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Going from a psychology degree to an animal degree

Hi all!

I am going into my third year of my psychology degree in September 2022, and I am considering going down a different route in working with animals after my degree. In sixth form I was torn between psychology and working with animals, but of course I was persuaded by parents and teachers to pick psychology due to gaining a more secure job and bigger salary at the end. I have always had an immensely huge passion for animals, and I foster dogs with my family in my spare time and I get so much reward from it.

I love my psychology degree however I know that I’m definitely more orientated around animals (I know being a working with animals also involves talking to people and working with them, as well as caring for the animals). I even thought about combing both my interests and going into animal behaviour/psychology but I’m not really sure of the jobs available in this area. When I was younger I have a week’s worth of work experience in a vet practice and loved it, but that’s the only veterinary experience I have (except for fostering dogs on a daily basis). This sparked my interest for veterinary nursing for years even whilst studying psychology.

I was just wondering if anyone knew if it’s best for me to do a second degree in vet nursing, or do a course that will qualify me as a vet nurse, or an apprenticeship or something like that? I don’t really want to spend another 3 years at University, as I don’t think I can afford it due to it being a second degree. I’m not really sure about my options or what the best steps would be next after I finish my first degree.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you :smile:

Reply 1

Nessie162

You can get a level 3 diploma in veterinary nursing - it takes 2 years to complete and you do it "on the job". Here's more info:
https://animalowners.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-careers/i-want-to-be-a-veterinary-nurse/training-routes/

You can also do a degree but as you said it will be longer and more expensive.
The outcome is the same though, so a diploma would be a better choice for you.

You can also do a masters in Animal Behaviour or some other course to become a dog trainer.
For that sort of thing I'm assuming self-employment is the most popular option.

No reason why you can't do both though :smile:

Reply 2

ames22991922

Original post

by alexandria51201

Hi all!
I am going into my third year of my psychology degree in September 2022, and I am considering going down a different route in working with animals after my degree. In sixth form I was torn between psychology and working with animals, but of course I was persuaded by parents and teachers to pick psychology due to gaining a more secure job and bigger salary at the end. I have always had an immensely huge passion for animals, and I foster dogs with my family in my spare time and I get so much reward from it.
I love my psychology degree however I know that I’m definitely more orientated around animals (I know being a working with animals also involves talking to people and working with them, as well as caring for the animals). I even thought about combing both my interests and going into animal behaviour/psychology but I’m not really sure of the jobs available in this area. When I was younger I have a week’s worth of work experience in a vet practice and loved it, but that’s the only veterinary experience I have (except for fostering dogs on a daily basis). This sparked my interest for veterinary nursing for years even whilst studying psychology.
I was just wondering if anyone knew if it’s best for me to do a second degree in vet nursing, or do a course that will qualify me as a vet nurse, or an apprenticeship or something like that? I don’t really want to spend another 3 years at University, as I don’t think I can afford it due to it being a second degree. I’m not really sure about my options or what the best steps would be next after I finish my first degree.
Any advice would be appreciated, thank you :smile:

i’m in this exact position, what did you do?