The curriculum of the Department of Animal Science includes a total of 46 required courses and 49 elective courses—of which 18 are major electives and 31 are free electives. The required courses (Core Courses) cover the fundamental knowledge and skills of the field of Animal Production and are required for the completion of the degree. Elective courses are categorized as follows: a) Major Electives, which allow students to deepen their understanding of specific subjects or explore various areas within the field of Animal Science. These courses are selected from a designated list included in the curriculum; b) Free Electives, which offer students the opportunity to pursue academic interests outside the core domain of Animal Science. These may be taken from other departments of the University, provided there are no enrollment restrictions. Students in the Department may select up to 16 elective courses (7 major and 9 free electives) to fulfill the required 300 ECTS credits necessary for graduation. Additionally, they may choose up to 20 extra ECTS from either major or free elective courses, provided that these are declared in advance as not contributing to the final degree grade—they will be listed only in the diploma supplement.

The course categories within the curriculum of the Department of Animal Science are as follows:

I. General Knowledge Courses

There are 10 General Knowledge courses including English. The English language course is taught two (2) hours per week in a progressive series of six semesters corresponding to grades I, II, III, IV, V and VI. English I, III and V levels are offered in the winter semester while levels II, IV and VI in the spring semester

ΙI. General Background Courses

There are 10 Background courses (8 required and 2 electives) in the Department of Animal Science, which are compulsory.

III. Field of Science Courses

There are 75 Field of Science courses (basic agricultural knowledge and animal science). Of the 75 Field of Science courses, 33 are compulsory and 42 are elective.

IV. Skills Development Courses

There are 20 Skills Development courses and activities, of which 12 are compulsory and the remaining 8 are elective. Skills Development activities also include the mandatory completion of an internship and the preparation of a diploma dissertation. The dissertation can be carried out in one of the 4 laboratories of the Department of Animal Science or another Department of the Agricultural University in a thematic area that is relevant to the study program in which the student is enrolled.

Educational trips, organized by the Department, are part of the training process and are, thus, obligatory. The trips are approved by the Senate, following the proposals of the Department, and take place typically after the end of ‘spring’ semester teaching classes and prior to the June examination period. In exceptional circumstances, educational trips can also be scheduled on particular dates to meet special educational purposes. The cost of the student trip is covered in part by the University.

Three examination periods: January – February, June and September. Exams are conducted after the end of each semester in all taught courses. To take the exams, students should have previously filled-in an ‘exam entry form’ (either electronically or through the Secretariat office). Students must indicate the n + 3 exams they intend to participate (n is the number of current semester courses and 3 the courses from previous semesters).

In the September exam period, students may participate in all course exams (theory and laboratory classes) of the last two semesters and, furthermore, up to six theory course exams and six laboratory class exams, from previous semesters. According to the number of successfully concluded theory and laboratory exams, students can take exams for up to twelve theory courses and twelve laboratory classes from previous semesters.

Provisions only for 10th semester and ‘on degree’ students:

• ‘January – February’ examination period: students can participate in all theory course exams and lab class exams of the ‘winter’ semester and additionally in 12 courses (theory and lab class) of the ‘spring’ semester.
• ‘June’ examination period: students can participate in all theory course exams and lab class exams of the ‘spring’ semester and additionally in 12 classes (theory and lab class) of the ‘winter’ semesters.
• ‘September’ examination period: students can sit for exams of all courses (theory and lab class) of the ‘spring’ and the ‘winter’ semester. The theory courses exams and the corresponding lab class exams and tutorials are independently treated and the student’s performance is evaluated separately. The final grade indicates the average performance in theory and in laboratory or tutorial exams. The grade range falls within 0-10, with ‘five’ (5) as the passing mark.

The Internship constitutes an educational activity designed to provide practical application of the theoretical and scientific knowledge acquired through successful completion of the academic curriculum. It also familiarizes students with potential professional environments. The benefits of participating in the Internship include: a) an initial exposure to the professional field and the development of outward-looking, career-oriented skills, b) an understanding of current market trends and the competencies required, and c) the opportunity to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings relevant to students’ interests. It also allows students to explore various professional domains to identify the one offering them the greatest personal and professional benefit.

Key Features of the Internship:

• The Internship is mandatory for the award of the degree.
• It is awarded 10 ECTS credits.
• It is graded on a pass/fail basis.
• The minimum duration is two (2) calendar months of full-time engagement at a Host Institution and may be completed continuously.
• The Internship is scheduled for the 10th semester of the curriculum and may commence at any time following the start of that semester. Students who have fulfilled all course requirements (i.e., are in the final stage of their studies) may carry out the Internship at any time throughout the academic year.
• The purpose of the Internship is to expand academic knowledge through real-world experience, offering exposure to challenges and data in actual working environments. It focuses on cutting-edge areas of Animal Science, enhancing students’ professional prospects and supporting their future integration into the labor market.
• To be eligible, students must have completed the first nine (9) academic semesters before beginning the Internship.
• Evaluation of student applications for participation in funded Internship programs (e.g., Erasmus+, NSRF) is conducted only when the number of available funded positions is fewer than the total number of applicants, or when budgetary limitations restrict full coverage of all students through co-financed projects or other sources (public, private, or internal). In such cases, selection is based on objective academic criteria: Students are ranked by highest GPA combined with the fewest outstanding courses. Priority will be given to those with the highest average grades and the least remaining coursework. In the event of a tie for the final available position, a public lottery will be held, open to the entire academic community and all interested parties. Students with disabilities (as defined by institutional guidelines) may be selected by exception, up to 5% of available positions, in accordance with the University’s Internship Regulations.

More details about the internship can be found HERE

The diploma dissertation is a special research work that each student is required to carry out and submit in electronic form and in three hard copies in the form of a typed document for examination.

To determine the topic of the dissertation, the student applies first to the Laboratories of his Department. If special scientific reasons exist, the student may apply to other Laboratories of the Institution to determine the topic of the dissertation. The topic of the study, the main advisor Professor and the three-member advisory and examination committee are approved by the General Assembly of the Sector to which the main advisor Professor belongs and are notified to the Department Secretariat.

The assignment of a dissertation topic is made on the condition that the student has successfully fulfilled all the examination obligations of the first eight semesters. An exception is made only in the case where the student has failed a maximum of three courses after the eight semesters have elapsed.

The examination of the dissertation is only carried out if the student has successfully fulfilled all the examination obligations of the curriculum. The examination is held publicly by the three-member advisory and examination committee, chaired by the main advisor, at a time determined by the committee. During the examination, the student orally develops his work and answers questions from the committee members. Each member of the committee grades separately and the final grade of the thesis is determined by the average of the grades of the three examiners. The dissertation is considered successful if the final grade is greater than or equal to five (5) and the grades of at least two examiners are greater than or equal to five (5). In case of failure, the student is submitted to a second examination, after completing and correcting his dissertation according to the recommendations of the committee. In case of a new failure, the student is obliged to prepare another degree study with the same or a different topic.

More details about the degree study can be found HERE

In the first six semesters, the English language course is taught as a compulsory subject (for those who do not have a recognized qualification in a foreign language). The Rector’s Council of the University of Athens (Meeting: 13/9/94), taking into account the decisions of the Senate (152/28.5.92 and 166/13.7.93) regarding the establishment of the English language course as a compulsory subject, decided that the English course, although it is a compulsory subject included in the first six semesters, should not be graded with the established grading scale, but with the classification “sufficient” or “insufficient” for each examination period. A degree is not awarded to final-year students if the proficiency in the foreign language course has not been notified to the Secretariat of the Institution. For the English language, proficiency is granted upon presentation of a qualification of at least Lower (First Certificate) level, while for the French, German and Italian languages, a qualification of proficiency is required by a committee consisting of the Institute’s Foreign Language Professors and Faculty members of the Institute with postgraduate studies of at least 3 years duration in a country with an official language of one of the above. This committee is appointed at the beginning of each academic year by decision of the Rector’s Council.

The diploma (‘ptichion’) final grade, after having successfully completed the five-year undergraduate curriculum, results as the average of two grades: four fifths (4/5) of all course grades and one fifth (1/5) of the final year ‘Diploma Dissertation’. The student’s performance is regarded as one of ‘Distinction’ (grades 9 and 10), ‘Very Good’ (grades 7 and 8) and ‘Pass’ (grades 5 and 6)

A public ceremony of Oath Taking and Degree Awarding is held for those students having fulfilled all their obligations of the curriculum followed (i.e. course examinations, practical training and diploma dissertation). The ceremony takes place in the Hall of Ceremonies of the University. Oath taking is followed by degree awarding by the University Rector and the Chairman of the Department.

Upon successful completion of the study program students will acquire a range of knowledge, skills and abilities. The learning outcomes are measurable. In detail, the graduates of the Department will be able to:

• Know the fields that concern the whole range of animal science (reproduction, nutrition, hygiene, production systems, processing, distribution of products)
• Understand the challenges and current trends, as well as the complexity and interdisciplinarity of issues related to animal science
• Assess specialized knowledge and scientific methodology so as to develop know-how on the production, processing and distribution of products of animal origin
• Apply the acquired knowledge and skills in the development of innovative products and services in the field of animal science
• Analyze information, ideas, problems and solutions in a way that meets the ever-increasing demands of the industry, taking into account the current challenges of the livestock industry such as climate change, environmental protection, etc.
• Combine knowledge, critical thinking and skills, in order to be able to adapt to the continuously evolving needs of the market
• Interpret research results, in order to continue their studies in an autonomous way at postgraduate and doctoral level

Graduates of the Department of Animal Science of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) are awarded a degree in Agronomy with a specialization in Animal Science and acquire the professional rights of a Geotechnician, in accordance with Laws 1474/1984 and 2040/1992 and Presidential Decree 344/2000, as well as the right to exercise their professional activities as detailed in Article 8 of Presidential Decree 344/2000. In addition, they obtain the professional rights of an Ichthyologist, under the conditions set by Article 36 of Law 4440/2016. Specifically, graduates of the Department of Animal Science may work:

A. As officers in the Public Sector and the wider Public Administration, such as:

• The Central and Regional Services, as well as the Directorates of Agricultural Policy and Community Resources Management and the supervised Legal Entities of Public Law (LEPL), Legal Entities of Private Law (LEPL), and S.A. under the Ministry of Rural Development and Food (M.R.D.F.). Also, the services or supervised agencies of other Ministries involved in the development of Animal Production and environmental protection,
• Public Organizations, such as Centers for Genetic Improvement, ELGO-DIMITRA, EFET, ELGA, OPEKEPE, HCMR,
• Research Centers and Institutes, and Higher Education Institutions (as researchers),
• The Directorates of Agricultural Economy and Veterinary Services (D.A.O.K.) of Regional and Local Authorities, and
• Secondary Education (General, Technical, and Vocational High Schools), as teachers, following training at ASPETE.

B. As self-employed professionals in the Private Sector, such as:

• Animal farming and aquaculture enterprises, feed production companies, and suppliers of equipment and inputs for livestock and aquaculture units (equipment, feed, etc.),
• Cooperative Schemes and Producer Groups, as consultants on techno-economic and scientific matters,
• Certification Bodies for agricultural, livestock, and fishery products (organic farming, livestock, aquaculture, integrated management), and
• Consulting offices specializing in study preparation (development plans, agrotourism), as expert advisors and assessors.