Equine science degree

[Katieb99]

Hi all, I’m currently in my first year of doing an equine science degree. Im considering dropping out as I’m doubtful I’ll end up with a job in this area of study. I was wondering if any people with an equine degree at all have actually managed to get a job within there chosen subject and is it actually worth doing a degree?

 

[ahml100]

Hi,

I have done a mixed equine science degree which also incorporated agriculture and business. Many of my friends have gone on to do jobs that they were aiming for such as journalism, Vet Med, bloodstock etc.

Which area are you wanting to go into? Does this sector need specific experience that are not being covered by the course? is the course not offering you the chance to get relevant work experience?

Feel free to PM if you need,

 

[Shilasdair]

Me.
I have an equine science degree, and worked in the industry for years, doing what I wanted to do.
But - having a degree is nothing compared to working hard, being enthusiastic, motivated and focused on what you want to do.
The market is awash with mediocre equine science, equine sports coaching, and all other varieties of graduate, all of whom think that employers are desperately to give them a highly paid job as soon as they finish.
Not so. You have to put some effort in.

 

[Squeak]

I have an Msc in Equine Science and have never used it. Out of five of us who keep in contact with each other from uni, one has used it to go into a feed company and the others are doing something unrelated.

If you know what you want to do in the equine industry then it can be useful but if you think you're going to end up in different industry then another degree may be more applicable/ useful.

 

[bubsqueaks]

I guess as others have said it all depends where you set your sights on at the end of the degree - you also need to consider very honestly where your skills are based - I know about 80% of people just do the degree when they do not possess the right skills to work in equine just the academic qualification to study for the degree!
Also are you enjoying the course & Uni - if not then you know the answer - I understand its not all its cracked up to be & there are far more beneficial things to be doing with the next 4 years!
Well done for facing facts about it all.

 

[EnduroRider]

I have an Equine Science BSc from Bristol and am working in an unrelated industry, namely Insurance (and that is Commercial, not Horse insurance). Whilst not related there are definitely things I learnt at Uni that help me now, such as problem solving and analysis. Whilst I do not love my job, I am certain that I have a better salary than I would working within the industry and it is quite flexible so I have the money and time to have horses as a hobby instead.

 

[TPO]

I'd say that you have to know what your goal is then evaluate if the degree will get you there.

As said above the market is awash with people with all sorts of degrees but you need something that makes you stand out.

I was friends with someone who got an Equine Science degree in the early 2000s and no one from her year ended up working in the industry. They couldn't get jobs although I'm assuming that the market has grown since then so there may be more opportunities. From the little I know it still seems flooded with jobs for graduates in feed companies receiving hundreds of applications.

If there is something specific that you want to do then crack on and put in the effort to get work experience etc so you stand out once you obtain your degree but if your heart isn't in it then I wouldn't continue to pursue it.

 

[Laafet]

I was the only one on my degree course that was not previously connected to the equine industry through family etc that then got a job with horses - well no longer working with them but now in the office. I have actually used my degree throughout my career. My degree course no longer exists as due to the fact that they made you do a whole year out on placement, a lot of students didn't return to work as they were so employable. I was offered 3 jobs when I was on my year out but had to go back to uni as I couldn't afford to pay off my student loan immediately as is required if you quit mid course (or it was then).
I did my degree at Oxford Brookes, which has a slightly different reputation to say Hartpury when you put it on your CV and show it to non horse people.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

You'll be surprised what doors having a degree can open for you. Sure, it's nice to move into a job to which the degree is connected to but that's not all. A degree tells a prospective employer that you have the ability to absorbe knowledge & that's what many want. Doesn't always matter what the degree is, just that you have one.

 

[Annagain]

My degree (not equine) is not at all related to my work. In fact, it prepared me for no career at all in terms of the subject but a lot of the skills I learned at uni - analytical and critical thinking; active reading; assimilating information; how to write properly etc have prepared me for my job now. It was also one of the happiest times of my life. I don't mean I had 4 years of fun (although student life was great, especially during my year abroad, and I made lifelong friends) but I was genuinely happy to be studying something I was interested in with no other pressures. There's nothing wrong with learning for the sake of learning and it makes me sad that due to tuition fees (I was among the last to have my tuition fees paid) students feel that they can't just learn, there has to be a pay off at the end. As long as you enjoy your course and are happy there, keep going and cross the career bridge when you come to it.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

What do you want to do?

 

[Elbie]

I have an equine science degree and currently work in equine insurance so I am using it. However, it is a very niche market and jobs very rarely pop up.
When I did my degree (2002, god I feel old!) I wasn’t expecting to get a job in the equine industry. I just wanted a degree and liked horses and biology so chose that one. I know there are some industries where they won’t consider you if you don’t have a degree (my dads office wouldn’t look at any cvs that didn’t have a degree), but on the other hand I struggled to find work when I graduated as a lot of jobs thought I would leave for a equine related job and wouldn’t stick around.

 

[hattie2525]

I'm another one who has an equine degree yet works in a totally unrelated industry. What I think people forget is that many people don't have a career linked to their degree, those that studied English literature aren't writers or editors, those studying history probably don't work in the British Museum. A degree proves you can study to a certain level and are disciplined enough so do so whilst allowing you to grow and develop as a person and I think that stands for a lot. I work in an office now and came here straight off working on yards for 10 years, despite having no real 'office' experience I was offered the job over others as I had a degree regardless what is was for.

If you aren't enjoying your course then that is different but it might open many doors for you in the long run.

 

[Jill's Gym Karma]

Firstly, are you actually enjoying the subject, and are you happy with your university life in terms of accommodation, socialising etc?

Secondly, are you fixed on getting a specific job? As others have said, it's more common to end up in a role that has no relevance to your degree (I went to uni over 20 years ago, and only a minority of friends are in a related job).

While you're at university you have great opportunities for all kinds of extra skills training; IT, statistics, presentation, communications, entrepreneurship etc- sign up for as much as you can! Also try to get as much Work Experience as you can. Even jobs you hate teach you about what you're good at and what your priorities are.

There are all sorts of jobs out there. Some are interesting but low-paid, some are high salary but also long hours and high stress. There is a lot to be said for an unglamorous, but relatively secure and reasonably paid job that leaves you with plenty of time for hobbies.

 

[TPO]

Just to add on the flip side that you dont need a degree to get a good job.

While at school I was expected to go to uni to be a vet. I went along with it for a while but no way did I want to go to uni.

I left school aged 16 during my 6th year and went full time at my part time job. Then when I was 17 I started a "proper" job at a life assurance company. While there I got onto the graduate programme having interviewed against actual graduates while i wasnt even old enough to attend uni.

I've had various jobs in multiple sectors and have always earned more than my friends who went to uni (without the burden of student debt). I'm now earning way more than a practicing vet without the hours and stress that go with that job.

My previous 2 jobs (& 2 others I was offered but didnt accept) were all looking for degree educated peeps but my experience and aptitude was enough.

I dont work in the equine industry but just to show that a degree isnt the be all and end all (unless you want to do something specific like medicine or law etc) of your heart isnt in it.

I've never struggled to find work yet nearly all of my friends (excluding the physio) did when they left uni and all ended up in unrelated jobs earning less than numpty me was.

Money isnt the be all and end all either but just saying that your earnings arent necessarily limited because you dont have a degree

 

[ElleSkywalker]

I did an equine science degree many moons ago and did work for a number of equine manufacturers and saddlers afterwards in sales based roles. TBH the degree didn't really help me get the jobs in the end it was my previous sales experience and as soon as you get a job in the industry its very easy to move around within it. It's getting that first job which is the problem.

There are opportunities to get jobs working in related areas but as mentioned above out of every degree course in every subject only a handful will work in a related industry.

If you want a degree and are enjoying the course stick at it. If you have a specific career path in mind try and get some experience alongside the degree to make you more employable, pick modules on course that will help with experience too.

 

[Hack4fun]

There i some really really good advice here. Don't knock your degree. Having a degree is important and it will teach you all sorts of skills you will use for the next 30-40 years. Your equine knowledge may not be used in the slightest, but don't worry about that at all. I did theoretical physics and then a PhD in mechanical engineering, and probably didn't use any of it past 30. However, they were very valuable experiences. Please don't see your degree as training for a job. It isnt like becoming a nurse or doctor or architect on leaving university. That's why employers value degrees. Worry about jobs later. The existence of a degree will open doors for you. Jobs should be the least of your concern now. Besides which, as others have pointed out, there are far more jobs and types of jobs out there than one could possibly imagine. If you are enjoying your studies, stick with it. Degrees regardless of subject are important.

 

[emmmilythinks]

I did an equine science degree, worked for an equestrian shop as a merchandising assistant before training to be a secondary science teacher which I absolutely love! So I would say if you want to carry on, it hasn't held me back

 

[Horses_Rule]

I went to RAU and did an Equine science and business degree . After uni I was a yard manger of a well known competition venue, then was a deputy manager in an equine shop, then I went into a racing yard and now I drive tipper lorries. I’m on more money now then I have ever been and don’t have to work weekends and can actually take holiday without being told how inconvenient it is. Because of the massive amount of courses in equine now there are too many graduates for jobs! I’m happy I can enjoy my horses now ?

 

[Umbongo]

I did an equine science degree. Having the degree did open up further opportunities for me. I am now a veterinary nurse (small animal) and going to university did allow me to learn some new skills. I was slightly older and stood out as a stronger candidate for nurse training than a lot of the other applicants.

I enjoyed learning about the subject, but I also kind of wish I didn't waste my time/money and did nursing from the word go. But who on earth knows what they want to do when they are 17/18 years old?

Of all my uni friends, I think only 1 works in the equine industry now working for an insurance company. One is a work rider, but she was before uni too.

If you do an equine science degree and expect a job after it, I think you really have to think about the specific role you want.

If you want to go in to physio, is it better to go down the human route first?
If you want to go in to business, would a business degree would be more beneficial?
Feed company? Get an animal nutrition degree rather than equine specific.

 

[rpcdp]

Depends what you set your sights on at the end of it and what you want to do. I have a degree in Equine management which included Equine Science and I have always worked in Yard Management, that’s what I wanted to do. It’s also not as hard for me to find jobs as there are always ads and offers popping up, although it’s not as easy as it sounds. I imagine if you limit to simply ‘Equine Science’ you’ll be hard pressed... think about what the degree can do for you, what types of jobs arise from it etc. It’s always good to have a degree if you’ve gotten in and put some work in, unless you’re very unhappy or unmotivated doing it, or perhaps simply don’t see it in your future. It really does depend on what you want at the end of the day.