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Animal Management

Level 3 Extended Diploma Animal Management

The Extended Diploma is the second year of a two-year programme. You progress to this through completing the Foundation Diploma. The course gives you further specialist skills and knowledge in animal management: wildlife conservation, zoological animal health and husbandry (the day-to-day care of animals), principles of animal nursing, advanced animal nutrition, and an investigative research project of your own. Once you've gained the Diploma you can progress to Higher Education or into employment in a wide variety of roles.

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How you’ll learn

Specialist Skills in Animal Management

Year two is where Level 3 stops being broad and starts being specialist. Wildlife conservation, zoological animal health and husbandry, and principles of animal nursing each tie to a defined career destination in the sector. Advanced animal nutrition gives you a depth that translates directly into specialist industry and HE work. The Hub Animal Centre, home to over 100 species across temperature-controlled vivariums, gives you the hands-on environment to put it all into practice.

You’ll also run an investigative research project of your own, with tutor support. Field visits to Valley Wildlife continue, working with larger animals including alpacas, donkeys, pigs, goats and sheep. The practicals in animal science unit ties the science back to the everyday work at the Animal Centre. Once you’ve gained the Diploma you can progress to Higher Education (locally at UCDon and UCNL, or further afield for vet nursing, zoology and conservation) or into a wide variety of roles in animal care, conservation and veterinary support.

Specialist Science Units

  • Wildlife conservation
  • Zoological animal health and husbandry (the day-to-day care of animals)
  • Principles of animal nursing
  • Advanced animal nutrition

Research and Practice

  • Investigative research project
  • Practicals in animal science
Entry and progression

What you need and where it leads

  1. Entry requirements
  2. This course Level 3
  3. Further study
  • Completion of the Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Animal Management
  • A genuine interest in specialist animal work, university or industry
  • Successful interview with our team

If you came up via a Level 2 route into the Foundation Diploma and still need to top up your Maths or English, you can keep working on those alongside the course.

Not sure you meet these? Talk to us and we will help you find the right starting point.

Further study

See all 2 courses

At University Campus Doncaster

At University Campus North Lincolnshire

Careers it can lead to

  • Animal Care Services Occupations £23,700 a year
  • Veterinary Nurses £26,600 a year

Typical pay is the UK median for each job (Lightcast, October 2026).

Your UCAS points

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Grade UCAS points
D*D*D* 168
D*D*D 160
D*DD 152
DDD 144
DDM 128
DMM 112
MMM 96
MMP 80
MPP 64
PPP 48

D* Distinction*, D Distinction, M Merit, P Pass: one letter for each part of the qualification.

UCAS points are an estimate. Each university course sets its own entry requirements, and points can change from year to year. Please enquire for full details about a specific course. Points from the UCAS Tariff tables for 2027 entry. About UCAS Tariff points

Our facilities

On-Campus, On Field Visits, In Your Research

Practical work and independent research run alongside the specialist science throughout year 2.

  • The Hub Animal Centre (on-campus)

    Over 100 species across temperature-controlled vivariums, including snakes, tarantulas and guinea pigs. Equipped with the same diagnostic tools used in top veterinary practices.

  • Field visits to Valley Wildlife

    Regular visits to work with a wide variety of larger animals including alpacas, donkeys, pigs, goats and sheep.

  • Your investigative research project

    Your own piece of independent work, with tutor support and access to the Animal Centre and partner sites.

Final-7801
On-Campus Animal Centre · 100+ Species · Independent Research Project
Abi

Abi

Level 1 Animal Care

Student Voice

“

Learning health and safety, cleaning and handling animals, and working at the farm has helped me prepare for future experiences within animal management.

For parents and carers

Supporting your child’s journey

Qualifications That Count

These are nationally recognised qualifications with real academic weight. Your child will develop practical skills and knowledge that employers and universities genuinely value.

See the full unit list

Real Career Prospects

These qualifications lead to real jobs. Our courses are built around the skills that employers are actually hiring for, locally and nationally.

See career options

Financial Support Available

Bursaries are available, and free meals are provided for those who qualify. If cost is a concern, there's help, and it's straightforward to apply.

Financial support info

Your next step

Apply now, come and see us first, or ask us anything.

Ready to Finish Your Level 3?

Applications for September 2027 are open. Apply online in 10 minutes.

Want to visit first?

FE Open Event – 12th January 202712th January 4:30pm to 7:00pm

What happens after you apply

1

You apply

Apply online and you’ll get a confirmation email.

2

You meet your tutor

We’ll invite you to an interview to talk through the course and your plans, and make sure it’s right for you.

3

You get an offer

We’ll email you a conditional or unconditional offer.

4

You get ready to start

Come to a taster session in the summer, then enrol in August, bringing your results.

Read our full guide to applying