Bioveterinary Science BSc (Hons)

In this module, you will learn the essential concepts and skills that form the backbone of a degree in biological sciences. Through theory and practical sessions this module will systematically guide you through every level of biological organisation, from the smallest cellular structures through to studying animal behaviour and ecology. Throughout this module you will develop academic, practical and analysis skills to support your career development as you advance your studies in the biological sciences.

In this module, you will explore the fundamentals of scientific research, including how to develop research questions, work with relevant literature, understand basic statistical concepts and communicate research findings. Key biological topics, such as advanced physiology and genetics, will be covered, with an emphasis on connecting theory to practice. Subsequently, you will then focus on topics specific to your course, such as animal behaviour or microbiology. You will gain hands-on experience in laboratory techniques and data analysis, applying these methods to various practical activities. Overall this module will train you in the methodologies of scientific research while enhancing your knowledge of theory relevant to your course.

This module aims to help you develop an understanding of animal husbandry and the role it plays in maintaining good animal health, welfare, and production. You will explore the ethical and social impacts of animal use across different systems and consider how we can monitor welfare including legal frameworks and welfare standards. Additionally, you will develop and enhance your knowledge of animal housing; animal nutrition, including basic nutrition calculations; animal reproduction; and disease management, including an introduction to the concepts of pathogenesis, epidemiology, disease monitoring and surveillance, and preventative healthcare. You will be encouraged to integrate knowledge across these topics and consider strategies to maximise welfare, health and production. Overall, this module will equip you with the knowledge of animal husbandry and welfare required to improve animal health.

This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to gain further practical skills and develop your own projects. You will explore various experimental methods through subject-specific workshops in the laboratory. Working in groups, you will apply these skills and your previous training in formulating research questions, to conduct your own study. In doing so you will need to consider ethical factors and practical constraints where relevant. At the end of the module, you will be able to present your findings as a group, showcasing your ability to conduct an experiment and communicate results effectively. 

A range of optional language modules are also available for students in place of the project-based learning in Biosciences module.

These modules will help you develop both oral and written communication skills in your chosen language through engagement with a range of material covering cultural, personal and social topics. Modules are available at different levels depending on your prior experience (e.g. no experience, prior GCSE qualification, or prior A-Level qualification). Languages offered may include Chinese, French, German and Spanish. 

This module will teach you how pathology is underpinned by a series of biological mechanisms and concepts that can be applied to all diseases. By identifying these shared mechanisms, you will be able to look at diseases and understand how they develop and how they go on to impact humans and animals. This module will highlight the interrelatedness of biological systems and how a disease in one organ or tissue can directly and indirectly impact another, adding to the impact of the disease. The module will consider disease at every biological level, from cellular and tissue pathology, to systemic pathology, that looks at organ systems and the consequences of diseases upon them.

This module allows you to study a wide variety of techniques and processes used to assess health and disease in animals including quality assurance processes that take place in laboratories. From initial investigations that may assess simple anatomical and physiological changes, to techniques that look at changes at the molecular and biochemical level. In all cases, this module aims to develop your investigative skills, with the intention of identifying the causes of a variety of diseases that impact animals in different ways. Techniques that you will learn about vary from diagnostic imaging, looking at x-rays and ultrasonography, to cellular analyses looking at haematology and cytology, to chemical analyses of physiologically significant molecules, or identification of biomarkers that may act as indicators of disease.

This module will allow you to consider the importance of microbiology in the world today. By considering the diversity of microorganisms and the impact they have on the wider world, this module will develop your knowledge and skills related to microbiology and allow you to apply your understanding to a diverse range of topics. This module will provide a comprehensive understanding of how microorganisms impact society, looking at how microorganisms can result in infectious diseases, how microbial ecology is vital to maintain environmental health, and how microbiology can be applied at the commercial and industrial level to benefit society.

This module provides an overview of key topics in animal behaviour and welfare, including foundational concepts, methods of assessment, and relevant policies. It examines biological factors affecting animal well-being and their connection to management practices in captivity. You will explore the application of welfare assessments and consider the broader impact of human-animal interactions. The module also addresses challenges in various settings, offering opportunities to develop strategies for improving welfare in real-world scenarios. 

In this module, you will have the opportunity to put theory into practice and build essential skills for your future career by gaining invaluable real-world experience through a structured, university-level work placement for 5 weeks with a placement provider. You will develop practical, analytical, and professional skills relevant to your subject, while also enhancing transferable skills that are vital in any graduate-level role. Therefore, this module will enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting. 

In this module, you will have the opportunity to put theory into practice and build essential skills for your future career by gaining invaluable real-world experience through a range of experiential activities (e.g., volunteering, workplace engagement, research projects, field trip (where available and dependent on course), or through a combination of activities). You will develop practical, analytical, and professional skills relevant to your subject, while also enhancing transferable skills that are vital in any graduate-level role. Please note there are additional costs associated with some options.

A range of optional language or term abroad modules are also available for students in place of the Work Placement or Experiential Learning modules.

Language modules provide the opportunity for you to further develop your language skills, and all include a placement abroad. There are different language modules available depend on your prior experience and languages offered may include Chinese, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Alternatively, you can choose an experiential overseas learning module which involves a placement abroad typically in an English-speaking destination. Finally, there is a module designed to prepare those students who are choosing to study abroad for a year after their second year. Please note there are additional costs associated with most of these options. 

Between second and third year, you can undertake an optional placement or study abroad year. If you choose a placement year you would identify a suitable industrial placement and take a year-out from your university studies to undertake that placement. If you choose a study abroad year you would go abroad and study there for a year; courses are taught in English worldwide and you can travel to North America, Oceania, Asia and the rest of the world. Please note there are additional costs associated with these options. 

This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the process of investigating infectious and non-infectious disease at an individual and a group level, and of the complex relationship between animal health, human health and the environment. Therefore, you will consolidate and extend your knowledge from previous modules on areas such as animal management, pathogenesis, microbiology, diagnostics, and epidemiology, and apply these to clinical situations to solve problems. You will consider the diverse routes of disease transmission and how these can be exploited to manage and control disease to protect animals, humans and the environment. Therefore, you will also gain an appreciation for the biological, environmental, and socio-economic factors that influence disease spread and public health. Overall, this module will help you appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of disease investigation and the role Bioveterinary Scientists can play.

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the major therapeutic interventions used in animal health to prevent and control diseases, and how pharmacological principles impact treatment. Therefore, you will explore the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, including the mechanism of action of drugs and therapeutic agents covering different body systems, anaesthesia, analgesia, and the treatment and prevention of diseases. This knowledge will be integrated with your awareness of disease epidemiology and pathogenesis, as well as various drug delivery mechanisms and dosing strategies, to allow optimised treatment selection. Additionally, you will consider important financial and sustainability factors, such as the appropriate use of antimicrobials in veterinary practice, including issues related to drug resistance and drug residues. Overall, this module will help you appreciate how understanding pharmacology impacts on animal health.

This module aims to integrate your understanding of animal welfare and Bioveterinary Science into applied clinical practice. You will apply the knowledge you have gained throughout the course to different situations in veterinary clinical practice where welfare may be compromised, and determine appropriate interventions. Therefore, this module will advance your understanding of current animal welfare and ethical issues across a variety of clinical settings, including farm, companion, and laboratory animals. You will explore animal welfare frameworks and the methodology used to assess welfare in these settings, discuss the development of quality of life assessments for use in veterinary clinical practice, and reflect on client communication strategies to enhance compliance with animal welfare improvements. Overall, this module will deepen your understanding of the link between animal health and welfare, and allow you to apply animal welfare science effectively in a clinical setting.

In this module, you will engage in the research of a selected topic relevant to your course. You will have the opportunity to delve deeply into a subject of your choice, utilising primary and secondary sources to inform your work. You will consider the ethics and health and safety aspects of conducting your project, and apply your prior training in experimental design and analysis. Throughout the process, you will develop your critical thinking and analytical skills, whilst conducting this independent research with the support of a lecturer. The dissertation represents a substantial piece of scholarly work that demonstrates your understanding and application of scientific concepts relevant to your course. Additionally, you will refine your skills in academic writing and effective communication of complex ideas. Overall, the dissertation represents the culmination of your education, preparing you to become a biological scientist.