MSc International Animal Welfare, Ethics & Law (on-line)

09/03/2026

Marie Rowland rounds out our 'get to know the Programme team' series for IAWEL. Marie is one of our Programme Coordinators, supporting our guest lecturers, organising our assessments, and generally helping our students get to grips with distance learning.

Marie is originally from Cork in Ireland and when she's not wrangling lecturers, you might find her sailing or walking her huskies.

Marie's tip for students is to remember that every member of the team is passionate about animal welfare, and we all love to talk about it, so ask questions whenever you can!

04/03/2026

Continuing our 'get to know us' series, we're introducing Programme Coordinator, Wendy Watson!

Wendy is one of two Programme Coordinators on International Animal Welfare Ethics and Law. The Coordinators support students on the programme in a whole range of ways, making sure that materials are available, helping students can navigate the online systems (especially at the start of the programme!), and supporting students in their dissertation project all the way through to publication.

Wendy is originally from Canada, and was a distance learning student herself with the Equine Science MSc. She is currently also completing her part time PhD in and when she gets a spare minute, she loves to walk with her dog Bianca in the Scottish countryside.

The best thing about her job is getting to engage with students from a wide range of backgrounds who are passionate about . And Wendy's fun fact is that she has just published the second paper from her PhD! Congrats Wendy 🥰

02/03/2026

It's springtime here in Edinburgh, and we are continuing our 'get to know the IAWEL team' series with Dr Sarah Brown!

Sarah is the Programme Director (Dissertation) and a lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the Dick Vet. Sarah researches positive welfare, neuroscience and welfare, and how training methods can improve animal welfare, but like all the IAWEL team, she's been involved in many different projects over the years! Sarah also teaches on the Equine Science MSc, and the MSc Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare, so you may see her in lots of different courses.

When Sarah isn't working, she'll be walking her spaniels, pampering her ponies, or exploring the countryside on horseback.

Sarah's top tip for students is: "We have all been where you are – you can do this!", and she means it, because she was one of our first IAWEL graduates!

27/02/2026

Our IAWEL students have been working hard this week. On our Animal Ethics Policy and Law course, they have been learning about how to apply Models and Theories, a vital component of creating meaningful change for .

On Captive and Free Ranging Wild Animal Welfare, we have also been looking at the human component of animal welfare by exploring how wildlife and humans interact, discussing the ethics of interacting with wildlife.

As a reminder, if you would like to sign up for Production Animal Welfare, starting in April, as PPD, get your applications in by the 2nd March to guarantee a response to your submission in time to start.

https://vet.ed.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/taught/animal-welfare/professional-development

Happy Friday!

25/02/2026

Why not get to know the IAWEL team a little better? This week, we're spotlighting our Pre-Dissertation Programme Director, Jill MacKay.

Jill's a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Science Education, and works principally as a methodologist, exploring different ways of asking questions in the scientific process. In animal welfare she's interested in human behaviour change for animal welfare, and how technology mediates the relationship between humans and non-human animals, but she'll get involved with any project that sounds interesting! When she's not teaching, she'll be chasing her two small children, trying to do some knitting, and playing video games.

Jill's fun fact is that she recently learned she used to live just across the street from her co-Programme Director Sarah Brown, back in their hometown of Renfrewshire! Small world!

19/02/2026

If you want to study animal welfare at the world renowned The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, but you can't come to Edinburgh in person, or you need study to fit around your life, then you might just be interested in our International Animal Welfare Ethics and Law MSc

We have been running since 2012, and are at the forefront of interdisciplinary animal welfare research. You can take a Post Graduate Certificate, Diploma, or the MSc in your own time, and in your own place.

We're part of the Animal Welfare Centre, with international partnerships that bring the world leading experts in animal welfare right to the comfort of your laptop.

University of Edinburgh Online Learning are running an Open Day on the 25th February, which you find out more about here: https://edin.ac/3VVVyF2 and get to see what its like studying for a postgraduate qualification with us. Remember you can also take short PPD courses if you don't think the full programme is right for you, or if you just want a taster 🥰

You find out more about our programme here: https://vet.ed.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/taught/animal-welfare including how to apply. We take students throughout the year, so get in touch with us if you have any questions, and help us make a difference in animals lives.

17/02/2026

Happy Year of the Horse:)

Welcome to the Year of the Horse! 🐎
We wish health, happiness and good fortune to all who are celebrating. 🎉 🎇

16/02/2026

We've always been big fans of the the Animal Welfare Centre, but it's nice to see Facebook gives us badges for it too ;)

13/02/2026

If you're passionate about sustainable agriculture, this event will be of interest to you! 🐖💛

Improving animal welfare across livestock value chains is central to resilient agrifood systems, making it a practical lever for Sustainable Livestock Transf...

12/02/2026

Interested in the welfare of farm animals? Have you been thinking about changing careers to an animal welfare-related profession? Why not join us for Production Animal Welfare PPD course? April 2026 start. You can progress to a PgCert, Dip or full MSc. Apply here; https://edin.ac/49rLN9s The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

26/01/2026

Interested in wild animal welfare?