University Studies

University Studies

University studies offer an opportunity for people to gain skills for a rewarding career in the poultry industry. Several universities in Australia offer tertiary education for people already working in or wishing to work within, the poultry industry.

Each university has their specialty areas and many offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Some universities are increasingly moving towards the delivery of distance and online learning programs and vocational education and training qualifications.

Check with the individual university and course coordinator for more specific information such as enrollment timetables, fees and course outlines. The courses and delivery systems offered by universities are regularly reviewed so you should obtain current information from the universities if you are considering higher education. Poultry related studies can be undertaken through a variety of fields and disciplines, including Agriculture, Animal Science, Environmental Science, Rural Science or Veterinary Science just to name a few.

There are a  number of universities involved in poultry research and education in Australia, including the following.

Deakin University

Deakin’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences encompasses a range of disciplines. Poultry – related research can be undertaken in the area of Biomolecular Sciences and in particular, molecular and immunological characterisation of egg white and egg yolk allergens for the diagnosis and treatment of egg allergies. The School of Medicine also offers opportunities for those wishing to study in the area of vaccinations, or disease immune responses.

University of Adelaide

Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus is home to the Pig and Poultry Production Institute, part of the Southern Star Poultry Alliance, who focus on poultry nutrition, welfare and husbandry. Poultry-related studies and research are also conducted in the University of Adelaide’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences within the Departments of Production Animal Health, and Animal and Veterinary Bioscience.

University of New England

UNE teaches two poultry specific units, through the School of Environmental and Rural Science. These units are Poultry Production and Poultry Feed Science and Technology and can be taken at either undergraduate or postgraduate level. The units are highly relevant to the commercial poultry industry and are designed to provide students and clients completing relevant postgraduate and undergraduate degrees, certificates or diplomas with a broad understanding of commercial Poultry Production and detailed understanding of Poultry Feed Science and Technology.

Poultry Research at UNE covers a range of topics including nutrition, production, health/disease, welfare, and genetics, meat science and egg quality. Animal Science staff are listed with their research areas of interest and contact details here. UNE is also well set up with experimental facilities to conduct poultry research.

University of New South Wales

NSW Uni’s recognized areas of strength in natural and life sciences area make it an obvious place to look if you have an interest in environmental issues. The School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) is a great starting point for discussing ways to measure and reduce environmental impacts associated with commercial poultry production. If biomolecular science is more your field of interest, then UNSW has a School for that too.

University of Queensland

The UQ QAAFI Institute (Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation) was formed as a collaboration with the University of Queensland and the Queensland Government. It has three centres, the Centre for Plant Science, the Centre for Animal Science and the Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, and each of these encompasses areas that are relevant to poultry production. In particular, research opportunities exist in the area of safe food production, as securing food production into the future will only increase in importance as more food is needed to feed our growing population.

University of Sydney

Sydney University is home to the Poultry Research Foundation, who conduct industry focused poultry research relevant to both the layer and broiler industries using its facilities at Camden. For a list of PRF research staff, click here. Their areas of research interest can be found on their home pages, or you can contact them to discuss future proposals and research needs.