Animal care
Class: L-38 R -
Call for Applications (international students) - A.Y. 2026/27
- Call One for non-EU students: 7 January 2026 – 7 March 2026
- Call One for EU students: TBD (Spring 2026)
Please note: starting from the 2026/2027 intake, the new CEnT-S entry test by CISIA will be in place.
The test will be organised into macro-periods and candidates will be able to take the test only ONCE per macro-period.
Here are the dates concerning the first two macro-periods:
First macro-period (November 2025-January 2026):
27 November 2025
16 December 2025
15 January 2026
Second macro-period (February 2026 - March 2026)
19 February 2026
26 February 2026
12 March 2026
More information will be available soon.
An international three-year Bachelor's degree program, delivered in English, that provides an unparalleled educational path in the Mediterranean Europe: it focuses on animal care and their well-being, with specific attention to individual animals. It covers both cross-species topics and specific themes (such as scientific research or nature conservation in terrestrial and aquatic environments) that you can explore through a targeted educational path. The international dimension will be further enhanced by opportunities for internships or continuing with a second-level degree abroad. This educational path will enable you to work in animal protection and monitoring activities, as well as to coordinate and manage care interventions promoted by other specialized professionals (veterinarians, biologists, zoologists).
Find out more
Characteristics and Objectives
The Animal Care Bachelor's Degree Program is aimed at both Italian and international students interested in animal care and welfare, in both national and global contexts. It offers a unique educational path within the Mediterranean area of Europe and is characterized by a strong international outlook.
The main goal of the program is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to work professionally in the field of animal care, promoting animal welfare across a range of environments, with particular attention to the individual animal.
One of the program's distinctive features is the integration of the core academic subjects with specific topics such as ethology, animal welfare, stress and pain recognition, bioethics, and communication techniques.
All students are introduced to a cross-species approach, while more in-depth learning is offered through specialized study paths and internships focused on specific areas such as scientific research, wildlife conservation (both terrestrial and aquatic), education, and recreational activities.
In line with its international orientation, the program includes agreements with public and private institutions, as well as Erasmus+ partnerships, to support international mobility for both internships and thesis projects.
Career Opportunities
Graduates in Animal Care are trained to carry out activities related to animal care and the promotion of animal welfare. The professional role varies depending on the work context and may include support for laboratory animals used in basic and preclinical research, as well as for wild and exotic animals—whether terrestrial or aquatic—kept in controlled environments for educational, research, conservation, rescue, or rehabilitation purposes.
Graduates may also collaborate with veterinarians, biologists, and zoologists, or work in the monitoring and management of animals involved in recreational, educational, sports, assistance, or research activities.
Thanks to the comprehensive training provided, graduates are well-equipped to coordinate and integrate the interventions carried out by more specialized professionals in veterinary medicine, biology, and zoology, contributing meaningfully to animal welfare.
From Bachelor's to Master's Degree
The Animal Care Bachelor's Degree grants access to:
• all Master's degree programs in the LM-86 class (Animal Science and Animal Production Technologies) offered by Italian universities;
• second-cycle degree programs offered by foreign universities that require a relevant academic background in the disciplinary areas covered by the Bachelor's program.
Contacts
cdl.animalcare@unipd.it
Specific information and resources for enrolled students
Chat with Animal care teachers and graduates
