what could you do with this sort of degree??

I don't have a degree, and haven't been through the higher learning situation, but I would suggest you ask yourself if this degree course will educate you for the job you want to do? I've read a few things recently which seem to suggest a backlash against college education rather than 'hands on', which is something to bear in mind.
 
Not much
tongue.gif
I would have thought decent experience and knowledge would be better than that degree...

But then I know nothing and am embarking on an equally useless degree
wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/equistudy/hnc.asp?courseid=2

i know the details are pretty vague,but what sort of equine related jobs could you think of with this qualification?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a conversation I constantly have with Hartpury students at our livery yard, who are studying equine science. If I ask them what they want to do with their degree, without fail they have no idea
crazy.gif
My answer is that it doesnt really qualify you to do anything, and practical experience and hard work are more valuable in the equine industry? But then I am an old git so I know nothing
tongue.gif
 
not much,

I have a friend who did an equine science degree and 4 years on she just says she wish someone had told her that there really wasn't going to be a job at the end of it (she now works for orange!) She enjoyed it but it didn't help her do what she wanted.
 
no you all have valid points.

it is supposedly designed to incorporate the skills employers want. But it is a lot of money/time and just seems to cover EVERYTHING rather than a specialist subject.
 
Once upon a time I considered a horsey degree.

I looked at plain equine degrees, kind of like the one you've shown but not foundation... but in the end couldnt justify £3000 ish a year on fees, then accom, then living all for not much really. I can more or less see the point in say equine business management/equine sports science, something more specific...

Even now, my degree (Environmental Conservation and Countryside Management) is technically worthless as I could get more or less the same knowledge/experience in a decent work ex. type job. So I still couldnt justify £3000 on the course so I'm cheating and doing it part time so pay less overall
grin.gif
blush.gif


Ets- Forgot my point.
smirk.gif
You'd have to weigh up the costs etc over whether you will get any better experience than you would by just getting out and doing it.
And as its a foundation degree, does it count towards jobs that would want just a generic degree as a requirement? If the horsey side went tits up.

Im not making sense
blush.gif
 
I looked at doing Equine & Human Sport Science, and applied for it, among other courses. After going for the interview and getting the offers of places I realise it wouldn't be worth the paper it was written on to get an equine type degree.

I instead chose Sport, Health, Exercise & Nutrition and I graduate this summer and will be looking for a job in city/county council in a health promotion type role.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Once upon a time I considered a horsey degree.

I looked at plain equine degrees, kind of like the one you've shown but not foundation... but in the end couldnt justify £3000 ish a year on fees, then accom, then living all for not much really. I can more or less see the point in say equine business management/equine sports science, something more specific...

Even now, my degree (Environmental Conservation and Countryside Management) is technically worthless as I could get more or less the same knowledge/experience in a decent work ex. type job. So I still couldnt justify £3000 on the course so I'm cheating and doing it part time so pay less overall
grin.gif
blush.gif


Ets- Forgot my point.
smirk.gif
You'd have to weigh up the costs etc over whether you will get any better experience than you would by just getting out and doing it.
And as its a foundation degree, does it count towards jobs that would want just a generic degree as a requirement? If the horsey side went tits up.

Im not making sense
blush.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

you made perfect sense
smile.gif
a few years back i think everything was about having good qualifications, rather than hands on experience,where as now everything is leaning back to the hands on exp.

hhmmmm *toddles off to ponder the pro's and con's of it all)
 
They say they incorporate skills employers want and they do ish.

with regards to transferable skills my 2 friends on diff courses did nearly as much as me science wise (I did biology) but I think employers just tend to see the 'equine' bit for other jobs and for equine jobs there are not many that actually need that level of academic training.
 
:S im in my final year of a BSc (hons) in equine management and am planning to do an MSc in equine science with a view to nutrition so no it is not useless, and i really resent employers discriminating against people who have tried to get an all-round education with both practical and theory knowledge of a variety of matters.

I have worked very hard to achieve what i know, and i have work extensively within the industry, in both primary and secondary sectors. People have a sterotypic view of equine students which i think on the whole is unfair.
 
I am afraid to say I have an Equine Science degree... anyone considering taking Equine Science in particular (as opposed to Equine Studies which is more riding / management and less science) should consider very carefully where they go and study. If you really want to have a good 'science' degree then go for the likes of Bristol (where you are working closely with the vet school and students) or somewhere like Imperial (which is very 'sciency' and at the cellular as opposed to whole animal level).

As for whether or not they will get you a job with horses, you are probably just as likely to get one without the degree! Some people stay on in research and work with horses that way, but I would say that is the minority. I now work as an Insurance Underwriter (and no not horse insurance) but I got my job on the basis of having 'a degree' as opposed to the subject matter.

On the plus side, as so many employees just want you to have a degree in something it is preferable to study something you are interested in, that way you are actually going to put the work in. Also, if you keep horses as a hobby then it is good to know that much more about what you are doing, for example training effects.

Bit of a waffle, sorry!
 
Would just like to add yes you should always study something you like and enjoy otherwise you won't put the same effort in.
 
QR
An equine science degree or any sort of Higher Education equine qualification WILL NOT qualify you to work in a yard. To be a groom, you really need to know nothing at all, as long as you are happy to take direction, and work long hours for NMW.
If you want to be an instructor, then BHS quals are the ones which count, so again a FD or Hons degree will be no use.
Degrees are there to provide you with some content knowledge, yes, but more importantly the transferable skills, which will be useful in the workplace - things like analysis, understanding research methods, and results, etc. These transferable skills are generic, and are what graduate employers look for.
If you are serious about working in the equine industry (but not in a sh1t shovelling capacity
wink.gif
, then many of the people who run the big events, who work as nutritionists, who are instrumental in sales and marketing of equine products/services, etc, have degrees.
But once you graduate, you would have to get off your bum and find a position.
S
grin.gif
 
I'm in my second year of an Equine Sports Science degree, I have a few possible future careers in mind!

Its not 'the easy option' as alot of my friends say (they are studying things like politics and media and dont want to work in either field! - at least i like what im doing!)
 
I did an equine science degree which I finished over 10 years ago and there is only 1 person of our course that I know of that works in horse industry. I work in accounts, where most employers just want a degree adn don't care what it is in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top