Skip to main content
RH students being taught animal

Animal Management Courses at Riseholme College


Turn your interest in animals into skills for your future. Study Animal Management at Riseholme College near Lincoln, Lincolnshire, and explore how animals behave, what keeps them healthy and how to meet their welfare needs.

 

Our courses combine scientific knowledge with practical animal care. From learning about feeding and accommodation to understanding behaviour, you’ll develop the confidence and skills to take your next step towards employment or further study.

Animal Management at a glance

  • Location: Riseholme College, near Lincoln, Lincolnshire.
  • Study options: Level 1 routes, Level 2 Animal Care, Level 3 Animal Management, a T Level and apprenticeships.
  • Practical learning: Develop your skills in our specialist Animal Management Centre.
  • Subjects: Animal health, welfare, behaviour, biology and husbandry, depending on your course.
  • Your next step: Employment, an apprenticeship or further study, depending on your qualification and career goals.

Learn in our Animal Management Centre

Explore the needs of different species in Riseholme’s specialist Animal Management Centre. Our indoor animal unit and outdoor paddocks provide opportunities to understand how an animal’s environment, diet and daily care contribute to its wellbeing.

The centre houses small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, alongside common marmosets. Outdoor species include goats, chickens and rhea.

Through supervised practical learning, you’ll build an understanding of responsible animal care and the different requirements of the species you study.

What skills will I learn?

Depending on your chosen course, you could study:

  • Animal health and welfare.
  • Feeding, nutrition and accommodation.
  • Animal behaviour and safe handling.
  • Animal biology and anatomy.
  • Practical animal husbandry.
  • Conservation and ecology.
  • Health, safety and working in the animal care industry.

Your learning will combine practical activities with classroom study, helping you understand both how to care for animals and why different approaches are needed.

Practical learning and industry experience

Work experience helps you discover what working with animals involves beyond the classroom.

Our Level 2 Animal Care and Level 3 Animal Management courses include external work placements, giving you opportunities to develop workplace skills and explore potential careers.

The Animal Management Academy also supports learning through guest speakers, employer engagement and educational visits. These experiences introduce you to different organisations and the people working across the animal sector.

T Level in Animal Care and Management

Our T Level in Animal Care and Management offers a specialist pathway in Animal Management and Behaviour.

This two-year Level 3 qualification combines classroom learning, practical activities and an industry placement. Topics include animal behaviour and communication, training, nutrition, welfare and enrichment.

Equivalent in size to three A Levels, the T Level carries UCAS points and can support progression towards employment or university, subject to entry requirement

Careers working with animals

Your studies could help you work towards roles such as:

  • Animal care assistant.
  • Animal rescue or sanctuary assistant.
  • Animal boarding assistant.
  • Pet shop assistant.
  • Dog walker or pet sitter.
  • Trainee zookeeper.

Some careers require additional qualifications or experience. Your course can help you build a foundation for further training, while higher-level study can develop your knowledge in areas such as animal science, behaviour and welfare.

Frequently asked questions

What Animal Management courses can I study at Riseholme?

Which animals could I learn about?

What GCSEs do I need to study Animal Management?

Will I complete work experience?

Can I study animal behaviour?

Can I progress to university?

How can I choose the right course?

Proud to work with

I am looking for...

Animal students examining rabbit

From reptiles to aquatics...

Find out more about our Animal Management Centre

Student Profiles

PJ CS

PJ Lally

PJ is studying Level 1 Animal Care, where they are developing their skills, building confidence and working towards a future career in conservation.

Read more profiles

Meet your tutors

William Lanfear staff member at RH

William Lanfear

William is an Animal Keeper at Riseholme College with over 10 years of experience working in zoos, farm parks and educational settings. His passion for animal care began through volunteering at a zoo, which inspired him to pursue a career in the industry.

Read more
Kaitlin Liney

Kaitlin Liney

Kaitlin began her journey at Riseholme College in 2014 and never looked back. What started with a Level 2 Animal Care course soon grew into a full academic adventure, including a Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management, a Foundation Degree in Animal Management and Behaviour, and finally a BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Today, she’s come full circle and is now working as a Lecturer in Animal Management at the very college where it all began.

Read more
Savannah Animal Management

Savannah Smith

Lecturer in Animal Management

Savannah studied Bioveterinary Science at university before completing a Masters degree in Endangered Species Recovery and Conservation. Her education, alongside her previous work experience in a zoo supported her love of educating people about the animals and inspired her to explore teaching as a career.

E: SmithSA@riseholme.ac.uk

RH Placeholder

Sarah Kilbee

Dog Grooming Lecturer and Course Manager

Sarah has 20 years of experience within the canine industry, including a vast amount of experience running dog grooming salons, including her own business, and grooming from pet to breed standard. Sarah has even groomed dogs for Crufts! Sarah has been teaching dog grooming for over 10 years, helping students start their own careers in the grooming industry. As a City and Guilds consultant, she helped rewrite the new level 2 Dog Grooming qualification, so who better to learn from?

Sarah is also a professional dog trainer and behaviourist. She previously ran her own dog training business where she taught classes such as obedience, clicker training, agility, flyball and even doggy yoga classes, as well as being in the show ring.

Course Search How to Apply Open Event Booking