Where to Study Animal Law
There is significant interest in studying animal law, and more colleges and universities are offering courses. Read on to find out which establishments offer animal law modules.
Please note, it should not be implied that we endorse any of the courses or that we guarantee content. Please contact the relevant university for individual course information.
We rely on volunteers to keep this information updated. If you are aware of any changes in availability or if you come across other courses, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Learn about animal law! Where you can study…
courses and modules about animal law and related content in the UK and beyond.
Undergraduate
Law degrees offering animal law modules
University of Essex
The LLB (Hons) degree offers an Animal Protection & Wildlife Law as a second-year optional module taught by Dr Dareen Calley. Contact [email protected] or visit the website for more information.
Birmingham City University
University of Aberdeen
The LLB (Hons) offers an Animal Welfare Law optional module available in the first, third or fourth year taught by Mike Radford, who has an OBE for services to animal welfare. Find out more here.
Northumbria University
The LLB (Hons) degree offers an Animal Law module as a second year optional module taught by Debbie Rook and Dr Rachel Dunn. Visit the website for more info.
University of Cambridge
A half paper in Animal Rights Law is offered in Part II of the Cambridge BA in Law programme starting in October 2021. For information, contact [email protected].
University of East Anglia
The UEA’s LLB Law course offers an Animal Welfare Law second year optional module taught by Dr Gareth Spark. For more information, including whether the course is running this year, contact [email protected]. Visit the website for more information.
University of Lincoln
The LLB (Hons) degree offers Animal Law & Ethics as a second-year optional module taught by Brenda Gilligan, author of Practical Horse Law: A Guide for Owners and Riders. Contact [email protected] or Visit the website for more info.
Swansea University
The LLB (Hons) course offers a third year module in Nature Conservation Law, led by Dr VA Jenkins. Visit the website for more information.
University of Winchester
This BA (Hons) Animal Welfare and Society degree offers Animal Welfare Law and Policy as a Second-year module. Contact [email protected].
University of Northampton
Northampton’s LLB Law course offers a module called Biosphere Law, Law 2035, taught by Simon Sneddon. For more information you can contact: [email protected].
University of Oxford Animal Law Discussion Group
Did you know that there is an Animal Law Discussion Group (ALDG) at the University of Oxford? The Co-convenors are Anne Lansink, Robyn Trigg and Suzanne Zaccour. ALDG is ‘a newly established group aiming to provide a forum for discussion between students, faculty members, and practitioners on topics relating to animal law.’ The Group is open access and you can join the ALDG mailing list, by emailing [email protected]. Visit the website to find out more.
Cambridge Animal Welfare, Science, Ethics & Law Summer School
St Catherine’s College, Cambridge runs a summer school where you can learn key concepts in animal law, ethics and animal welfare science. Visit the website or contact [email protected].
Undergraduate
Criminology degrees offering animal related modules
Northumbria University
The Criminology Degree at Northumbria University offers a module in Crime, Animals & the Environment in the final year. Visit the website to find out more.
Dr Tanya Wyatt, Professor of Criminology at Northumbria University specialises in green criminology. Her expertise centres on wildlife crime and trafficking, non-human animal abuse and welfare, and the intersections of organised crime, corporate crime, and corruption. Other research interests are crimes of the powerful, particularly industrial agriculture and pollution.
Nottingham Trent University
NTU criminology students can learn about green crime and enforcement throughout all three years of the undergraduate Criminology Degree. In the first year, Explaining Criminal Behaviour examines green criminology theory (including species justice and conceptions on animal rights). In Year 2, students examine UK animal harm in the Crime Reduction and Community Safety module. Third year students have an International Crime module with sessions on wildlife trafficking.
Dr Angus Nurse is Head of Criminology and Criminal Justice at NTU. He is the author of several books and chapters on wildlife crime and has published extensively in this field. PhD opportunities in animal crime are available at NTU and Angus is also happy to surpervise projects in this area.
University of South Wales
Jenny Maher, Senior Lecturer in Criminology teaches on the Criminology programme. Her expertise includes Green Criminology, Environmental Crime, Animal Abuse and Youth Violence.
Wrexham Glyndwr University
As part of the BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice programme, they offer two modules: Criminology and Crime and Criminal Behaviour and a couple of the lectures focus on aspects of Green Criminology, namely Environmental Criminology, Environmental Justice and Species Justice. “We investigate the debates around behaviours that are not deemed illegal but perhaps ought to be, for example, the negative impact of human action against the environment and non-human animals.” Further details about the programme can be found here. Dr Caroline Gorden teaches the courses and she is the author of A Criminological Exploration of the UK Dairy Industry.
Nottingham Trent University - Global Summer School 2022 Course
This course provides an introduction to environmental crime and wildlife crime and how justice systems deal with and respond to current threats to the environment and non-human nature. The course develops knowledge and skills appropriate to working in the environmental justice sector, with NGOs, local authorities and policy networks. The course will prepare you for further study of the topic at postgraduate level. Details here: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/international/study-and-courses/find-a-course/global-summer-school/courses-and-activities/online-courses
‘Teaching Animal Law in UK universities: the benefits, challenges and opportunities for growth’
Read this article to learn more about the UK landscape for teaching animal law at universities.
Postgraduate
Postgraduate degrees offering animal related modules
University of Winchester
The University of Winchester offers an MSc Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law via distance learning. The website states: ‘Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law at Winchester critically reflects upon contemporary uses of animals, and provides the academic skills and expertise needed to protect animals and advance their welfare. Winchester is a world leader in terms of the values held and discussed, such as compassion and social justice, which are central to the ethos of this course.’ For details visit the website or contact [email protected].
Hartpury University
Hartpury University’s MSc Animal Welfare, Policy & Legislation is offered as an online postgraduate degree. According to their website ‘This exciting new online postgraduate degree has been designed to meet emerging animal welfare challenges linked to the UK legal system. You’ll apply theory to practice in real-world settings, enabling you to progress into a management role.’
Queen Mary University of London
QMUL’s School of Law is the first in the UK to offer Animal Law as part of its formal postgraduate degree. If you are seeking a Master of Laws with the option of studying animal law modules, there are two fully accredited LLM modules in Animal Law at QMUL: Animal Law, Welfare & Trade (SOLM025) and Animal Law, Media & Culture (SOLM026). The modules are run by Professor Johanna Gibson, who is researching and publishing in animal law and welfare and has been appointed legal expert to the Home Office Animals in Science Committee. She is also the author of Owned, An Ethological Jurisprudence of Property: From the Cave to the Commons. For more information contact [email protected] or visit the website.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh offers an MSc / PGDip / PGCert in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law via distance learning. The website states, ‘The overall objective of this online distance learning programme is to provide knowledge and an understanding of animal welfare science, with a focus on the international issues arising from animal use in all its forms.’ Contact [email protected] or visit the website for more information.
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow offers an MSc in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics & Law. The websites states, ‘Animal welfare science and ethics is an expanding topic of international concern. It aims to improve our knowledge and understanding of animals’ needs, which is required to provide a high standard of care to the whole range of animals kept in captivity…..Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting, in part, the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).’ For more information, contact [email protected].
Postgraduate courses in animal law are becoming increasingly popular. The MSc courses in animal welfare, science, ethics and law at the Universtieis of Winchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow offer the chance for students to combine study about animal welfare science, as well as law and ethics modules. A new course in Animal Welfare, Policy & Legislation is being offered at Hartpury University and at QMUL there is an option to study LLM animal law modules.
Options outside U.K
International options to study animal law
MA in Animal Protection Laws at NALSAR University of Law, India
The Animal Law Centre at the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR University of Law) in collaboration with Humane Society International/India has launched India’s first MA in Animal Protection Laws. It is a two year distance learning program. It also has an option for lateral exit after one year which leads to an Advanced Diploma in Animal Protection Laws.
Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for information. Alternatively, visit the website.
Ms. Aditi Bardia, Student Ambassador at A-Law interviewed Ms. Sonia Shad, Manager, Animal Law Centre, NALSAR to learn more about the M.A and animal law career pathways in India. Read about MA- Animal Protection Laws here to discover more about this pioneering new animal law course.
Online LLM In Animal Law at Lewis & Clark Law School, USA
Online MSL In Animal Law at Lewis & Clark Law School, USA
Explore More! Further information…
about different ways to learn about animal law, get involved and how to get into teaching.
Other ways to learn about animal law
If you are studying at a unviersity that does not teach any animal related law, you can still learn about animal law through our legal education programme. Visit our Events page to find out more.
Aspiring to teach animal law?
If you are teaching or aspire to teach animal law, we can support you through our academics forum, which offers opportunities to network and share resources and experience with colleagues.
Student membership
Whatever discipline you are studying, if you are interested in learning about the ethical treatment of animals and the law relating to them, please visit our Student page to discover what networking and learning opportunities exist.