Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Equine Science (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

Awards: MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

Study modes: Part-time Intermittent Study

Online learning

Funding opportunities

The course subject matter and the evidence-based scientific approach are what initially attracted me to begin my studies at Edinburgh. I wasn’t disappointed. I found the courses to be very well organized and always covered an array of different topics.

Nancy McLean MSc Equine Science Graduate 2019
Nancy McLean               MSc Equine Science Graduate 2019

This programme involves an in-depth scientific approach to managing health and welfare, reproduction, behaviour, nutrition and exercise for horses.

You will also learn how to practically apply a scientific approach to benefit:

  • horse health
  • welfare
  • performance

Our online programme is the first and only Equine Science programme to be hosted within an international centre of veterinary excellence. It provides students with detailed knowledge and understanding of equine science and its applications and is excellent preparation for enhancing your equine career or future independent research such as a PhD.

The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online postgraduate programmes since 2005 and is the largest provider of online programmes in the prestigious Russell Group of universities.

Online learning is aimed at people who want to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside ongoing personal and professional commitments. Most of our students continue in their employment while they study.

Student support for online students is given as much emphasis as for our on-campus learners. The learning technology is fully interactive, award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.

A dedicated e-learning team ensures the programme runs smoothly and the programme is supported by an experienced team of a programme director, co-ordinator, administrator and course leaders. Each student is provided with a personal tutor. Courses are taught and completed entirely online.

The varied teaching includes:

  • online lectures
  • tutorials
  • specialist external lectures
  • scientific group discussions
  • case studies
  • problem-based learning scenarios
  • literature-based research
  • computer-assisted learning
  • quizzes

Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh's excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.

Studying online at Edinburgh

Find out more about the benefits and practicalities of studying for an online degree:

The degree programme is structured to allow sequential progression from individual courses to certificate, diploma and MSc phases. You may also exit the programme on completion of each phase.

The programme is designed to be taken part-time over three years at 20 hours per week, with the option to complete in up to six years if required.

The completion times are as follows:

  • PgCert: 1-2 years
  • PgDip: 2-4 years
  • MSc: 3-6 years

The taught part of the programme consists of a series of courses, while the final year is devoted to a dissertation.

Courses:

  • Equine Digestion and Nutrition
  • Equine Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics
  • Equine Behavioural Medicine
  • Equine Orthopaedics
  • Equine Reproduction
  • Equine Exercise Physiology
  • Equitation Science
  • Research Methods Data Analysis (Equine Science)

Dissertation:

You will undertake either an in-depth practical research project involving data collection analyses, a systematic review, an extensive literature review or a meta-study on a chosen area of equine science. The dissertation is designed to advance your understanding of the processes and planning involved in undertaking research and to develop your scientific written communication skills, research ethics, statistics and the principle of good research practice.

This is a self-directed course but you are supported by an allocated subject-specific expert supervisor, statistician and experienced researchers from within the programme team. You are also encouraged, where appropriate, to work closely with senior staff at your home institution.

Postgraduate Professional Development

Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through postgraduate-level learning, without the time, or financial commitment, of a full award.

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within this degree over two years and gain a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.

It may also be possible to continue your studies after one year and put credits towards a postgraduate certificate, diploma or full masters degree. Any time spent taking courses through the PPD scheme will be deducted from the amount of time you have left to complete the higher award.

Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a masters, postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate programme in the month of September.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScEquine ScienceUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
PgDip (ICL)Equine ScienceUp to 4 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
PgCert (ICL)Equine ScienceUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
PgProfDevEquine ScienceUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25

Graduates from this research-rich, taught MSc will be prepared for employment in research establishments, such as:

  • universities and research institutions
  • industry, such as feed companies, stud farms, pharmaceuticals and consultancy firms
  • government organisations, such as ADAS and DEFRA
  • welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, WSPA and WHW

Watch short film interviews with recent graduates from the Equine Science programme:

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in veterinary science or a biological science, with subject areas including zoology, animal/equine science or pharmacology/pharmacy.

We may also consider your application if you have a science degree that is below a 2.1 qualification, or you are an experienced veterinary nurse or farrier, or a degree in a non-science subject, and you hold Level 2 or above British Horse Society qualifications and/or have a minimum of 3 years' experience working with or caring for horses. You may be admitted to Certificate or Diploma level only in the first instance. Please contact the Equine Science Programme team before applying.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Application fee

None.

Deposit

None.

Additional programme costs

None.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScEquine ScienceUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgDip (ICL)Equine ScienceUp to 4 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgCert (ICL)Equine ScienceUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgProfDevEquine ScienceUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money

    • taking out a loan

    • family support

  • personal savings

  • income from work

  • employer sponsorship

  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

As this is a part-time intermittent programme, also known as invoiced-at-course-level (ICL), it is not eligible for UK government loan funding.

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
  • Easter Bush Veterinary Centre
  • Easter Bush
  • Roslin
  • EH25 9RG
Programme start date Application deadline
8 September 2025 22 August 2025

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
  • Easter Bush Veterinary Centre
  • Easter Bush
  • Roslin
  • EH25 9RG