A huge choice of careers is open to those studying agriculture-related subjects at higher education level. If it’s the animal care aspect you’re interested in, there are plenty of options, whether you think you’ve got the grades for veterinary science or not.

If your passion is animals, there are lots of options open to you. Students can specialise in equine studies (a vocational course specifically for those who wish to work in the horse industry), animal science or veterinary science. Animal science or management courses look at nutrition, welfare, breeding and genetics, anatomy and zoology, as well as the legal aspects  of caring for animals.

Veterinary science is a popular and competitive area to get in to and like medicine, requires a huge amount of commitment and study to qualify. Entry  is tough and places are limited – only  4,240 undergraduates were studying veterinary science in the UK in 2008/09 (source: HESA). There are seven universities that offer the five-year course (or six years at Cambridge) accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (see www.rcvs.org.uk for details). Student vets study cell biology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics, animal behaviour and husbandry, pharmacology and infectious diseases. They also have to complete a research project and undertake clinical practice.

If you want to work with animals but don’t think you’ll get the grades needed to become a vet, you might want to consider becoming a zookeeper, dog handler or trainer, animal care worker, or pet behaviour counsellor. The sector encompasses a whole range of job opportunities that will allow you to work with animals or on the land, providing some of the most fulfilling and worthwhile careers there are.

If you do fancy trying the veterinary route, there are still plenty of options. Modern vets have become diverse practitioners, and are as likely to be treating an inner city pet snake as overseeing a successful countryside lambing. Every vet has an obligation to deal with emergencies in any species at any time. There are more vacancies than the number of vets seeking employment, so finding a job is not hard, provided you are flexible and willing to relocate.

Opportunities exist in practices that specialise in small animals, equine work, food-producing animals, or in mixed practices dealing with small and large animals. Vets can study for additional certificates and diplomas offered by the RCVS, and it is a requirement of the RCVS that all veterinary surgeons keep their knowledge up to date throughout their careers.

Salary guide
According to the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons, the average starting salary package is between £30,380 and £39,500. Senior vets can earn around £48,000, depending on the size of their practice. See Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
www.rcvs.org.uk