Skip to content
careertips

HomeCoursesAnimal careBachelor degree

Bachelor degree · university

Bachelor of Animal Science

This degree looks at the science behind managing animals and meeting their needs.

Compare 2 providers
How long it takes
3 to 4 years
full time
Entry ATAR
From 58.2
Lowest offered at Charles Sturt University, 2024
How you can study
On campus
Taught by
2 providers
NSW

Is this course right for you?

What the Bachelor of Animal Science asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • a genuine interest in animals and how they live
  • comfort with scientific thinking and practical observation
  • good communication skills for working with people and animals
  • willingness to work outdoors and in varied conditions

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs a degree can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

  • Dairy Farmer

    Dairy farmers milk a herd of cattle twice a day and manage the feed, health and breeding that keep it producing.

    Median pay$73,800 (estimate)

  • Deer Farmer

    Deer farmers run herds of farmed deer for venison, velvet antler and breeding stock, supplying a small, specialised market in Australia and overseas.

    Median pay$75,400 (estimate)

  • Dog Breeder

    Dog breeders raise litters of puppies from selected parent dogs, keeping the health and pedigree records that back each litter.

    Median pay$54,600 (estimate)

  • Goat Farmer

    Goat farmers breed and raise goats for meat, milk and fibre, supplying dairy processors, meat buyers and textile markets.

    Median pay$59,800 (estimate)

  • Horse Breeder

    Horse breeders plan matings and raise the foals they produce, supplying racing, equestrian and other breeding operations with young stock.

    Median pay$65,000 (estimate)

  • Pig Farmer

    Pig farmers breed and raise pigs for pork production, supplying abattoirs and processors with healthy, consistently sized animals.

    Median pay$73,800 (estimate)

  • Poultry Farmer

    Poultry farmers raise chickens, turkeys and ducks for meat and eggs, running the sheds, feed and biosecurity that keep a flock healthy and production on schedule.

    Median pay$78,000 (estimate)

  • Sheep Farmer

    Sheep farmers breed and run flocks for wool and lamb, managing pasture, animal health and fleece quality through the seasons.

    Median pay$75,400 (estimate)

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

Where you can study this course

There are 2 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

The main topics covered in the Bachelor of Animal Science.

  • Animal anatomy and physiology
  • Animal nutrition
  • Animal behaviour and welfare
  • Genetics and reproduction
  • Livestock or animal bioscience major

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Related courses

Course Seeker, run by the Tertiary Admissions Centres and the Australian Government Department of Education. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.