zealand’s first degrees in agriculture.
Massey is world-ranked and New Zealand’s No 1 university in agriculture according to the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings. We are also ranked in the top 150 universities worldwide for agriculture by the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
Massey University’s veterinary school has been ranked first in the world by employers in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking. We are ranked no.15 for our veterinary science programme.
At Massey you will not just be studying animal science, you will be part of this world-leading animal and agricultural science hub. Massey’s Manawatu campus is surrounded by working farms and state-of-the-art animal science research facilities.. You are able to access our extensive research and working facilities as part of your study. These include:
We also host The International Sheep Research Centre which leads the world with its investigations into sheep husbandry and related areas.
Postgraduate study is hard work but hugely rewarding and empowering. The Master of Science (Animal Science) will push you to produce your best creative, strategic and theoretical ideas. The workload replicates the high-pressure environment of senior workplace roles. Our experts are there to guide but if you have come from undergraduate study, you will find that postgraduate study demands more in-depth and independent study.
Postgraduate study is not just ‘more of the same’ undergraduate study. It takes you to a new level in knowledge and expertise especially in planning and undertaking research.
This is a 180 credit taught degree which will take 1.5 years if you study full time. You can choose to include 60, 90 or 120 credits of research.
Bringing the world’s expertise to you
Learn from internationally recognised veterinary specialists and gain in-depth veterinary research skills.
Massey's Master of Veterinary Science is an internationally recognised veterinary degree, most suitable for those who would like to undertake in-depth research in a particular area of interest.
Massey University’s Master of Veterinary Science brings the world's veterinary expertise to you. You will learn in a supportive and enthusiastic environment supported by internationally-recognised experts in their field.
The classroom experience is interactive and there is significant opportunity for research.
You are able to use your study towards a Master of Veterinary Science to either delve into an area of veterinary science you are passionate about, or to hone your research skills to help you ascertain if you wish to progress into a research-based career.
Massey University’s veterinary programme is ranked in the top 50 universities worldwide by both the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking and ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
Wide range of facilities
This course is run on our Manawatu campus in Palmerston North. Host to the only veterinary school in New Zealand, Massey University’s well-equipped facilities include an equine hospital, 24-hour pet hospital and sheep, beef, dairy and deer farms, all located near campus. The Wildbase wildlife hospital is the only dedicated wildlife hospital in New Zealand and underwent a $1.44 million expansion in 2016.
You will have access to our other world-leading science facilities such as modern laboratories for virology and bacteriology, molecular and immunohistochemical work.
Our courses are led by internationally-recognised lecturers and have a reputation for their use of real-life case studies and high staff to student ratios.
Massey’s veterinary and animal science staff are integrated and cooperative. There is also a wide range of expertise across the sciences at the university, such as agricultural science, fundamental sciences and engineering. This will give you access to a wide range of expertise, equipment and facilities on one small campus to assist your research.
The Master of Veterinary Science is a 120 or 240 credit degree which may be available part-time or full-time.
This is a research qualification, where you will undertake an intensive investigation of an area of your choice. This programme can be completed via a 120 research thesis if you are a New Zealand BVSc graduate or equivalent, or a 240 credit (two years full time) research and taught programme if you are an international student.
The 240 credit programme offers a wide range of taught programmes. These include pathology, epidemiology, conservation medicine, parasitology, surgery, medicine, livestock production, ruminant livestock feeding, physiology, animal welfare science and many other subjects.
If you are more interested in a professional development qualification with less of a research focus, the Master of Veterinary Studies may be a more appropriate qualification for you.
The Master of Veterinary Medicine is also focused on professional development, but is available via distance learning.
Postgraduate study is hard work but hugely rewarding and empowering. The Master of Veterinary Science will push you to produce your best creative, strategic and theoretical ideas. The workload replicates the high-pressure environment of senior workplace roles.
Our experts are there to guide but if you have come from undergraduate study, you will find that postgraduate study demands more in-depth and independent study.
This suite of courses is unique in the UK. The courses focus on the recent advances in equine health and disease, sports horse nutrition, behaviour, ethics, exercise physiology, equitation science, and genetics in the context of enhancing equine performance, health and welfare.
They combine advanced research and academic skills with applied science skills. We are one of the few universities in the UK to offer taught multidisciplinary modules that develop the scientific expertise and understanding that employers are looking for.
You’ll study the current issues and insights at the forefront of equine performance, health and welfare, and the philosophical, ethical and legal issues related to these. You’ll gain insight into the latest scientific research findings, and critically examine these in a practical context. The research project enables you to undertake and develop your own research interests with the support of experienced supervisors.
The MRes courses offer you the chance to develop even further your understanding of equine research and specialise within the fields of either performance or health and welfare. On these courses, you’ll enhance your research expertise, enabling you to analyse and report findings to a high scientific standard, and communicate them to a wide range of audiences.
You’ll be taught through a mixture of lectures, laboratory classes, demonstrations, and project work. You’ll also have opportunities to present your work to peers and academic staff. Independent learning is required, and you’ll undertake high-quality research. You’ll research your chosen topic in depth, then design and implement a relevant research project, and communicate the findings to an informed audience in a comprehensive scientific report.
Teaching is supported by our British Horse Society-approved Equestrian Centre, which has stabling for over 65 horses. Its facilities include international-size indoor and floodlit outdoor riding arenas, a research arena, horse walker, round pen, group housing pens, a dedicated performance analysis room with mechanical horse, and a variety of equine housing systems including, traditional style stabling, American-barn style housing and crew yards. You’ll be able to use specialist equipment, including heart rate monitors, GPS equipment, Pegasys gait analysis system, DartfishProSuite®, Tekscanpressure mapping, infrared camera system, mobile eye tracking systems, and the Equistat Pro system.
You’ll also have access to specialised teaching and laboratory facilities. Modules are delivered by academic lecturers, who are research-active in their area of expertise. Their international research links provide opportunities and scope for a wide range of research projects in the field of equine performance, health and welfare. They liaise closely with industry, to ensure the course is relevant and meets the needs of employers.
Find out more about our Brackenhurst Campus on our website
Want to find out more about studying with us? Find out more at one of our upcoming open days. Reserve your place.
For more information on our courses, please visit our website.
This suite of courses is unique in the UK. The courses focus on the recent advances in equine health and disease, sports horse nutrition, behaviour, ethics, exercise physiology, equitation science, and genetics in the context of enhancing equine performance, health and welfare.
They combine advanced research and academic skills with applied science skills. We are one of the few universities in the UK to offer taught multidisciplinary modules that develop the scientific expertise and understanding that employers are looking for.
You’ll study the current issues and insights at the forefront of equine performance, health and welfare, and the philosophical, ethical and legal issues related to these. You’ll gain insight into the latest scientific research findings, and critically examine these in a practical context. The research project enables you to undertake and develop your own research interests with the support of experienced supervisors.
The MRes courses offer you the chance to develop even further your understanding of equine research and specialise within the fields of either performance or health and welfare. On these courses, you’ll enhance your research expertise, enabling you to analyse and report findings to a high scientific standard, and communicate them to a wide range of audiences.
You’ll be taught through a mixture of lectures, laboratory classes, demonstrations, and project work. You’ll also have opportunities to present your work to peers and academic staff. Independent learning is required, and you’ll undertake high-quality research. You’ll research your chosen topic in depth, then design and implement a relevant research project, and communicate the findings to an informed audience in a comprehensive scientific report.
Teaching is supported by our British Horse Society-approved Equestrian Centre, which has stabling for over 65 horses. Its facilities include international-size indoor and floodlit outdoor riding arenas, a research arena, horse walker, round pen, group housing pens, a dedicated performance analysis room with mechanical horse, and a variety of equine housing systems including, traditional style stabling, American-barn style housing and crew yards. You’ll be able to use specialist equipment, including heart rate monitors, GPS equipment, Pegasys gait analysis system, DartfishProSuite®, Tekscanpressure mapping, infrared camera system, mobile eye tracking systems, and the Equistat Pro system.
You’ll also have access to specialised teaching and laboratory facilities. Modules are delivered by academic lecturers, who are research-active in their area of expertise. Their international research links provide opportunities and scope for a wide range of research projects in the field of equine performance, health and welfare. They liaise closely with industry, to ensure the course is relevant and meets the needs of employers.
Find out more about our Brackenhurst Campus on our website
Want to find out more about studying with us? Find out more at one of our upcoming open days. Reserve your place.
For more information on our courses, please visit our website.
