Frequently asked questions

Q. How much does the programme cost?

A. Please see Online learning tuition fee rates.

Q. Who will be on the programme with me?

A. Students on the programme come from a variety of backgrounds including: Veterinary science, zoology, biological science, pharmacology and animal/equine science. Students also come from various parts of the world, for example: UK and Ireland, Europe, USA and Canada, South Africa etc. Consequently, an additional strength of the programme is that you will learn from your peers as well as from the lecturers.

Q. Is there a virtual open day for prospective postgraduate on-line students?

A. Yes there is - please feel free to register for our next Virtual Drop-In Sessions.

Q. What is online distance learning?

A. Online learning is aimed at people who want to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside ongoing work or other commitments. You can study at times most convenient to you. Most of our students continue in their employment while they study, and many have families.

Q. How is the teaching done?

A. The courses are taught in distance learning mode and are completed entirely online. The teaching is quite varied, including: online lectures, tutorials, specialist external lectures, scientific group discussions, case studies, problem-based learning scenarios, literature based research, computer-assisted learning, quizzes and the dissertation project. 

Q. How is the programme assessed?

A. The programme is assessed using a variety of creative methods, which develop critical thinking and encouragement of ideas, including: report writing, scientific presentations, paper critiques, critical review of literature, problem solving and statistical analyses, written examinations and the dissertation thesis.

Q. What time commitment do I need to make?

A. It is envisaged that students will need to spend approximately 20 hours per week actively engaged in studying; however, some students may need to spend more time reading around the subject area depending on their prior knowledge and experience. 

Q. What are the computer requirements for this programme?

A. This is an online programme and you will be accessing course materials via the internet. The software that we currently use for this course is Blackboard Learn 9.1. Please see this link for further details: