Animal science

Animal Science

Master of science (2 year) Full time

Photo
Håkon Sparre, NMBU

The world’s population is expected to increase, and this will challenge current global food production and agriculture systems. Are your interested in animal nutrition, feed technology, breeding, genetics, ethology and animal welfare?

Apply here Study structure
Requirements

Bachelor degree in Animal Science

Application deadline:

April 15th
International applicants:
December 1st

Study start
Autumn 2023
See more
Study advisor(s)
Contact study advisors
Send e-mail
Contact info

Admission Office:
opptak@nmbu.no
Phone:  67 23 01 11

 

Then a Master in Animal Science at NMBU might be something for you.

A two-year Master in Animal Science degree focus on the biology of production animals within the areas of nutrition, feed technology, breeding, genetics, ethology, animal husbandry and welfare.

The goal is to train students to be able to solve current and future challenges related to animal science in a national and global context.

Job opportunities

Candidates with a Master in Animal Science are qualified for work as advisors, administrative management positions within different areas in the agricultural organisations, private business activity or public administration - nationally and locally. Working as a teacher is also possible.

There is a lot of international cooperation within research, also with developing countries. The degree can qualify for PhD studies.

Learning outcomes

As an Animal Science student, you will learn how systematic animal breeding is used to give healthy and productive animals.

The student will learn how nutrition and feed technology affects animal health, production and the environment.

The degree will also focus on how animal behavior and the environment they live in can be improved to maintain good animal welfare.  

Admission requirements

Applicants must hold a Bachelor degree in Animal Science or equivalent education that includes basic knowledge in statistic/mathematics, chemistry, physiology/cell biology, genetics/breeding, nutrition and ethology/animal welfare.

The following compulsory requirements must be in place for the application to be considered:

  • A motivation letter specifically aimed at the program
  • A weighted, average grade of minimum Norwegian C (from the Bachelor's degree) is required at NMBU to be qualified for applying to Master's degrees
  • English language ability in accordance with the NMBU regulations

Applicants who have already completed a master degree will not be prioritized.

Study structure

The student will get a specialization within one of the following areas:

  • Animal nutrition and feed technology
  • Animal breeding and genetics
  • Animal ethology

There will be both interdisciplinary as well as area specific in-depth courses within each specialization. The degree is finalized with master thesis.

See study plan (pdf)

Study content

Social relevance:

Norway wants to have a growing and sustainable population of domestic animals. The programme aims at providing advanced knowledge on a high international level of effective production which takes care of both the important productions and the growing diversity of animal production. The aim is to increase the students knowledge so that they can contribute to animal science and animal production in Norway in the future.

Learning outcomes:

A candidate who has completed his or her qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

  • Deep knowledge within one or more of the disciplines animal breeding or nutrition ethology applied to production animals and/or sport and companion animals.
  • Broad knowledge on how the different disciplines integrate and are important for both the farm animal and companion animal production sector.

Skills:

  • The ability to go into depth within one discipline.
  • How to write a master thesis based on own experiments, available data and/or available literature.

Competence:

  • Knowledge of how to combine theory and practice to meet the challenges in animal production and in society.
  • Understands how economic and political frameworks as well as nature given conditions are influencing the Norwegian farm animal production sector.

Contents and structure:

Students may choose one of three specializations: 1. Animal breeding and genetics. 2. Animal nutrition. 3. Animal ethology. At least 50 credits in animal science courses and 5 credits in statistics, in addition to the master thesis are required. At least 35 credits must be at the 300 level. A least 25 credits of these must be from the 300 level within the subject area. The master thesis is 30 or 60 credits. The remaining credits can be chosen from any 200- or 300-level courses.

Learning activities:

The programme applies a wide range of teaching methods, such as lectures, excursions, independent studies, exercises and seminars by students.

Evaluation:

Oral or written examination, portfolio assessment, combined assessment or assignment.

Admission requirements:

A bachelor degree in animal science can be qualifying. Applicants with a bachelor degree within biology will be considered individually.

Cooperation with other institutions:

BIOVIT - The Faculty of Biosciences has a lot of collaboration with other organizations and companies in research and development. Several livestock organizations have some of their researchers stationed at the faculty, and this benefits the students through the work on their master theses. The English master programs in Animal Science, Aquaculture, Genome Science, Plant Science and Agroecology also ensure broad collaboration with foreign institutions.

Arrangements, incoming exchange students: