Houghall Campus
Course overview
It's not hard to see why our animal care courses are among the most popular we have to offer here at EDC!
Our Houghall campuses' multi-million pound small animal care centre is home to over 70 species of animals, so students studying with us get more than anywhere else in the area.
Our Level 1 Animal Care course is designed as the perfect introduction to this sector, preparing you for further study or exciting opportunities in animal care in the future.
As the name suggests, most of the course is learning all about the practical side of cleaning, feeding and looking after a wide variety of animals! From lizards to snakes, from hamsters to our resident skunk, there's so much to learn and we'll hone your practical skills to allow you to safely handle all kinds of critters both furry and otherwise!
You'll also learn the theory behind animal care, understanding animal biology and how different species differ from each other.
During the course, you can expect a mixture of both written work and practical assessments.
Please note that due to the practical nature of the compulsory course assessments, you must be physically able to carry out practical tasks by yourself after proper training.
Topics
• Working in the Animal Care Industry
• Exotic Animal Husbandry
• Small Mammal Husbandry
• Farm Livestock Husbandry
• Kennels
• Health & Safety
Job opportunities after this course
• Animal behaviour, care, grooming, handler, nutrition, science, training, welfare
• Ecologist
• Education
• Farming
• Labratory Scientist
• Nature Reserve Ranger
• Pet Retail
• Zoologist
... and so much more!
Further study options after this course
Level 2 Technical Diploma in Animal Care/Land & Wildlife/Equine/Agriculture.
You must achieve a minimum grade of Merit in this qualification and a GCSE in Maths OR English at grade 4 to progress to a Level 2 Technical qualification.
Learners who do not meet the maths & English requirements may be offered an alternative qualification.
Entry requirements
4 x GCSEs at Grade 3 or above. Must include Maths or English.
The course is a mixture of written work and practical assessments. Due to the practical nature of the compulsory course assessments, you must be physically able to carry out practical tasks by yourself after proper training.
Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.
Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.
East Durham College's Houghall Campus is committed to providing a supportive and welcoming environment for all our students. The campus, some of which is over 80 years old, has seen over £40m invested in new facilities over recent years. However, there are still some aspects of the site which are not fully accessible and would cause an issue for those with limited mobility or wheelchair users and due to the nature of the site, adjustments may not always be reasonable at this stage. The College is committed to further investment and improvements of the site, as we work towards ensuring the campus is as accessible as possible. If you have limited mobility or are a wheelchair user and wish to undertake a course at the Houghall Campus, please contact Student Services on 0191 375 4710 in the first instance to discuss your needs and options.
How is this course assessed?
To gain the Diploma qualification, learners must successfully achieve the following assessments:
• Two external tests (multiple choice)
• Five unit assignments
• PLUS 60 hours work placement
When does the course start?
September 2025
Length of course
1 Year, full time.
Fees & Funding
Please read our Course Fees & Funding page.
How to apply
To apply online for this course, please click on the 'Apply' button at the top/bottom of this page.
Alternatively, if you need assistance with your application or you would like to apply over the phone or using a paper-based application form, please call Student Services on 0191 743 0149.
If you're not quite ready to apply for this course and would like some more information or to speak to a member of staff then please click on the 'Enquire' button at the top/bottom of this page.
