Animal Science
Animal Science focuses on healthy animals and their performance ability in a life long perspective. You can choose to concentrate on production animals, companion animals, horses or experimental animals. You are going to work thoroughly with subjects like nutrition and physiology, breeding and genetics. You are also going to work with subjects like production economics, animal well-fare, stable layout, physics, quantitative modelling of biological systems and much more.
Content
Academic focus
About the programme
Study programme
In touch with real life
Career opportunities
Admission criteria and admission
Application
I want to know more
Read an interview with Camilla Louise Bak.
Academic focus
This programme will give you basic knowledge about quantitative biology and its methods. You will learn how to analyse problems based on a holistic insight into the connection between the structure of the body, its functions, its ability to perform and well-fare. E.g. you will learn how to organise feeding, tending and breeding of pigs or other production animals. You will have focus on new means of production which can benefit production economics as well as animal well-fare and environment. Additionally you will gain knowledge about the necessary tools to control the organisation and finances of e.g. a larger stud farm. Among other things you will be able to concentrate on the ways feeding and physical training can ensure health and performance in a life long perspective.
In order to create your own personal academic profile you will have to choose between four specialisations from the very beginning of the programme: Production Animals, Companion Animals, Horses or Experimental Animals.
Depending on the specialisation you choose you will follow a number of obligatory courses that give you a solid understanding of special problems within the subjects. You will also have to choose courses from a number of core courses which can strengthen your academic profile within the specialisation you want. Finally the many elective courses give you great opportunities to structure your education on the basis of your particular academic interests. At LIFE you can choose between such different subjects as management of livestock, ethology, mammal genomics, parasitology, immunology, biotechnology, stable climate, breeding, food quality, business economics, nutrition, feed, strategic advising and management, project management etc. Additionally you are free to choose courses at other faculties at the University of Copenhagen and at other Danish or international universities.
The programme is taught in English which gives you the optimal opportunities to obtain a strong international profile.
The structure of the programme depends on the specialisation you choose. One block is equal to 15 ECTS and 9 weeks.
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The dark fields are compulsory courses |
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The medium fields are MSc thesis and core courses |
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The light fields are elective courses |
See the different compulsory and core courses in the curriculum for Domestic Animal Science.
Elective courses
The elective courses are your opportunity to create you own academic profile. You can choose courses which either elaborate on or expand your professional competency. You can follow the courses either at LIFE, at one of the other faculties at the University of Copenhagen or at other Danish and international universities. The elective courses are equal to two blocks or 30 ECTS.
Thesis
The thesis is the final part of your degree. It is your opportunity to concentrate on an academic problem, which interests you, over half or three quarter of a year (30 - 45 ECTS). It can be both theoretical and practical and often it will contain independent experimental work or collection and analysis of data. You can make the thesis in collaboration with the private sector, e.g. by working on a real life problem and often such collaborations lead to a job after graduation.
There are plenty of opportunities to achieve an international profile by taking courses at some of the partner universities which LIFE has in e.g. Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. You can also make the thesis in collaboration with the private sector, e.g. by working on a real life problem and often such collaborations lead to a job after graduation.
Career opportunities
The various specialisations open up to a growing number of jobs within many different sectors:
- The Agricultural Advisory Service, consulting engineering firms, the financial sector or international development organisations
- Development or sale within the industry and production
- Industry associations or professional organisations with relations to domestic animals or production
- Strategic advising and/or management of experimental animal businesses
- Public management (municipalities, regions, ministries and governmental bodies in Denmark, the EU and internationally)
- Research and education in private companies, governmental research institutions and universities
- Teaching at agricultural colleges, technical colleges or in other kind of course activities
- Start you own business
For more information about admission, please consult the specific admission requirements.
Application
Application deadline for Danish citizens holding a BSc degree from LIFE is 1 April and 1 December.
Application deadline for applicants from other faculties or Danish universities and who are Danish or EU citizens is 1 April.
Application deadline for applicants from non-EU/EEA countries is 1 January.
The programme starts in February (only for bachelors from LIFE) and August.
Read more about application processes, tuition fees and scholarships.
You are always welcome to contact our Student Services if you have any questions about the programme, student life etc. You can contact the Student Services by e-mail at or by calling +45 3533 3533.
Learn more at the Open House event.
Kirsten Jenlev, - last update:13 April 2012