Bloodstock and Equine Performance Management

UCAS code: W630

Here's what Royal Agricultural University says about its Bloodstock and Equine Performance Management course.

If you aspire to have a career in the thoroughbred or sports horse industry, our specialist Bloodstock and Equine Performance Management course will teach you all you need to know about training, breeding, racecourse management and enterprise.

Industry experience is at the heart of this degree with a work placement in your second year, and visits to leading racing businesses. Our graduates have secured high profile positions in the racing industry, including organisations such as Godolphin, Juddmonte, The Jockey Club, Weatherbys and The National Trainers Federation and you could join them.

This specialist course compares science and business practices to those within the sports horse industry and equips you with the skills to step into the professional world.

Course structure Gain a solid grounding in all aspects of the horse racing industry through lectures, seminars, visiting speakers and field trips. Modules will be assessed through a range of methods including reports, business plans, examinations, case studies and presentations.

The Research Project is an integral part of the course and provides essential experience in both design and execution of a piece of research. You can choose to focus on either science or business and you could also see your Research Project featured in one of the many academic journals that regularly publish our students’ work.

Work placement You will complete a 15-week work placement in the second year. Students have completed placements at prestigious companies such as Highclere Stud, France Galop, Newsells Park Stud, Jockey Club Estates and Arena Racing Company. If you wish to undertake an extended period of work there is the option to complete a year in the workplace by choosing course W632 with Professional Placement Year

For up to date module information, please see our website: https://www.rau.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate

The programme has a variety of assessment styles to encourage the application of knowledge in ways appropriate to the industry or to develop core graduate skills. Many of the assessments occurs via coursework or practical assessment rather than traditional examinations. Coursework exercises include (but are not limited to) written essays and reports, practical application of skills, reflective portfolios and oral presentations which may also include using audio visual media. Where examinations are utilised, these are generally ‘seen’ scenarios whereby the paper is made available to students 2 weeks before the assessment date or open book where students can take their course notes into the exam room. The open book or seen exams are looking for students to analyse, evaluate and apply, rather than just to retain knowledge.

Overall, the programme is assessed through*:

Learning and Teaching	Assessment
Directed	Independent	Placement	Exam	Practical	Coursework

Year 1 23.50% 76.50% 0.00% 20.00% 2.50% 77.50% Year 2 21.00% 72.75% 6.25% 12.50% 0.00% 87.50% Year 3 22.28% 77.72% 0.00% 12.50% 2.50% 85.00%