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Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour)

This degree studies why animals behave as they do and how that knowledge is used to care for and manage them.

Compare 2 providers
How long it takes
3 years
full time
Entry ATAR
From 59.45
Lowest offered at The University of Adelaide, 2024
How you can study
On campus
Taught by
2 providers
SA

Is this course right for you?

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

It helps to have

  • a genuine interest in how animals behave
  • patience for observing animals over long periods
  • curiosity about the science behind animal learning
  • care and respect for animals in your care

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.

  • Boarding Kennel Operator

    Boarding kennel operators look after dogs and cats in kennels and catteries while their owners are away, keeping animals fed, clean and safe.

    Median pay$54,600 (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)

  • Dog Trainer

    Dog trainers teach dogs the behaviour their owners want and show the owners how to keep it going at home.

    Median pay$66,400

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 Science (Animal Behaviour).

  • Animal behaviour and ecology
  • Animal welfare and ethics
  • Animal biology and development
  • Research and fieldwork methods
  • Wildlife and domestic species

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.