Master’s in Animal Sciences

The Master's in Animal Sciences is a two-year programme and tailor-made to the interests and knowledge of the student. Together with your study adviser, you design your own programme. The general elements of the programme are courses, academic skills training, a major thesis and a research practice or internship. Today’s specialists in livestock and companion animals need a fundamental scientific training, combined with a critical attitude towards all aspects constraining sustainable development of animal husbandry. The Master's in Animal Sciences, which is unique for the Netherlands, offers the multidisciplinary training necessary for a future career in this field. Check the Study Handbook to learn more about learning outcomes and the profile of this programme.

The first year mostly consists of courses which will prepare you for writing your thesis and internship in the second year.

Courses (60 credits)

Which courses you will take, depends on several factors: your previously acquired competences, your basic knowledge and interests and your choice of specialisation. The exact course programme of the MSc Animal Sciences depends therefore for the majority on the individual student. Some courses are general like advanced statistics or academic skills courses (ranging from scientific skills to consultancy skills). Others prepare you for your chosen specialisation.

Information on the courses within the Animal Sciences programme and their planning can be found in the online course catalogue. 

Courses first year.

During the second year, you write a major thesis in combination with an internship. Whether you will do a research practice or an internship depends on your previous education. Besides our specialisation, you could also choose to follow a professional career interests and/or participate in an international exchange programme.

Major thesis (36 credits)

The major thesis is the final piece of work a student delivers prior to graduation. In a major thesis, you will perform a scientific research project, usually at one of the research groups of the Animal Sciences department. The major thesis consists at least of a literature study, writing a research proposal, performing scientific experiments, data analysis, writing a scientific report, and presenting results orally. Your own interest is very important in choosing a research topic for your major thesis. 

The chair groups of Animal Sciences provide much information on possible thesis subjects. To learn more about them, contact the study adviser using the contact card below. There are multiple collaborations between research institutes within Wageningen University & Research, as well as with national and international universities and companies active in the field of Animal Sciences.

Internship (24 credits)

The aim of an academic internship is that students experience what it would be like to work in that future academic positions. Proper internships require that students apply their scientific knowledge, exercise their professional skills, learn to work independently with a sense of responsibility for the organisation and can expand their personal network. Many students conduct their internship at a university or a research institution abroad, but an internship can also be conducted at a company in the Netherlands or abroad. The choice of an internship location is based on the interests and wishes of the student and the (worldwide) contacts of the staff of the chair group.

Courses second year.

Within this master's programme, you can choose one of the specialisations below to meet your personal interests. Each of them trains you to become an expert in that field. Within your specialisation, you choose at which research group you would like to write your thesis (thesis track). The two major parts of your specialisation are the (thesis-preparing) courses and a major thesis. You can extend your specialisation with an internship. For a more detailed information on the programme structure per specialisation, visit the MSc Animal Sciences Study Handbook page. 

• Genetics and Biodiversity
  Explore how genetic variation and breeding strategies contribute to animal health, performance, and biodiversity in both domesticated and wild populations. For this specialisation, you are able to choose one out of three different thesis tracks, like Host-Microbe Interactomics or Animal Breeding and Genomics. Each of the thesis tracks is also divided into compulsory courses you will make a choice from and a specific thesis topic with the same name as the track.
• Nutrition and Metabolism
  Study how feed, digestion, and nutrient metabolism affect animal health, growth, and production, with a focus on sustainable feeding strategies. For this specialisation, you are able to choose one out of five different thesis tracks, like Aquaculture and Fisheries or Animal Nutrition. Each of the thesis tracks is also divided into compulsory courses you will make a choice from and a specific thesis topic with the same name as the track.
• Global and Sustainable Production
  Focus on designing and improving animal production systems worldwide that are efficient, ethical, and environmentally responsible. For this specialisation, you are able to choose one out of three different thesis tracks, like Animal Production Systems or Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Each of the thesis tracks is also divided into compulsory courses you will make a choice from and a specific thesis topic with the same name as the track.
• Adaptation, Health and Behaviour
  Examine how animals interact with their environment by studying stress, behaviour, reproduction, disease resistance, and welfare in varying housing systems. For this specialisation, you are able to choose one out of seven different thesis tracks, like Behavioural Ecology or Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group. Each of the thesis tracks is also divided into compulsory courses you will make a choice from and a specific thesis topic with the same name as the track.
• Molecule, Cell and Organ Functioning
  Dive into the physiological and biochemical processes that regulate animal health, growth, and development — from molecules and cells to whole organisms — to build deeper insights and models for disease resistance, aging and overall performance. For this specialisation, you are able to choose one out of five different thesis tracks, like Experimental Zoology or Cell Biology and Immunology. Each of the thesis tracks is also divided into compulsory courses you will make a choice from and a specific thesis topic with the same name as the track.
• Animal Ecology
  Understand animals in their natural and agro environments by exploring ecological principles, wildlife management, and species interactions. For this specialisation, you are able to choose one out of four different thesis tracks, like Aquaculture and Fisheries or Marine Animal Ecology. Each of the thesis tracks is also divided into compulsory courses you will make a choice from and a specific thesis topic with the same name as the track. 

Courses are taught by members of the academic staff, who also form the research groups that produce the scientific content and maintain quality within the programme. Teaching is organised in various ways, but most subjects are trained through lectures, tutorials (group work through assignments), practicals, problem-based learnings (group work through cases) or excursions. 

The Animal Sciences programme has an education team consisting of a programme director, three bachelor study advisers, two master study advisers and a study recruiter.

For a conversation or counselling, you can always contact our study advisers. They can help you plan your study, with choosing specialisations and subjects, study problems or private matters that affect your study. 

The Master's in Animal Sciences at Wageningen University and Research is unique in that it focuses from the start on academic biological knowledge and skills, applied to big societal issues that our current animal husbandry is facing worldwide. In the world, there are several programmes that focus on animals. This section contains more information about these programmes and how they compare to the Animal Sciences programme.

Compare the programme in Wageningen

• Master's in Biology
  The Master's in Biology offers also a specialisation in Animal Adaptation and Behavioural Biology. These specialisations focus mainly on the adaptation and behaviour in populations of wildlife animals. Research subjects are mainly related to ecology and evolution. Within this specialisation, you will also have the possibility to do your thesis at one of the related chair groups at the department of Animal Sciences. Difference: within the programme of Animal Sciences the emphasis lies on domesticated animals that have a function for humans (e.g. food production, waste management, companionship, education) and the interaction of humans on wildlife populations.
• Master's in Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management
  The Master's in Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management focuses on a very specific branch of the animal production systems: aquaculture and fisheries. You can specialise in marine ecosystems, marine governance or sustainable aquaculture. All have an emphasis on marine biodiversity, preservation, and ecosystem functions. Difference: Although the Animal Sciences department does have an Aquaculture and Fisheries chair group, their emphasis lies on nutrition and health in aquaculture systems and adaptation of fishes and fisheries to changes in the environment.

Check more information on Studiekeuze123.nl to discover how you might be able to compare this programme. 

This degree opens the door to many career opportunities with job functions such as:

• Researcher or promovendus at a university or research department.
• Policy adviser on issues related to animal welfare, health or agricultural land use.
• Animal feed product manager.
• High school biology teacher.
• Project leader of genetic biodiversity programs.
• Adviser in animal behaviour or ecology.
• Consultant of rewilding projects.
• Inspector of animal health and well-being.
• Accountmanager of animal sensor technology. 

Have a look at the Career Booklet for more information about career opportunities.

Interested in the Master's in Animal Sciences? Find out whether your knowledge and skills match the entry level of the programme.

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements

The admission requirements for the MSc Animal Sciences are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the programme nominally in two years. To comply, students should have sufficient knowledge on concepts and methodologies related to animals (terrestrial and aquatic), for example breeding, health and welfare, behaviour, and nutrition. For collection and analyses of experimental data, a solid basis in research methodology and statistics is necessary.

The criterion used for admission is

a WUR BSc degree in Animal Sciences, Dutch BSc in Biology (with CROHO 56860 or 59325), or equivalent.

The norm for this equivalence is

An assessment of the student's expertise in the following topics:

• Biology (animal biology and physiology)
• Natural sciences (chemistry) applied to the discipline of domesticated animals
• Mathematics (differentiation, integration, first order differential equations, calculus, linear algebra)
• Research methodology, including basics in statistics

Not all topics mentioned need to be mastered at the same level; they will be weighed by the Admission Board per individual application.

Method of assessment whether this norm is met

• Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;
• Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.

Scores attributed by the Admission Board

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition of obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master.

You can apply for this Master's here.

Admissible study programmes

Graduates from study programmes that may meet the knowledge requirements for Animal Sciences are for example: Animal Sciences, Biology, Ecology, Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries, and Veterinary Sciences.

Study programmes with knowledge gaps

Study programmes whose students often have to follow additional courses during the previous study programme or a pre-master to fulfil the knowledge requirements are for example: Forest and Nature Conservation, and Plant Sciences.

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies, as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;
• a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA≥7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact us to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Find out more about enrolment and fees of a pre-master's programme. 

Want to know what expenses to expect during your studies? All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page. 

Student life is about more than lectures and textbooks. It’s about finding your place; renting a room, joining in unforgettable parties and social events, discovering cosy pubs, and connecting through student associations. Not to mention the many festivals and unique sports clubs. Whether you're in Wageningen or exploring the surroundings, there's always something happening!

Find all information about student life in Wageningen on this page.