The Applied Ethology and Animal Biology master’s programme deals with animal behaviour and biology from an applied perspective, including problems associated with keeping animals in captivity. The aim is to provide students with a solid understanding of theory and methods of applied ethology.
You gain a good working knowledge of the programme’s central issues, such as the biology of stress and its role in animal welfare, the effects of domestication on animal behaviour, the physiology of behaviour, and conservation biology. The programme is taught in collaboration with Kolmården Wildlife Park, one of the largest and most highly renowned zoos in Sweden. Several teaching sessions are held at the zoo where you acquire first-hand knowledge from experienced zoologists.
The programme provides a solid understanding of theory and methods of applied ethology and broadens their understanding of animal biology through courses such as:
In addition to classroom lectures and seminars, you participate in hands-on projects involving studies of animals in captive environments. A key part of the programme is a one-year degree project in which you apply their theoretical and methodological knowledge.
After completing the programme, you will be well-acquainted with the theoretical background of animal behaviour and biology. You will have a deep understanding of animal welfare and conservation, and learn how to plan, implement and present a research project within the scientific field of the programme.
Our Animal Behaviour MRes is a research-based course with a taught component that is equivalent to an MSc. It provides a springboard into a career that involves a working knowledge of scientific research.
The study of animal behaviour is an exciting and theoretically rigorous area of the biological sciences with possible applications in conservation, animal welfare, biomedical science and agriculture. The Centre for Behaviour and Evolution at Newcastle University brings together world experts in Behavioural Ecology, Comparative Cognition, Neuroethology and Animal Welfare.
Experts at Newcastle have discovered, among other things, that bees learn better when exposed to caffeine; that starlings who were hungry as babies become heavier as adults; and that mice have pain faces. You too can be part of this exciting research community.
The course is designed for graduates with a BSc in the life sciences, psychology or anthropology. It can be taken either as a stand-alone qualification or as an entry route onto a PhD.
The taught component of the course includes training in research approaches relevant to the area of animal behaviour. You have the flexibility to develop your own bespoke course by selecting a set of three complementary modules. The modules Comparative Cognition (MMB8043), Applied Ethology (ACE8074) and Sensory Systems (MMB8019) in particular are recommended for this course. You will also participate in training in general research principles, and other professional and key skills.
The core module on the biological study of behaviour introduces the central questions related to animal behaviour research (adaptive consequences, proximate mechanisms, development, and evolutionary history) and the research methods associated with each. Other relevant modules focus on comparative cognition, on sensory systems (including neuroethology) and on applied ethology for animal welfare. Research-led seminars, delivered by members of the Centre for Behaviour and Evolution cover a wide range of taxa (insects to humans), topics (olfaction to cooperation), and methodologies.
Your research project comprises the major element of the course. This project will involve 24 weeks of research in an area of animal behaviour under the supervision of an expert academic researcher in the field.
The course allows you to experience an internationally competitive research area, predominantly in academia but also potentially in industry. Graduates from our programme have gone on to competitive PhD studentships, as well as jobs in research and in zoos.
Animal Behaviour MRes is closely linked to a suite of MRes courses that you may also be interested in. See Programme information in our online Prospectus for full details.
Graduates from our programme have gone on to competitive PhD studentships, as well as jobs in research and in zoos.
Our Medical Sciences Graduate School is dedicated to providing you with information, support and advice throughout your research degree studies. We can help and advise you on a variety of queries relating to your studies, funding or welfare.
Our Research Student Development Programme supports and complements your research whilst developing your professional skills and confidence.
You will make an on-going assessment of your own development and training needs through personal development planning (PDP) in the ePortfolio system. Our organised external events and development programme have been mapped against the Vitae Researcher Development Framework to help you identify how best to meet your training and development needs.
This programme provides flexible postgraduate study designed to specifically address the demand for online clinical animal behaviour teaching within a supported learning environment. The programme will utilise an evidence based approach to explore the potential motivations, management and treatment options for abnormal and/or problem behaviours commonly expressed by companion animal species living within a domestic environment.
The subject involves a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on knowledge and techniques from the fields of psychology, ethology, neurobiology, pharmacology and veterinary science. This programme will contain teaching and learning that is aimed at your academic preparation for a professional career working with companion animals in a variety of settings, including clinical animal behaviour counselling.
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.
This MSc programme is modular in structure, offering a flexible student-centred approach to the choice of courses studied. You must complete a sufficient number of course credits to achieve the following awards:
You may undertake this programme by intermittent study (flexible progression route), accruing credits within the following maximum time limits:
Year 1: Certificate Courses
You will study Principles of Applied Animal Behaviour and Clinical Animal Behaviour along with either Anthrozoology (recommended for those continuing to Diploma/MSc) or one of two other elective courses.
Year 2: Diploma Courses
You will study Clinical Animal Behaviour in Practice along with two elective courses from a choice of 4.
Year 3: Masters
The dissertation element of the programme will allow further development of scientific skills and may take the form of a short research project, case studies relating to relevant professional experience or an extended literature review.
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.
Alongside the subject content, the programme will also enable the acquisition of a range of transferable skills, such as computer skills, report writing, giving online presentations and time and project management.
You will be able to:
Students are expected to find work in the field of companion animal behaviour and welfare as well as working in education, or as advisors with non-governmental organisations and governments.
This postgraduate degree course will further your career in the animal behaviour and welfare community, combining classroom and vocational learning. Final Award: MSc Intermediate Awards: PgC, PgD
This MSc programme is designed to develop a post-graduate level understanding of Animal Behaviour and Welfare to prepare students for a career in the industry. Modules of study include:
• Postgraduate Project
• Applied Ethology
• Applied Learning Theory
• Experimental Design and Analysis
• Animal Welfare Science
• Attitudes to animals and ethical considerations
• Animal Health, Physiology and Behaviour
• Principles and Practices in Behaviour Consultation
• Clinical Behaviour Modification and Therapy
*Subject to validation
Modules will be delivered in week blocks (4-5 days) at our main York Campus. Each module (with the exception of the postgraduate project) will be studied over one week block. There will be four weeks per year which students will be expected to attend. 2018-19 block dates* are as follows:
*Dates may be subject to change during validation process. Website will be updated regularly with key information.
Following the completion of this course you may be able to progress to PhD studies.
This is an advanced course for students who want to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of Zoo Management and Conservation following degree-level study in a related subject, subject to validation. Final Award: MSc Intermediate Awards: PgC, PgD
This MSc programme is designed to develop a post-graduate level understanding of Zoo Management and Conservation to prepare students for a career in the industry. Modules of study include:
• Postgraduate Project
• Applied Ethology
• Sustainability within zoos
• Experimental Design and Analysis
• Animal Welfare Science
• Management of Zoos
• Animal Health, Physiology and Behaviour
• Ecosystem Analysis
• Biodiversity and Conservation
*Subject to validation
Modules will be delivered in week blocks (4-5 days) at our main York Campus. Each module (with the exception of the postgraduate project) will be studied over one week block. There will be four weeks per year which students will be expected to attend. 2018-19 block dates* are as follows:
*Dates may be subject to change during validation process. Website will be updated regularly with key information.
Following the completion of this course you may be able to progress to PhD studies.
Postgraduate programmes will be eligible for a postgraduate student loan, details available at: https://www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
P²food is a 2 year, course-based, full-time international research Master's Degree focused on the physiological and psychological determinants of food choice, offered by the University of Burgundy - Franche-Comté and AgroSup Dijon.
Food plays a much bigger role in consumers' lives than simply feeding them. Each day, humans make several food choices. Their diet has considerable impact on their nutritional status and health, but also on the environment.
A greater understanding of the reasons for consumers' choice of foods is needed in order to set up effective programs and develop new products, to improve dietary patterns in line with recommendations, and to increase food sustainability. Although seemingly simple, food choices are complex behaviors that depend on many factors and their interactions. In this Master’s Degree, a key focus is placed on the physiological and psychological factors of food choice.
As a student in this Master’s program, you will gain in-depth knowledge about food properties and fundamental insights about human food behavior. You will acquire sensory and consumer research methodology. You will come to understand the mechanisms of hunger, satiety and satiation, and the factors involved in palatability. You will study the influence of stress and mood on food behaviors, and explore the ways in which cultural context influences food choices. You will examine the importance of representation and consumer attitudes towards food, as well as the reasons for resistance to dietary change. You will understand why it is necessary to take on this issue in an interdisciplinary way.
Our approach is student-centered and participative. It combines lectures, seminars and practicals, workshops and individual/team projects. The modules below are indicative of those offered in this program. This list is based on the current organization and may change year to year in response to new needs in the food industry:
1st year (60 credits)
1st Semester:
2nd Semester:
* 1st year research internship is 8 weeks long, in January-February.
2nd year (60 credits)
During the 2nd year, students carry out a 6 month research internship.
The University “Bourgogne Franche – Comté” has been ranked 2nd best French University in the field of Food Sciences (Shangaï, 2017). Most of the lecturers and scientists involved in the Master’s program are members of the Research Center for Taste and Feeding Behavior (CSGA), an internationally renowned research center dedicated to interdisciplinary research on chemosensory perception and food consumption behavior. In addition to the pedagogical team, international invited lecturers will be involved.
As an international postgraduate you will benefit from France’s low tuition fees and have access to a wide range of funding programs (Grants from French embassies, AUF bursaries, etc.). You can also apply for funding from the Université Bourgogne Franche - Comté (25 grants in 2017).
This Master’s Degree aims at providing students with job-relevant competencies and skills for a career in industry (project leader or research engineer in nutrition; consumer science and R&D departments of international companies) or an academic position (food and consumer research; sensory and cognitive neuroscience research; food, nutrition and health research, etc.)
More Information
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