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Clinical Animal Behaviour (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

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

Study modes: Part-time Intermittent Study

Accreditation

Online learning

Funding opportunities

This programme provides flexible postgraduate study designed to specifically address the demand for online clinical animal behaviour teaching within a supported learning environment.

The programme will utilise an evidence-based approach to explore the potential motivations, management and treatment options for abnormal and/or problem behaviours commonly expressed by companion animal species living within a domestic environment.

The subject involves a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on knowledge and techniques from the fields of:

  • psychology
  • ethology
  • neurobiology
  • pharmacology
  • veterinary science

This programme will contain teaching and learning that is aimed at your academic preparation for a professional career working with companion animals in a variety of settings, including clinical animal behaviour counselling.

Accreditation

Our MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour has been validated by CCAB Certification Ltd as delivering the academic elements necessary for an individual to apply for recognition as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB).

Our PGDip in Clinical Animal Behaviour has been validated by the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) as delivering the academic elements necessary for an individual to apply for recognition as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB).

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, coordinator, 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. Students may also exit the programme on completion of each phase.

Please note that every 10 credits represents 100 hours of study time, and a time commitment of 20 hours per week when completing a 5 or 10-week course.

Mandatory course credits

You must complete a sufficient number of course credits to achieve the following awards:

  • Postgraduate Certificate: 60 credits
  • Postgraduate Diploma: 120 credits
  • Master of Science: 180 credits

Intermittent study

You may undertake this programme by intermittent study (flexible progression route), accruing credits within the following maximum time limits:

  • Postgraduate Certificate: 12-24 months
  • Postgraduate Diploma: 24-48 months
  • Master of Science: 36-72 months (this includes a maximum period of 12 months from the start of your dissertation to its completion)

Year 1: Certificate Courses

You will study Principles of Applied Animal Behaviour and Clinical Animal Behaviour along with either Anthrozoology (recommended for those continuing to Diploma/MSc and those wishing to pursue CCAB) or one of two other elective courses.

Year 2: Diploma Courses

You will study Clinical Animal Behaviour in Practice along with the 10 credit Research Methods and Data analysis (compulsory for those progressing to MSc) and a further 30 credits from a range of 20 and 10 credit elective courses.

Year 3: Masters

The dissertation element of the programme will allow further development of scientific skills and may take the form of a short research project, case studies relating to relevant professional experience or an extended literature review.

Postgraduate Professional Development

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

PPD credits and credit transfer

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within this degree over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.

Alternatively, after completing one year of courses, you can choose to transfer your credits and continue studying towards a higher award on a masters, postgraduate diploma, or postgraduate certificate programme.

Starting PPD

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.

Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a masters, postgraduate diploma, or postgraduate certificate programme.

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
MScClinical Animal BehaviourUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
PgDip (ICL)Clinical Animal BehaviourUp to 4 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
PgCert (ICL)Clinical Animal BehaviourUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25
PgProfDevClinical Animal BehaviourUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2024/25

C1: Knowledge and Understanding

You will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical, methodological and biological concepts relating to the field of clinical animal behaviour, as well as demonstrate a critical understanding of the relevant professional, legal and ethical issues.

C2: Practice: applied knowledge, skills and understanding

You will be able to apply your knowledge of effective counselling, explore competing explanations for a behaviour problem or issue with the human-animal relationship and devise bespoke behaviour modification programmes or interventions as appropriate.

C3: Generic cognitive skills

You will be able to demonstrate how to critically evaluate the relevant literature, identify areas where research is lacking and design research projects to address these.

C4: Communication, ICT, Numeracy Skills

You will be able to use a variety of different media to effectively communicate relevant scientific concepts, ideas and advice to a range of audiences with varying levels of knowledge and expertise.

C5: Autonomy, accountability and working with others

You will be able to make informed judgements on ethical issues relevant to the field of clinical animal behaviour and will be able to critically reflect on all stages of the behaviour modification process, identifying where information is lacking or alternative actions are required to effect change.

Alongside the subject content, the programme will also enable you to gain a range of transferable skills. These include:

  • computer skills
  • report writing
  • giving online presentations
  • time and project management

This programme is designed to equip you with the academic skills necessary to succeed in careers that require an evidence-based approach to clinical animal behaviour and training.

Veterinarians and veterinary nurses will develop their ability and confidence to support and advise clients in the area of companion animal behaviour.

Graduates can also use the qualification to enhance their career prospects in academia, research, non-governmental organisations and animal welfare charities.

Want to find out how online learning works at the University? Watch our video to find out more:
Want to learn more about this programme? Watch one of our students talk about their experience:

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, with a biological background, for example a degree in:

  • veterinary medicine/ veterinary science
  • biological sciences
  • zoology
  • psychology
  • animal/equine science

Entry to this programme is competitive. Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements. Demonstrable experience working with companion animals in a professional capacity is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance. Please make sure that you use the 'Personal Statement' and 'Relevant Experience' sections of your application to outline why you would like to join the programme and how this fits with your future career plans. Please also detail any relevant practical experience or additional courses that you have completed outside of higher education.

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
MScClinical Animal BehaviourUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgDip (ICL)Clinical Animal BehaviourUp to 4 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgCert (ICL)Clinical Animal BehaviourUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgProfDevClinical Animal BehaviourUp 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:

  • Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • Easter Bush
  • Edinburgh
  • EH25 9RG
Programme start date Application deadline
8 September 2025 27 June 2025

Due to high demand, we operate a number of selection deadlines for this programme.

Applicants who are not made an offer at a specific selection deadline will either be notified that they have been unsuccessful in securing a place on the programme, or that their application will be carried forward to the next selection deadline for further consideration at that time.

Round Application deadline Decision Date
1 24 January 2025 14 February 2025
2 4 April 2025 25 April 2025
3 27 June 2025 30 July 2025

You must submit one reference with your application.

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

Further information

  • Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • Easter Bush
  • Edinburgh
  • EH25 9RG