Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This course would suit applicants with a passion for working with animals, a willingness to work hard and an interest in biology. You will have a mixture of classroom-based subjects, laboratory practicals, mandatory work placement (including a work shop in Dublin Zoo) and independent study.
This Award is recognised by UK Colleges for Animal Welfare, Animal Behaviour and Veterinary Nursing degrees. This Award is a recognised and respected link with Vet Nursing degrees in UCD, DKIT (Dundalk), TUS Athlone, MTU Kerry and ATU Letterkenny. However this is a highly competitive route.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
-
Animal Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
Word Processing
Animal Grooming
Animal Behaviour
Animal Welfare
Veterinary Assisting Skills
Maths - optional
Work Experience
Communications
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 5M2768 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Students may progress from Level 5 Award to participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through the QQI Higher Education Links Scheme. The Award also links with Science & Bioscience degrees in TU Dublin. Animal Science Level 5 is a recognised link with UCD Science/Zoology Degree DN200, Ag. Science DN250 (Animal Science, Equine Science etc.) It also links with Wildlife Biology in MTU Tralee and Freshwater Marine Biology in ATU Galway.
On meeting the Entry Requirements for ATU Sligo, through a special link, students are guaranteed places on many of their Level 6/7 science courses. The new Laboratory apprenticeships are also an option.
Animal Science can also act as a gateway into the animal industry. Past students are working in animal welfare organisations (Dogs Trust); safari parks (Tayto Safari Park); as Animal Care Assistants in veterinary clinics, pet stores, kennels, stables and in Dublin Zoo.