Reasons to choose this course
- This is a practical riding course, offering you the opportunity to gain coaching and management experience.
- Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre has international sized indoor and outdoor arenas, a horse walker, round pen and livery for student use.
- You will work work with NTU's national competition riders in dressage and show jumping.
- You will have an opportunity to progress onto the final year of BSc (Hons) Equine Sports Science upon completion of this foundation degree.
About the course
This foundation degree can lead to enhanced career options and opens up the possibility of fast tracking to the final year of the BSc (Hons) Equine Sports Science. All modules are designed to provide a balance of science, equine management, practical skills and instructional techniques. The course content focuses on the competition horse and on enabling students to study towards the British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor (BHSII) examination.
Progression
Successful graduates (achieving the required level) have the opportunity of progressing to the final year of the BSc (Hons) Equine Sports Science following completion of the foundation degree and a summer school.
Please note the following information for applicants
Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre
A high level of knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience are offered by the team at Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre, with specialist expertise in many aspects of equestrianism. The Centre is home to top-flight instructors (dressage and jumping), lecturers, facilities and horses, offers some of the best training available in the UK.
The Centre offers a full range of facilities including:
- 60 x 40 metre indoor school
- 60 x 40 metre floodlit outdoor arena
- modern bio-science laboratories and Veterinary Nursing Centre
- stabling for up to 60 horses
- camera technology for behavioural monitoring
- horse walker
- solarium
- weighbridge
- treatment stocks
- round pen
- crew yards.
A variety of forms of livery are available for horses owned by students, allowing them to take advantage of these extensive facilities.
Assessment
Assessment may be by project, coursework, presentations and examinations
Modules
Year One
- Sports Horse Management
- Equine Anatomy and Physiology
- Feeding Sports Horses
- Working Horses From the Ground
- Equitation One
- Equitation theory One
- Teaching theory and practice One
- Bioscience
- Graduate Skills
Year Two
- Sports Injury
- Competition Horse and Competition Management
- Training Young Horses
- Equitation Two
- Equitation Theory Two
- Teaching Theory and Practice
- Equine Veterinary Science
- Breeding Sports Horses
The course includes an optional work placement between Year One and Two.
Did you know?
- NTU were the National Student Equestrian Team Champions 2009; NTU student Emily Parker won two gold medals at the Young Rider European Championships 2010.
- Sam York, lecturer in Equine Science, and one of the horses she trains have been selected for training for the London Olympics.
- Research into using eye-tracking technology to improve equestrian sports performance is being developed at Brackenhurst. Interest has been expressed by the World Class Performance Manager and Chef d'equipe to the Senior British Equine Eventing Team.
- £20 million has been invested in the Brackenhurst estate in the last eight years.
- NTU is one of the largest providers of land-based courses in the UK, with Brackenhurst being established for over 60 years in the sector.
Your future career
As well as possible progression onto the BSc (Hons) Equine Sports Science there are a wide range of employment opportunities available including: competition yard management, teaching, lecturing, grooming, training and rehabilitation, show organisation, nutrition, journalism and insurance.
- 95% of students graduating from NTU in 2009 were in employment or postgraduate study within six months of graduation.
- Students to this course have the opportunity to progress on to one of our full-honours degree programmes in Equestrian Sports Science.
Students can take an optional year on a paid work placement taking the degree to three years full-time. Placements help students put their skills and knowledge to use in a working environment. This experience is valued highly by potential employers after graduation.
The School works in partnership with organisations like The British Horse Society (BHS) and British Show Jumping to source placement opportunities for our students.
How to apply
Full-time applications for this course should be directed through the UCAS application system.
Part-time applicants need to complete a direct entry form available from our Student Administration team. Just give us a call and we'll put one in the post for you straight away.
UCAS code: D323 FdSc/SHMT
Full entry requirement details
- You will need 120 UCAS tariff points including one A-level or Applied A-level in a science subject (General Studies is not accepted).
- Alternatively, the BTEC Diploma in Horse Management (equivalent to 120 points) will be considered.
- Special consideration will be given to those applicants with British Horse Society (BHS), Pony Club or similar qualifications.
- Applications are encouraged from mature students who may not have formal entry qualifications, but who can demonstrate commitment or have relevant experience.
International student entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world on this course.
Tier 4 visa applicants - English language requirements
Applicants requiring Tier 4 visas will need to have a minimum score of either:
- IELTS 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in reading, listening, speaking and writing skills)
- TOEFL iBT 87 (with at least 21 in reading, 22 in listening, 23 in speaking and 21 in writing)
- Or equivalent language qualification
For further information, please visit our English language requirements web page for International applicants
EU applicants and non-Tier 4 international applicants - English language requirements
You will require:
- GCSE English Grade C, IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 76 or equivalent.
For further information, please visit our English language requirements webpage for EU applicants
Contact us
If you want to speak to us about this course, open days or how to apply, please get in touch using the following details.
Email us
Telephone: +44 (0)1636 817099 (Brackenhurst)
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 4200 (Admissions)
