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Animal Care and Management Level 3 (T Level)

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  • Level of study:
    College course
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
  • Start date:
    September 2026
  • Duration:
    Two years
  • Attendance:
    Full-time
  • Course delivery:
    On-campus (Brackenhurst)
Information for 2026

About this course

T-levels are new courses that follow on GCSEs and have been developed in collaboration with employers and are tailored to prepare students for work and higher education by aligning content with industry needs.

T Levels are an alternative to A levels, apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 courses. They are equivalent to 3 A levels and they focus on vocational skills and can help you into skilled employment, higher study or an apprenticeship.

The T Level in Animal Care offers a unique chance to gain real-world experience through industry placements, providing essential skills and knowledge for careers in the animal industry, or pursuing higher education.

This T-level is a two-year programme that combines classroom theory and practical lessons  and bespoke work placements with employers to give you practical experience in your chosen field.

You will spend 80% of the course in learning, gaining the skills that employers need. The other 20% is a meaningful industry placement, where you can put those skills into action.

Why choose Brackenhurst?

Brackenhurst is the rural campus of Nottingham Trent University and, as the centre of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, we are passionate about the countryside and farming. Our mission is to make you industry-ready and career-focused individuals, so that you are ready to take the industry forward.

Brackenhurst is only a bus journey away from Nottingham city centre. However, it feels a world away from the city when you see the stunning Nottinghamshire countryside within which Brackenhurst is located. Our college courses run alongside degree courses – all taught by tutors who are skilled, experienced and supportive.

Brackenhurst prides itself on providing you with a friendly and supportive learning environment. Our college courses are taught by tutors who have spent time working in industry, therefore transferring their skills and experience, with a focus on making you industry ready.

  • Easy to get to

    Brackenhurst is set in stunning countryside just a bus ride away from Nottingham city centre, next to the town of Southwell.

  • Amazing animal facilities

    At Brackenhurst, you’ll have access to incredible facilities. These include an Animal Unit, Equestrian Centre, laboratories, library and gardens and fields that are overflowing with plants and wildlife.

  • Study your college course at a uni

    Studying with us means that you’ll be a part of an amazing learning environment. You get all the perks of being part of a big university, but you will still enjoy the comforts of a friendly college.

  • Ofsted "Good"

    In our last Ofsted assessment we received a ‘good’ grade with some outstanding features.

Over two years, you will undertake classroom-based learning, developing an understanding of a broad range of issues relevant to employability, such as sustainability, ethical principles, communication, business and health and safety.

You will also study animal related subjects, including practical animal handling, Animal Behaviour, Nutrition, Anatomy and Physiology as well as Animal Health.

The specialist pathways of Animal Management and Behaviour  or Animal Management and Science will provide you will specialist subject knowledge that will help you develop threshold competence in an occupation that will enable you to work I the animal industry.

You will work in our animal unit which is well stocked with a wide variety of companion and domestic animals.  This will prepare you for working in the animal industry and will support your external work placement.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Video Gallery

Take a look at why you should study your course at Brackenhurst. You can also learn more about the equipment you'll use and what you'll study on the course with our facility tour.
 

How you're taught

You’ll learn in our fantastic facilities and be taught by tutors who have real-life experience of working within the animal industry. You can expect the course to be split so that approximately 30% is practical work and 70% is theory work.

You will be taught through lectures, group discussions and practical demonstrations. You’ll also get to go on trips to various locations.

The course includes a work placement. This allows you to develop your skills and knowledge in the animal industry, and looks good to future employers. You can work at places like veterinary centres, boarding kennels, catteries, or zoos.

How you’ll be assessed

You’ll be assessed through written assignments, external practical assessments and exams.

The employer-set project ensures students have the opportunity to combine core knowledge and skills to develop a substantial piece of work in response to an employer set brief related to current industries themes. The employer-set project is a separate part of the T Level programme to the Industry Placement.

Entry requirements

UK students

For 2026 entry you'll need:

  • Five GCSEs at Grade 4 / C or above including English, Maths and Science or equivalent

OR

  • Successful completion of a relevant Level 2 Foundation Study Programme
  • Successful completion of a relevant Level 2 Study Programme at Merit or above.

International students

We welcome applications from international students who do not require a student route visa. Please email our FE Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 5299 to discuss how your qualifications match our course requirements.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.
Fees for the 2026/27 academic year are yet to be agreed but, as a guide, the fees for 2025/26 are below:

If you are aged 16-18 and applying for a Level 2 or 3 course

There are no course fees if you’re aged under 19 on 31 August of the year you start your course.

If you are aged 19+ and applying for a Level 2, Level 3 or Access to Higher Education course

If you’re studying your first full Level 3 or Access to Higher Education qualification, you may be eligible for free tuition. You will still need to pay the registration fee applicable for your course.

If you are applying for the Level 2 qualification or have already completed a full Level 3 qualification, tuition and registration fees will apply.

To cover the cost of tuition when applying for a Level 3 and Access to Higher Education qualification, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from the UK Government. It is easy to apply, your household income is not taken into account, and there is no credit check. You will not have to pay anything back until your income is over £25,000.

Please see our fees and funding information for more details.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

Please email our FE Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 5299 for more information on fees and funding.

Please note, college courses are not available for EU or international students where a student route visa is required to study.

However, we offer Foundation and Pre-Masters pathway courses leading onto selected Bachelors and Masters degrees at the University through our partner Nottingham Trent International College.

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualifications match our course requirements, please visit our international qualifications page.

Careers and employability

After completing this course there are a number of options and routes that you can take.

After completion of your T-Level in Animal Care and Management you could then choose to continue your studies and go onto a degree or choose a career in an animal-related industry.

Future jobs within the animal industry include:

  • Animal Care Assistant
  • Animal behaviourist/trainer
  • Animal welfare/rescue assistant
  • Dog walker/Dog handler/Pet sitter
  • Trainee zookeeper
  • Trainee veterinary nurse

Placement opportunities

Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace; employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.

Campus and facilities

Brackenhurst is easy to get to. We’re just 14 miles from Nottingham city centre, next to the town of Southwell. Find out more about getting here.

Study an animal course at Brackenhurst and you’ll have access to some fantastic facilities.

Our specially designed Animal Unit is home to over 250 animals from around 70 different species. These include small animals such as rabbits, cats, dogs, reptiles and birds, as well as larger animals like goats and donkeys. All our animal courses include hands-on, practical lessons at the unit. You’ll also help our technicians to care for the animals on a day-to-day basis.

As well as your subject-specific facilities, you’ll also find:

  • a library, including fully equipped computer rooms
  • modern classrooms and teaching areas
  • laboratories
  • our careers and employability service
  • a dining room and Costa Coffee
  • our student shop
  • a common room.

Students who are over 18 may apply for accommodation, and this is assessed on an individual basis and is not guaranteed. Please contact us for more details.

Applying

UK students

Applying for a college course at Brackenhurst is really simple. You can apply via our online form and we have a step-by-step guide to applying for a college course for you use.

If you have any questions

Drop us a line — we're here to help every step of the way. You can email fe.enquiries@ntu.ac.uk or call +44 (0)115 848 5299.

For Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions see our Student Contract pages.

Apply now

International students

Please email fe.enquiries@ntu.ac.uk or call +44 (0)115 848 5299 our FE team for more information on how to apply.

Apply now

Application support

If you have any questions, just drop us a line – we’re here to help every step of the way. You can fill in our online form or give us a call on +44 (0)115 848 2999.

Keeping in touch

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