Equine Science (MSc, PgDip, PgCert, PgProfDev - Online Learning) The University of Edinburgh

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in veterinary science or biological science, with subject areas including zoology, animal/equine science or pharmacology/pharmacy.

We may also consider your application if you have a science degree that is below a 2.1 qualification, or you are an experienced veterinary nurse or farrier, or a degree in a non-science subject, and you hold Level 2 or above British Horse Society qualifications and/or have a minimum of 3 years experience working with or caring for horses. You may be admitted to Certificate or Diploma level only in the first instance. Please contact the Equine Science Programme team before applying.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Programme structure

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:

• Research Methods Data Analysis (Equine Science)
• Equine Digestion and Nutrition
• Equine Behaviour and Welfare
• Equine Orthopaedics
• Equine Reproduction
• Equitation Science
• Equine Exercise Physiology

Dissertation

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 a desk study to explore and develop your own area of interest.

Programme duration

Students can take between 3 and 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 Master, 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 Master, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme. Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout the year you may only start a Master, 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 Master, 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
• welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, WSPA and WHW
• Watch short film interviews with recent graduates from the programme