HNC Animal Care

This course builds your understanding of animal husbandry, housing, care and welfare, and gives you the skills you'll need to work in the animal care industry.

Locations: Aberdeen, Barony, Oatridge
Study mode: Full Time (1 year)
Subject area: Animal Care
Start date: September 2027
Agency code: 4J25

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Programme overview

As well as giving you a thorough understanding of subjects related to animal care, housing, welfare and husbandry, this HNC gives you the practical skills and confidence you need to work in the industry.

Covering subjects like animal anatomy and physiology, animal behaviour, health, disease and nutrition, it teaches how to provide the highest standards of care and welfare for the animals you work with.

Graduates will have the skills they need to take on a supervisory level job within the animal care industry.

View the related document to read more about progression routes when studying Animal Care.

Virtual Experience

Take a look around the SRUC Virtual Experience for lots of great student videos and examples of what it’s like to study our courses, along with campus and facility tours.

SRUC holds open days regularly. Visit our listings page for details of our up-coming events.

Entry requirements

Two Highers at CC to include 2 of the following Maths, English, a science subject.

National 5 (A-C) to include English, Maths and Biology.

Minimum of one week of work experience in the industry.

Successful completion of NC Animal Care will be considered.

What you'll learn

This one-year course offers a variety of units, which take an in-depth look into animal welfare, health and disease, anatomy and physiology and behaviour and nutrition.

Example modules include:

Small Animal Health and Disease
Animal Welfare
Small Animal Nutrition
Animal Behaviour
Companion Animal Anatomy and Physiology
Companion Animal Handling

Student experience

Emily Ogilvie

I’m from Aberdeen and chose to study HNC Animal Care at SRUC after progressing through the Introduction to Animal Care and NC Animal Care courses. I have always had a passion for animals, and the course has allowed me to develop my skills and knowledge in areas including animal nutrition, welfare and husbandry.

I chose SRUC because it offered the courses I was interested in, while allowing me to stay close to home. One of my biggest highlights has been winning the Best NC Animal Care Student Award at the Aberdeen Campus for 2024–25, which recognised the hard work and dedication I had put into my studies. I also enjoyed winning the 2024 TikTok competition after creating a video featuring the Animal Care Unit’s rabbits.

After completing my HNC, I’ll continue gaining experience through a summer internship at the Animal Care Unit before moving into full-time employment. My advice to future students is to stay committed, get involved and enjoy every moment of your time at SRUC.

Young woman with an owl perched on her arm.

"I have always had a passion for animals, and the course has allowed me to develop my skills and knowledge in areas including animal nutrition, welfare and husbandry."

Emily Ogilvie, HNC Animal Care

Meet the lecturer

Abbie Barnes RVN

Foundation degree in Veterinary Nursing Science from The RVC

Abbie has been working in the veterinary industry for the past 15 years across a mixture of veterinary practices including, referral and large animal. She qualified as an RVN in 2011.

In 2015, Abbie specialised in hydrotherapy, and has since gained additional advanced rehabilitation qualifications. IN 2017 she spent a month in India volunteering with the Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), neutering stray cats and dogs and vaccinating them against rabies.

Isla Brown RVN

Isla joined SRUC in 2014. She began her career in Veterinary nursing, qualifying in 1999. She then opened one of the first Canine Hydrotherapy centres in Scotland in 2003 and won a young entrepreneur award from the Prince's Trust (PSYBT).

From self-employment to Education, Isla joined the Veterinary Nursing and Animal Care department at Edinburgh’s Telford College in 2006. It was here that she realised her passion for teaching. One of her main aims when becoming a Veterinary Nurse was to help people help their animals. Isla’s main focus is on the mental health and wellbeing of her students and delivering her lessons in a meaningful and impactful way.

Fees and funding

Eligible full-time students studying HNC Animal Care should apply to SAAS for fees and funding. A student loan is also available to help students with living costs.

If you do not apply, you will have to pay your fees yourself and if you have studied at HNC/D/degree level before SAAS may not pay your fees.

More information about funding your course

Find out more about your payment options for this course in our fees and funding section

Fees & funding

Other possible routes to funding

Care experienced bursary: There are a number of bursaries available to care-experienced students studying full time. Find out more from our student funding teams at: registryfunding@SRUC.ac.uk
Discretionary fund
- SAAS student bursary
- Care Experienced Accommodation Grant
- Childcare
- Going further bursary
- RUK bursary (for students from outside Scotland)
- The Gregor Thomas Royan Lamb Bursary for Future Farmers
- Centenary bursary
- Change your path bursary

HNC Animal Care

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Study overseas

Expand your horizons and gain even more hands-on practical experience in your field with a study overseas trip.

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HNC Animal Care

Programme overview

Virtual Experience

Entry requirements

What you'll learn

Example modules include:

Student experience

Emily Ogilvie

Meet the lecturer

Abbie Barnes RVN

Foundation degree in Veterinary Nursing Science from The RVC

Isla Brown RVN

Fees and funding

More information about funding your course

Other possible routes to funding

HNC Animal Care