Grad Dip Equine Locomotor Research

For students to be able to successfully complete this course they need practical experience in advanced hoof care and academic capability.

Admission will be open to all farriers who are eligible to be registered with the UK’s Farriers Registration Council and have a minimum of two years’ practical experience in advanced foot care. In the two-year post training period the applicant must have been the responsible professional in charge of the decision-making process and the caseload must have included cases beyond routine foot care where the applicant must have developed remedial foot care strategies.

Applicants need to demonstrate this by submitting:
•proof of their UK farrier registration
•evidence of their continuous professional development
•a personal statement outlining their work experience with the emphasis on advanced cases
•reference letter from a veterinary surgeon they have worked with on advanced foot care cases.

Different countries have different legislation regarding foot care in horses and we would consider applications from individuals who can demonstrate the necessary experience in advanced foot care and can provide evidence of reflective practice in the form of an extensive portfolio. This portfolio will need to include evidence of their foot care training (the extent and quality have to be similar to the UK farriery training requirements), evidence of their continuous professional development, a personal statement outlining their work experience with the emphasis on advanced cases and a reference letter from a veterinary surgeon they have worked with on advanced foot care cases and other supporting evidence which may include publications, presentations and reflective case discussions.

Students need to demonstrate their academic ability to work at FHEQ level 5 before starting the course. This will be achieved by a combination of previous experiential learning and the successful completion of a bridging module on contemporary study skills, section 1 of the course.

English Language Requirements

A good working knowledge of scientific English is essential in order to follow the course.

All applicants must have an acceptable English Language qualification:
•IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or above with minimum 6.5 in each component.

For those without IELTS, please see our English Language Requirements page for a full list of qualifications we will accept as alternatives.

Applicants who meet these criteria will be selected on the basis of professional achievement.

Students must be able to attend the residential days in person and are responsible for fulfilling the UK visa requirements if applicable. Students will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/graduate-diploma-in-equine-locomotion-research#tab-fees-and-funding-content

The course divides into two distinct sections.

We are mindful of the fact that the farriery profession is made up of a cross-section of individuals with varying academic backgrounds. Section 1 acts as a springboard that enables participants who have not had any involvement in formal education in a number of years to familiarise themselves with current learning methods and thus “ease into” academic work.

Applicants who already hold a degree may be exempt from this and can apply for an exemption from Section 1 of the course and direct entry into Section 2.

Section 1: Contemporary Study Skills

This section of the course includes the following topics:
•Introduction to online learning
•Learning styles and self-regulation of learning
•Searching for information
•Academic writing
•Presentation skills

Section 2: Applied Equine Locomotion

The course comprises of five modules
•Module 1: Equine locomotor biomechanics and orthopaedics
•Module 2: Critical evaluation of scientific literature
•Module 3: Study design and equine locomotor assessment methods
•Module 4: Data processing, analysis and presentation
•Module 5: Research project