Equine Science and Thoroughbred Management - 2012 entry
BSc (Hons)
- single
Typical A-level offer: BBC or equivalent
Overview
Abingdon and Whitney College
This course is run by the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences
This unique four-year course is the only dedicated Equine Science and Thoroughbred Management degree of its kind in the UK. It is a joint venture between Oxford Brookes and Abingdon and Witney College, with teaching mainly at Oxford Brookes, as well as some sessions at Witney and the college's stud farm at Common Leys Farm in the Cotswolds. This collaboration enables you to benefit from the expertise, facilities and extensive industry links of both institutions.
Equine Science and Thoroughbred Management is a highly vocational course. There is considerable input from external practitioners and you work in the industry in your third year. This will increase your knowledge and understanding of the practices and current issues in equine science and thoroughbred management, providing exciting career opportunities upon graduation.
Why Brookes?
- You'll access the expertise and resources of both Oxford Brookes University, who accredit the degrees, and Abingdon and Witney College.
- Our BSc in Equine Science and Thoroughbred Management is the only undergraduate BSc with this specific focus in the country. This course allows you to develop your employment aspirations and contacts by working in the thoroughbred industry for your third year.
- The Common Leys campus near Witney offers excellent facilities such as a commercially-run thoroughbred stud where you can apply your classroom learning immediately in the field.
- You go on trips to studs, racecourses and sales enabling you to see how the industry works and preparing you for future employment.
- Respected industry figures deliver guest lectures.
- The combination of modules from across equine, life sciences and business subject areas allows students to graduate with a combination of scientific literacy and management skills.
Teaching, learning and assessment
The majority of teaching takes place at Oxford Brookes. In the first year, one day per week is spent at the college's stud farm. Students who are in halls have bus travel subsidised. Since the farm runs as a commercial enterprise, you will gain real-life experience and practical skills, and benefit from its facilities. Other facilities include modern dissection laboratories for teaching Anatomy and Physiology modules.
To keep students abreast of current research, we organise external visits and invite guest lecturers in. You will also have opportunities to participate in research or commercial projects. Other teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group projects and independent research.
Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on transferable skills, which often form part of the assessment of individual modules. Assessment methods vary according to the range of knowledge and skills covered. At least 50% of the assessment in all modules is coursework-based, and project work is assessed entirely by coursework.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of your course, you will have:
- knowledge of the biological systems of the horse and how to maximise performance potential
- an appreciation of the importance of the thoroughbred industry in a global context and the factors which affect it
- awareness of the interconnectedness of the scientific and management principles of the thoroughbred horse and industry
- the ability to carry out pedigree and conformation analysis of both racing and breeding prospects
- a range of practical skills in such areas as horse husbandry, laboratory and fieldwork techniques, data handling, computing, report writing, oral presentation and teamwork.
In detail
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George Rosamond
You have to be prepared to work hard, but the rewards are great. I think this is the only course like it in the country.
See full profile »Course content
The thoroughbred industry is a billion-pound international concern. The economic impact of British racing alone is approximately £3.4 billion (Deloitte, 2009). The industry therefore requires highly-qualified professionals with a broad range of skills. More than ever there is a demand for an understanding of sophisticated management techniques and scientific principles in the breeding and training of racehorses.
Owing to the diverse nature of the thoroughbred industry, our degree course is structured so that you study a range of compulsory modules in Years 1 and 2 to ensure a thorough grounding in all aspects of equine science and thoroughbred management.
The modules taken during Year 1 include Equine Breeding and Stud Practice, Business for the Equine Industry and Equine Anatomy and Physiology. Our Skills for Life Scientists module will also develop your data handling, statistics and IT skills. A feature of your first year is a series of tutorials with your academic adviser (a member of the teaching staff who is responsible for overseeing your academic progress). The tutorials are designed to help you adjust to academic life at university and establish good study habits.
Further in-depth study in these areas during Year 2 by selection of compulsory and optional modules will extend your knowledge and help you make an informed choice of where you might best spend your third year in industry.
Year 3 will be spent on work placement at a thoroughbred institution of your choice, either in the UK or abroad, giving you valuable work experience. You are encouraged to use this time to explore the industry, and can elect to spend time in one or several locations. Many students also use this time to collect data for dissertations in their final year.
In your final year the choice of optional modules, including Equine Genetics, Equine Ethics and Welfare, International Stud Management, Equestrian Land Management, together with your dissertation, will allow you to develop specialist knowledge in a chosen area.
As courses are reviewed regularly, the module list you choose from may vary from that shown below.
Year 1
- Business for the Equine Industry
- Equine Anatomy and Physiology
- Equine Bioscience
- Equine Breeding and Stud Practice
- Practical Horse Husbandry
- Skills for Life Scientists (double)
- The International Thoroughbred Industry
Year 2 and final year
- Dissertation or Final Project (double)
- Equestrian Event Management
- Equestrian Land Management
- Equine Behaviour
- Equine Endocrine and Reproduction Physiology (double)
- Equine Ethics and Welfare
- Equine Genetics
- Equine Nutrition
- Equine Performance Science
- Evolution and Animal Development (double)
- Haematology and Immunology
- Independent Study in Life Sciences
- Industry Placement
- Infection, Immunity and Immunology
- Injury and Rehabilitation of the Racehorse (double)
- International Business
- International Stud Management
- Introduction to People Management
- Microbiology
- Preventative Medicine and Veterinary Techniques (double)
- Research Methods for Sport and Health Sciences
- Training and Developing the Racehorse
- Work Placement
Work placements
Year 3 will be spent on work placement at a thoroughbred institution of your choice, either in the UK or abroad. Students have worked at racecourses, equine rehabilitation centres and international thoroughbred studs, with bloodstock agencies, and for well-recognised thoroughbred trainers.
Market research indicates that the thoroughbred industry places great value on work experience so this year should provide you with a distinct advantage in the graduate job market. Any research undertaken or data collected during this time may be used to form the basis of your final-year dissertation project, subject to gaining permission from your employer.
Field trips
Trips are arranged by module leaders to strengthen the learning experience and help students to link theory to practice. Visits in recent years have included a variety of studs, artificial insemination and embryo transfer specialist centres, Tattersalls sales, as well as racecourses, training establishments and seed specialists.
Study abroad
Many students undertake their work experience abroad and this enriches their final year of study. Students have worked in large veterinary hospitals and international thoroughbred breeding centres in Australia, the USA and Ireland.
Free language courses for students - the Open Module
Free language courses are available to all full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying any course on our Headington (including Marston Road), Harcourt Hill or Wheatley Campuses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Key facts
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Department
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences
Course length
Full-time: 4 years, including a 1-year industry placement
Part-time: part-time study is possible
Teaching location
Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane / Abingdon and Witney College
Start date
September 2012
UCAS code
D422 BSc/EQT
Fees / funding
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Tuition fees
UK/EU students
Full-time: £9,000
Part-time: £750 per module. You can take up to five modules per academic year.
Placement year: £2,000. This is the fee for students taking their placement in 2012, and will increase annually with inflation.
Tuition fees
International students
Full-time: £11,750
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
+44 (0)1865 483088
finance-fees@brookes.ac.uk
Funding and scholarships
For general sources of financial support, see:
Apply / Entry reqs
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Typical offers
A-level: BBC or equivalent
IB Diploma: 30 points
Advanced Diploma: in Environment and Land-based Studies at grade C
We seek to admit students who have the potential to make good scientists and accept that qualifications are not the only indicator of future potential. Typical offers also include:
- A-level grades BB plus 2 AS-levels at grade C (equivalent to 280 UCAS tariff points). Students studying more than one science subject may receive a lower offer
- 1 12-unit vocational A-level at grade BB plus 1 A-level or 2 AS-levels at grade C
- other recognised qualifications, eg BTEC Nationals or Scottish qualifications (equivalent to 280 UCAS points).
If your combination of qualifications doesn't match our typical offer, please contact our Admissions tutor.
Specific entry requirements
A-level: You must have studied science post-16, either at A-level or equivalent qualification. Preferred A-level subjects include Biology, Chemistry and Maths.
GCSE: Mathematics, English Language and Double Integrated Science (or equivalent) at grade C minimum
Please also see the university's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the university's standard English language requirements.
English language requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Border Agency's minimum language requirements as well as the university's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Full-time students should apply for this course through UCAS.
Part-time students should apply directly to the university.
Conditions of acceptance
When you accept our offer you agree to the conditions of acceptance. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Credit transfer
Oxford Brookes operates the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.
Student experience
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Why Oxford is a great place to study Equine Science and Thoroughbred Management
As a student in Oxford you'll be at the heart of the UK's most successful economic region and in a centre for leading industries which will provide you with a host of work placement and other learning opportunities.
One of the world's great academic cities, Oxford is a key centre of debate, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place across education, science, the arts and many other subjects. It is a vibrant city with plenty of attractions for its large student population, from theatres and cinemas to museums, art galleries and music venues. A bustling and stunning cosmopolitan city, Oxford has excellent shopping, restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs.
Situated in the heart of rural England and home to around 150,000 people, Oxford offers students a clean and safe environment less than an hour from London and international airports.
Specialist facilities
Abingdon and Witney College has been a leading provider of equine courses since 1971, and enjoys an international reputation for both its practical and managerial education and training. Witney Stud Farm, based at Common Leys, gives students a unique first-hand opportunity to become immersed in the day-to-day working routine of a thoroughbred stud and equestrian centre and to participate in real-life equine business enterprises.
While most of the theory elements of the equine programmes are taught at the Witney campus (1st year degree students study at the specialised science laboratories and classrooms at Oxford Brookes University), students are able to gain extensive practical experience at the stud farm. In addition to the new land-based development, more stabling and additional practical teaching areas have been incorporated to enhance the pre-training and equitation provision.
General support services
Supporting your learning
From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.
Personal support services
We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.
Accommodation
At Brookes we understand that when you live away from home it's important to be somewhere that you feel comfortable and safe.
After graduation
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Career prospects
This course will equip you for a variety of roles in research, business and industry. Contacts made in the industry placement and specialisation in Years 3 and 4 will help to determine your career path. Recent graduates have secured roles at Coolmore Stud in Australia, Dalham Hall Stud in the UK, Newbury racecourse and various non-thoroughbred enterprises.
Others have secured roles in owner services at Weatherbys, gained entry into veterinary colleges or continued in higher education with a Veterinary Physiotherapy MSc, for example, or other postgraduate options such as PhDs or MBAs. Careers as equine scientists, yard managers, insurance agents, bloodstock agents, nominations sales, trainee accountants, nutritionists, journalists, facility managers and equine business advisers are also potential destinations.
