Presentation

Click here to download a PowerPoint presentation of the Bachelor’s course

Click here to download the best practices of Animal care code of conduct  

  Admission

• If you have an international entry qualification, please follow the instructions available here
• If you have an Italian entry qualification, please follow the instructions available here 

  Course details

• Click here to find out about the learning objectives of the Animal Care courses
• All details about the Bachelor can be found here

Courses of the 3rd year are organized in study plans focused on the care of: 1) wild and zoo animals 2) animals in scientific research 3) aquatic animals. 

Attendance at teaching activities is mandatory: to take the final exam, the student must have attended at least 50% of the lecture hours and at least 75% of the laboratory hours.

Please note that the student might deal with animals in poor welfare situations.

  Professional opportunities

Animal care graduates can expect to work in different contexts:

• Zoo and wildlife parks, aquatic parks: zookeeper of animal, managing the care of the animals kept in captivity for conservation or displayed to the public. The activities range from preparing food and feeding animals, providing fresh bedding and water, cleaning out pens and cages, training animals for medical and/or management procedure, checking for signs of distress, disease or injury in animals, implementing enrichment project and ensuring animal welfare, helping to care for sick animals under the directions of a vet, answering visitors’ curiosity or questions.
• Sanctuaries for animal rescue and rehabilitation: professionals in charge of the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wildlife and provide a permanent and individualized, species-specific care to those that cannot be re-introduced in nature.
• Research centers, private and public research laboratories: a laboratory animal technician is a professional who monitors the animal behavior, supplies animal with proper food and water, manages the reproduction in the colony, connect and integrate the research projects promoted by other specialized professionals, ensuring the respect of the guidelines and standards of the National and European laws.

  Teaching staff

Look here for the full list of external experts and researchers who teach or have taught in Animal Care courses

  Field experience

Multidisciplinary field experience, including visit to zoological parks, rehabilitation centres, research facilities, will be organized during the course of study to introduce students to the practical activity.

Furthermore, the second semester of the third year will be dedicated to a compulsory practical training. Students will work at affiliated structures under the direct supervision of an expert in animal care.

  Traineeship for Animal Care students

During the second semester of the third year students must take a traineeship in a professional context, in Italy or abroad. More information about the traineeship can be found here

There are more than 40 host organizations which have already confirmed their availability in accepting Animal Care's students for their traineeship. Among them there are natural parks, natural reserves, sanctuaries, rescue centres, zoos, labs and other organizations dealing with animals. Nearly half of them are located abroad, including USA (e.g. Florida), Canada, Central and South America (e.g. Brazil), Bahamas, Africa (e.g. South Africa) and Europe. The detailed list is available for Animal Care's students in Moodle at
https://elearning.unipd.it/scuolaamv/course/view.php?id=3080

 

  Final Exam

In order to graduate, students must take a final exam, which consists in the preparation, presentation and discussion of a report, developed under the supervision of a Reference Professor. More information about the final exam can be found here.

  Scholarships and other facilitations for students

The University of Padova offers different types of scholarships and fee-waivers to international students.

For detailed information:

• Scholarships
• Fee-waivers
• Scuola Galileiana of Padova University

  Our campus

Most lectures are held at the Agripolis campus, in Legnaro (PD). Click here for tour and presentation of Agripolis Campus.

The campus features a library accessible by all students. Click here for the library’s opening hours and contact information.

  Enrolled students

• Newly enrolled students might be assigned additional learning requirements (OFA), which must be met by passing a specific test for the given subject. Click here for complete information about OFA
• Download here a Survival Guide designed for Animal Care students: here you will find important information about your studies, useful contacts and some tips for a successful student career and a unique experience in Padua
• Access to the teaching laboratories and practical lectures is subject to receiving appropriate training about safety and successfully completing the related test. Click here to find out how more about the training, how to enroll for the course and take the test.
• Do you come from abroad? Click here to see the Welcome presentation of our International Office.
• The School of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine provides a tutoring service to support enrolled students. Click here for information about the service
• The third year’s study plan includes 12 elective credits, which must be spent in courses chosen by the student. Click here to find out more about elective credits.
• If you wish to continue your studies after graduating in animal care, click here to find out example of suitable Master’s degrees in Italy or abroad.

  Recognition of previous studies

Related study experience can be recognized and credited to your degree as a form of recognition of prior learning.
For general information on how to apply for recognition of previous studies or education activities pleas visit https://www.unipd.it/en/credit-pre-evaluation-form

Click here for specific information on credits recognition in Animal Care 

  WeSocial

In 2019 we launched WeSocial, a project to teach students how to communicate through social media. These students will be part of an editorial team, who publishes contents in the official social channels of the course. Click here to find out about the project.

  Contacts

Important: always use your university email address (name.surname@studenti.unipd.it) and include your student ID number (numero di matricola) when contacting University services.

• For academic enquiries, write to: cdl.animalcare@unipd.it
• Tutors can offer study support; get in touch with them at: tutor.agrariamedicinaveterinaria@unipd.it
• The International Desk is a dedicated department-based support desk for international students. To contact the International Desk you can write an email to Dr. Aurora Zecchinato: cdl.animalcare@unipd.it
• If you have a question about study plans, exams, or graduation, contact the School office: agraria.medicinaveterinaria@unipd.it
• If you have a question about the Erasmus or other mobility programmes, write to Dr. Susanne Kloehn at: erasmus.agripolis@unipd.it
• Click here for information about the Bachelor’s coordinators, boards and student representatives, and their email addresses.

On the School website you can find many useful resources: remember to check it often!