Merrist Wood is highly regarded in the animal industry as the leading animal education establishment in Surrey, with a wide range of animal care courses. It was awarded a zoo licence in June 2018, allowing it to share its collection of exotic animals, some of which are of conservation importance, with the wider community. The College has wide links with industry and tuition is by highly qualified and experienced tutors who will ensure you gain the best possible grounding in your chosen career.
Investigate the behaviour and welfare of exotic and zoological species, supported by the study of a wide range of species in the College’s Animal Management Centre and in relevant commercial settings, through visits to local animal collections. Underpinning theory is delivered in the classroom. Industrial experience, assessed through the professional development module over two years, will be undertaken in a related field and will give you invaluable experience in your specialism, with 200 hours to be undertaken each year at an animal collection or other relevant location. You must have an interest in pursuing a career in zoo management. The programme is ideal if you have previous animal experience or if you have achieved a Level 3 related animal course, however this is not compulsory.
During this course you will benefit from the following:
- Taught by expert, passionate tutors with industry experience.
- Extensive grounds which include ancient woodland, species rich grassland and wetland areas.
- Rich fauna, including protected species of bats and amphibians.
- Friendly learning environment with small class sizes and excellent student support.
- Merrist Wood College is highly regarded in the animal industry as the leading animal education establishment in Surrey. Animal Management Centre including facilities such as a desert biome, tropical biome, and nocturnal room.
- Industry experience provides an invaluable opportunity to work in a variety of settings to support your chosen career path.
What you'll learn
You will study four modules in each year of the programme:
YEAR 1 :
- Development Of Personal And Professional Skills (30 Credits)
- Development Of Personal And Professional Skills (30 Credits)
- Animal Health, Welfare And Nutrition (30 Credits)
- Zoo Management Skills (30 Credits)
YEAR 2:
- Continuing Professional Development (30 Credits)
- Research Methods (30 Credits)
- Management Of Zoological Collections (30 Credits)
- Global Biodiversity And Conservation Issues (30 Credits)
How you'll learn and be assessed
Teaching and learning will include a range of strategies including lectures, seminars, group work, tutorials, and work experience. Teaching takes place on the 400-acre Merrist Wood campus and is supported by an extensive animal collection that is utilised throughout the course where students will encounter a range of familiar and unusual species.
Assessments are designed to allow students to research into their topics and species of interest for subject areas they would wish to specialise in, linking to career aspirations. The teaching team undertake vocational continuous professional development to keep up to date with their subject specialism. This vocational currency gives a real edge to course content and value is added through guest speakers, visits, and realistic work-based learning assignments. These are shared with our colleagues employed within the animal behaviour and welfare sector.
Throughout the course you will be able to research chosen topics and species of interest for your assessments enabling you to focus on subject areas that you wish to specialise in, and link to career aspirations. Each module will be assessed with 2-3 pieces of work. These could include academic poster creation, conference style presentations, written exams, reports, seminars, media article design, portfolios, video productions, case studies and a dissertation.
Academic skills support is available throughout the year to help you prepare for this range of assessments, including exam preparation.
Course duration: 2 Years full-time.
Currently this requires attendance on campus at least two days each week during teaching weeks.
Progression
Progress onto a one-year Top-up degree on the Zoo Management BSc (Hons) at Merrist Wood College.
Progress onto employment in areas such as zoological collections, wildlife management, conservation and ecology, scientific research, or conservation education.
You could work as a zoo keeper, animal trainer, education officer or presenter in zoological settings in the UK and abroad.
Entry requirements
The minimum entry qualifications for the programme are:
A Levels: 64 UCAS points normally in science-based subjects
BTEC: 64 UCAS points normally in science-based subjects
Access Diploma: Pass
Plus: English and maths GCSE and it is advantageous to have a science (biology) or psychology.
A minimum IELTS score of 6, TOEFL equivalent is required for those for whom English is not their first language. These entry requirements are subject to change.
Additional information
Home/EU* Fee for September 2025 entry: £8,000 per year
Please note:
Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
*Fee information for European Union (EU) students: If your course starts on or after the 1st August 2021, you will no longer be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England unless you meet one of the following criteria:
- you are able to benefit from the citizens’ rights agreements
- you are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland – benefits of Irish nationals under Common Travel Area guidance arrangement will continue
Optional trips for work experience, especially if you wish to volunteer overseas, as some of our previous students have done. Additional printing over and above the £10 allowance provided by the college, and the cost of books that you might wish to purchase.
We strongly recommend that you purchase a laptop for your course.
If you need any further information or guidance, please contact us at [email protected]
Additional costs include:
We strongly recommend purchasing a laptop to support you in your studies on the course.
Optional trips for work experience and professional development, especially if you wish to volunteer overseas, as some of our previous students have done.
We recommend that you budget £100 a year for additional costs such as for stationary to undertake your studies. You can borrow textbooks and access journals from the recommended reading lists most of these are available from the Learning Resource Centre. If you choose to buy textbooks, they may cost up to £60 each.
You are advised to ensure that anti-tetanus protection via a course of injections or booster is up to date prior to the commencement of the course. You should also ensure that you have adequate clothing for outdoor work in inclement weather. You will also need a pair of boots or wellingtons.
Merrist Wood College offers accommodation for new and existing full-time students who wish to live in our halls.
How to apply
Applicants should apply through the Activate Learning Application Portal.
You are advised to ensure that anti-tetanus protection via a course of injections or booster is up to date prior to the commencement of the course. You should also ensure that you have adequate clothing for outdoor work in inclement weather. Fees shown are per year. Please contact the College if you require further information.
The academic regulations for this programme can be found on Kingston University’s website
Terms and conditions for enrolment can be found on our website
Merrist Wood offers accommodation for new and existing full-time students who wish to live in our halls.
International fee: Please contact the HE Admissions Coordinator, Sue Taylor on [email protected]
Merrist Wood offers accommodation for new and existing full-time students who wish to live in our halls.
