At South Devon College, our Animal Unit offers an immersive, hands-on learning environment where you’ll work with over 150 species – including meerkats, skunks, porcupines, pigs, rabbits, lizards, and insects – using industry-standard facilities that mirror real working environments, including a commercial dog grooming area.
Animal welfare is central to everything we do. Our experienced teaching team delivers ethical, high-quality training that prepares you to work confidently and compassionately in the animal care and management sector. Through strong partnerships with local employers, including Paignton Zoo, you’ll also benefit from work placements and vocational trips that expand your skills and expose you to real career pathways.
As part of your studies, you’ll explore key topics such as animal handling, biology, husbandry, and conservation. Sustainability is also a key focus within the Animal Unit. Students take part in projects that support biodiversity and environmental responsibility, such as designing and building bird boxes, bat boxes, hedgehog homes, and barn owl boxes using recycled materials. These projects not only reduce waste but also help to create space for nature around our campus.
Our courses range from Level 1 through to a top-up BSc (Hons) in Applied Animal Science at University Centre South Devon, giving you a clear progression route into careers such as veterinary nursing, wildlife rehabilitation, and animal rescue.
How to navigate the 360 tour
Use your mouse or touchscreen to click and drag for a full 360° view of each facility or building.
For the best experience, we recommend making the tour full screen by clicking the settings (cog) icon in the bottom right corner of the tour window and then clicking on the arrows that appear.
Click on arrows or hotspots to move between rooms and areas.
To see a list of all points of interest, click the circle with three dots.
You can also zoom in or out for a closer look and enjoy an immersive virtual experience from anywhere!
Don’t miss the Meerkat Enclosure (how many can you spot?), go inside the hamster cage in the Rodent Room and the check out the tree frogs in the Exotics Room. You can also visit our horticulture area in this tour.
Funded incentives are available for employers to recruit apprentices through South Devon College, whether you want to upskill existing staff or bring in new talent - now is the right time to invest in apprenticeships.
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A space designed for you. At the heart of the new offer is the Sixth Form Hub, a dedicated student space, with laptops provided to support your learning.
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Flexible, employer-led training designed to help you gain in-demand skills and secure better job opportunities.
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Select, save and compare courses to create a prospectus tailored to you.
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At South Devon College Sixth Form, you have the freedom to choose your study options, selecting from both A Levels and applied subjects.
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Get active at South Devon College! Come and give us a try with a free one-day guest pass. Contact us via the link to book in your free pass. Staff available on the gym desk from 4pm weekdays or 9am on Saturdays.
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