The University of Edinburgh – College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Equine Science (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev
Online
MSc
DURATION
6 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
21 Aug 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
14 Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 6,370 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* estimated tuition for equine science MSc
Key Summary
Explore a science-based approach to improve horse health, welfare, and performance.
This programme takes an in-depth, scientific approach to benefit the lives of horses. You will learn how to apply a scientific approach to the management of key elements of horse care:
- health
- welfare
- reproduction
- behaviour
- nutrition
- exercise
Students gain detailed knowledge and understanding of equine science and is excellent preparation for enhancing your career, or future independent research such as a PhD.
This is the first, and only, Equine Science programme to be hosted within an international centre of veterinary excellence.
Programme benefits
- Completion of Equine Digestion and Nutrition supports an application to become a BETA ENFAR recognised Equine Nutritionist
- Equitation Science and Equine Behavioural Medicine have been designed by Dr Gemma Pearson BVMS Cert. AVP (EM) MSc CCAB PhD MRCVS
- A wide selection of courses allow you to build a learning portfolio tailored to your career aspirations
- The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online degrees since 2005, with more than 11,000 graduates from over 180 countries
- We are experts in online learning and have a strong track record of providing the best experience possible, working closely with academic teams to design a fully online degree that works well for both the educators and our students.
Accreditation
MSc Equine Science is an Associate Member of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).
Completion of the Equine Digestion and Nutrition course supports an application to become a BETA Equine Nutritionist and Feed Adviser Register (ENFAR) recognised equine nutritionist.
Graduates from this research-rich, taught MSc will be prepared for employment in establishments, such as:
- universities and research institutions
- industry, such as feed companies, stud farms, pharmaceuticals and consultancy firms
- government organisations, such as ADAS and DEFRA
- welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, WSPA and WHW
Further study
After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.
The full degree programme is a total of 180 credits, divided into:
- Masters - 180 credits
- Diploma - 120 credits
- Certificate - 60 credits
- Individual courses - up to 50 credits
Courses offer a mix of:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- practicals
- guest speakers
- recommended reading
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Equine Digestion and Nutrition | 20 |
| Equine Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics | 20 |
| Equine Behavioural Medicine* | 20 |
| Equine Orthopaedics | 20 |
| Equine Reproduction | 20 |
| Equine Exercise Physiology | 20 |
| Equitation Science | 20 |
| Research Methods Data Analysis (Equine Science)** | 20 |
| Dissertation | 60 - must be written within a 12-month period |
*Equitation Science is a prerequisite for this course
**this is a prerequisite for the Dissertation phase
Time expectation
20 credit courses are delivered in two blocks of five weeks with one week of independent study and reflection time in between.
10 credits of study represent 100 hours of study and a time commitment of 20 hours per week.
Individual courses
Postgraduate Professional Development (PGProfDev) is the study of individual courses from within a degree programme.
It is aimed at working professionals who want to upskill in a specific area but do not want to commit to a postgraduate qualification.
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within this degree over two years. Credits can also be put towards further study, however, any time spent taking courses will be deducted from the amount of time you have left to complete the higher award.
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
- Borrowing money
- Taking out a loan
- Family support
- Personal savings
- Income from work
- Employer sponsorship
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for online study from one of the UK’s governments.
If you intend to apply for a UK government loan you should apply for the 3-year Masters option.
Study options
- Master's (180 credits): 3-6 years
- Diploma(120 credits): 2-4 years
- Certificate(60 credits): 1-2 years
- Individual courses*(up to a maximum of 50 credits): up to 2 years
The degree programme allows progression from individual courses to Certificate, Diploma and MSc phases. Students may also exit the programme on completion of each phase.
The programme is designed to be taken part-time at 20 hours per week, with the flexibility to complete in longer time frames if required.
*Individual courses are also referred to as Postgraduate Professional Development (PGProfDev).
How online learning works
The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online postgraduate programmes since 2005 and is the largest provider of online programmes in the prestigious Russell Group of universities.
Online learning is aimed at people who want to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside ongoing personal and professional commitments. Most of our students continue in their employment while they study.
The varied teaching may include:
- online lectures
- tutorials
- specialist external lectures
- scientific group discussions
- case studies
- problem-based learning scenarios
- literature-based research
- computer-assisted learning
- quizzes
Our online students not only have access to Edinburgh's excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
Time commitment
This programme is designed to be fully flexible to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world.
If there are live online sessions, you can watch a recording later in the virtual learning environment at a time convenient to you.
Typically, you will need to dedicate around 20 hours per week to your programme, although managing this is up to you. This may also vary from course to course, and the time commitment may increase when assignments are due.