Frequently asked questions
Animal management is the professional practice of caring for, housing, and maintaining the health, welfare, and safety of captive or domestic animals. It combines hands-on animal husbandry with the scientific study of animal behavior, nutrition, biology, and disease control.
Animal care focuses on daily, hands-on husbandry tasks, while animal management covers the broader science, business, and strategic oversight required to maintain animal health and welfare.
Yes. We offer a range of animal care and animal management courses specifically designed for adult learners, providing flexible progression routes whether you are looking to change careers, develop existing skills or progress to higher-level study.
At Capel Manor College you can study a wide range of animal care and animal management qualifications, from introductory courses through to higher education. Our programmes include Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 courses in animal care and animal management, access to higher education courses for adults, T Levels and higher education options.
Yes. Many of our Level 3 and access to higher education students progress to higher education, including animal management and related degree programmes. Our courses are designed to develop the practical, scientific and academic skills needed for university study, providing a clear progression route into higher education and careers within the animal sector.
Studying animal management can lead to a wide range of careers working with domestic, exotic and captive animals. Graduates may progress into roles such as animal keeper, zoo keeper, veterinary care assistant, animal welfare officer, animal behaviourist, dog trainer, dog groomer, wildlife conservation worker, animal technician, pet store manager, education officer or even an animal management lecturer.
Both access to higher education (HE) and A levels can help you progress to university, but they are designed for different learners. A levels are typically studied by 16–18-year-olds over two years and provide a broad academic education. Access to HE courses are designed for adults aged 19+ who may be returning to education or looking to change career. They combine academic study with subject-specific learning and provide a recognised route into university, often in a shorter timeframe than taking A levels. For adults interested in animal management or veterinary-related degrees, an access to HE course can be an excellent pathway into higher education.
Animal management students at Capel Manor College benefit from access to a wide range of specialist facilities across our campuses, including extensive animal collections featuring domestic, exotic and companion species, purpose-built animal care centres, practical husbandry areas and industry-standard equipment. Depending on the campus, students may also have access to specialist facilities such as zoological collections, aviaries, aquatics units, reptile houses, small mammal accommodation and wildlife habitats. As one of the UK's leading land-based colleges, Capel Manor College holds a zoo license and is accredited by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), reflecting our commitment to high standards of animal welfare, conservation and education. These specialist facilities provide hands-on experience, helping students develop the practical skills and confidence needed for careers in the animal sector
