Students can undertake one, two or all three courses to make up a Postgraduate Certificate.
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through postgraduate-level learning, without the time, or financial commitment, of a full award.
Three credit-bearing short course options from within the MSc Equine Science portfolio exploring a science-based approach to equine behaviour, welfare and ethics.
Equine Digestion and Nutrition provides an in-depth knowledge of equine digestion and nutrition, allowing students to pursue careers in research, industry or academia.
- 20 credits
- Course Leader: Dr Andrea Ellis
- September start
Course content provides students with a research driven, evidence-based approach to understanding equine digestive health delivered by world-leading experts in equid nutrition. Key topics covered are the anatomy and physiology of the digestive system, ration formulation, the evaluation of food sources and nutritional management.
Students will explore the nutrient requirements of horses involved in all types of work to formulate bespoke dietary plans and make recommendations on appropriate rations.
The course offers an evaluation of the nutritional value of feedstuffs and an emphasis is placed on health and welfare concerns associated with the inclusion of various types of feedstuffs in the diet.
For full details of this course, including learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study page.
Equine Orthopeadics is an in-depth exploration of key topics that affect the sports horse industry and the application of treatment in the equine athlete.
- 20 credits
- Course Leader: Dr Oliver James
- September start
The course content explores anatomy, physiology and the musculoskeletal system takes an evidence-based approach to disease, injury management and prevention in the context of the orthopaedic anatomy of a sports horse.
Students explore the most recent advances in treatments and novel therapies with the opportunity to engage with clinical specialists and leading researchers.
On completion of the course, students will have enhanced skills and be able to apply knowledge and understanding to real-life scenarios in support of professional, clinical or amateur equine care.
For full details of this course, including learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study page.
Why study this course?
Vets, scientists, equine stud professionals and interested lay horse breeders worldwide could benefit from studying this course, led by Dr Mina Davis-Morel PhD, SFHEA, Emeritus Reader Animal Reproduction at Aberystwyth University.
Mina has led this course for over 10 years and is the eminent expert in equine reproductive physiology and author of the widely used textbook Equine Reproductive Physiology, Breeding and Stud Management, now in its fifth edition. Mina was awarded the University Teaching Excellence award and the Higher Education Academy Senior Fellowship award.
Mina has published widely in the scientific and popular press and is the author of four text books. The course delivering is supported by Louise Cornish, Equine Veterinary Reproductive expert at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh.
Details
This course covers anatomy and physiology of equine reproduction, evaluation of breeding soundness, management techniques and the latest technologies used across the industry.
- 20 credits
- Course Leader: Dr Mina Davies-Morel
- January start
This course explores a range of topics associated with equine breeding and is delivered by leading experts in veterinary medicine, front line research and industry. The course provides students with an in-depth examination of equine reproduction in order to apply key skills, knowledge and understanding to their own horse breeding endeavours.
The course is fully online and delivered in a flexible, but structured, format which provides students with the opportunity to network, enhance skills and prepare to apply knowledge and understanding to real-life scenarios which can enhance existing professional or amateur equine practice.
For full details of this course, including learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study page.
Equitation Science takes an objective, evidence-based approach to understanding horse welfare to decide on the most ethical training methods to horses in your care.
- 20 credits
- Course Leader: Dr Gemma Pearson
- April start
Equitation Science uses an objective, evidence-based approach to understand and improve the welfare of horses in their interactions with humans; this can be during training, competition or even just in the stable. It uses a multidisciplinary approach with an emphasis on learning theory alongside a wide range of techniques including investigating the use of technology to provide objective measures of welfare or performance and sports psychology to understand how riders/handlers may influence their horse's behaviour.
Students learn how to apply scientific methods to identify ineffective training techniques and those that may result in problems with horse welfare. You will then apply these skills to build training plans that will enhance both performance and horse health and wellness.
Knowledge gained on this course can be applied to all horses by amateur and leisure horse owners to elite riders and professional trainers.
For full details of this course, including learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study page.
Why study this course?
The aim of the course is not to teach you the ultimate training regime for a particular discipline, but rather to give you scientific background into physiology, biomechanics and different aspects of training programmes so you can critically review, adapt and apply your understanding to different aspects of training a horse.
Vets, scientists, equine sports and competition professionals, and equestrian athletes and trainers worldwide could benefit from studying this course led by Dr Victoria Lindsay-McGee - an expert in muscle disease and genetics in performance horses.
A major strength of this course is the range of experts who support the delivery. Content is delivered by specialist vets from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies such as Professors John Keen and Scott Pirie, experts in cardiology and equine clinical sciences respectively. Scott is also an authority in respiratory disease. Among the external staff experts who teach on the course we have Professor Brian Nielson of Michigan State University and Doctors Jenni Douglas and Kate Wilkinson from Hartpury University.
Details
This course covers anatomy and physiology of the major implicated systems and their adaptation to exercise in the horse, the application of this knowledge to cases of poor performance and evaluation of training regimes across a range of equestrian disciplines.
- 20 credits
- Course Leader: Dr Victoria Lindsay-McGee
- April start
This course provides students with a detailed understanding of equine exercise physiology and the adaptations that occur in response to athletic function. There is a focus on applying this knowledge to assessing the sustainability of various training regimes for all classes of the equine athlete and methods of assessing and monitoring performance, and potential performance, in the horse. Consideration is also given to the health and impact of ill-health on the performance horse and the evaluation of current research in this area of equine science.
The course is fully online and delivered in a flexible, but structured, format which provides students with the opportunity to network, enhance skills and prepare to apply knowledge and understanding to real-life scenarios which can enhance existing professional or amateur equine practice.
For full details of this course, including learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study page.
A good UK university Honours Degree (first or 2:1), or its international equivalent (e.g. 3.25 GPA score in the USA), with a biological background, for example a degree in:
- Veterinary science
- Biological sciences
- Zoology
- Animal/Equine Science
- Pharmacology/Pharmacy
We may also consider your application if you have a science degree that is below a 2.1 qualification, or you are an experienced veterinary nurse or farrier, or a degree in a non-science subject, and you hold Level 2 or above British Horse Society qualifications and/or have a minimum of 3 years’ demonstrable experience working with or caring for horses. You may be admitted to Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma level only in the first instance. Please contact the Equine Science Programme team before applying.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, we will also need to see evidence of your English language proficiency before we can offer you a place.
PPD Applications must be made through the University's online postgraduate prospectus by following the link to apply to PG Professional Development in Equine Science (Online Learning)(ICL) - 1-2 years (Part-time Intermittent Study).
Once you have started your application to the degree within which the course sits, you will be asked to specify the course you are applying to.
If you have any questions or concerns throughout the PPD application process, please contact equine.science@ed.ac.uk.
In order for you to have access to the course of your choice you need to be enrolled as student. After we have accepted you onto the course, Academic Registry will send an email to your new University of Edinburgh Student email account asking you to fill in, sign and return a form for matriculation.
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