International Animal Health (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev

You will explore topics, such as:

• disease surveillance
• epidemiology
• pathogen evolution
• host immune responses
• pathogen strategies

Through option courses, you can tailor your learning to areas such as:

• vaccinology
• GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
• diagnostics
• pastoralism
• global food security

You will also develop critical skills in research, project planning, and policy development. The programme prepares you to lead in animal health, veterinary public health, and one-health fields, addressing complex global challenges with evidence-based solutions.

Year 1 (Postgraduate Certificate)

You will develop your understanding of how infections spread in animals using examples from the field of international animal health. You will develop an understanding of how disease occurrences are measured and monitored, and enhance your skills in field survey design and implementation. You will explore how micro and macro parasites are transmitted between hosts, how they evolve and survive between infections, and understand different immune responses to pathogens and infection.

During the Certificate stage, you will study three core courses:

• Applied Veterinary Epidemiology
• Pathogen Strategies for Transmission and Survival
• Host Responses to Infection

On successful completion of the Certificate, you may progress to the Postgraduate Diploma.

Year 2 (Postgraduate Diploma)

You will develop your understanding of the public health risks associated with diseases that are transmissible from livestock and wildlife to humans. You will also study highly contagious and transmissible livestock infections, such as:

• avian influenza
• Rift Valley fever
• African swine fever
• bluetongue

The option courses allow you to focus on areas that are of interest to you, for example:

• diagnostics
• vaccinology
• pastoralism
• GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

During the Diploma phase, you will undertake the following compulsory course:

• Zoonotic disease

You will also choose one of the following two courses:

• Surveillance and control of transboundary diseases affecting international trade
• An introduction to transboundary diseases and their impact on trade and wildlife populations

You will choose five to six option courses from a wide range of courses, including:

• An introduction to vaccinology
• Control of economically important parasites
• Globalisation and health
• Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data analysis
• New developments in epidemiology and the control of vector borne disease
• Pastoralism and herd health
• Project planning and decision support for animal disease control
• Project Management of Development Aid
• Technical advances in diagnostics
• The Modern Zoo
• The Nexus of Food Security and Global Health
• The Use of Artificial Reproductive Technologies in Threatened Species
• Wildlife animal health and environment
• Zoonotic diseases in a global setting

Option course availability is subject to annual academic review and demand.

On successful completion of the Diploma you may progress to the Masters.

Year 3 (Masters)

During the Masters phase, you will construct a written dissertation of 10,000 to 15,000 words. You will have the opportunity to analyse and present animal health-related data that you have already collected or will collect during work conducted in your home country or another country.

Alternatively, you may wish to undertake a desk-based study to explore and develop a theme of relevance to your current working environment, or an area of interest that has arisen during your period of study on the MSc.

Many students choose topics tied to their work, with several projects leading to publications or informing national and regional policy.

Explore dissertations which have resulted in publication