Are you passionate about animals, intrigued by their emotions and behaviors, and dreaming of a profession that allows you to work closely with them every day? The Animal Behavior and Psychology program is the ideal path for individuals who want to transform their interest in animal welfare into a fulfilling career. Whether your goal is to become a behaviorist, trainer, responsible breeder, or professional caregiver, this practical degree equips you with both the scientific knowledge and hands-on experience needed to succeed.
Throughout your studies, you will gain a solid foundation in animal psychology -particularly cognitive and behavioral approaches -as well as in zoology and ethology. You’ll learn how to observe, understand, and interpret animal behavior, solve behavioral issues, and guide animals through training and socialization processes based on positive reinforcement and building strong human-animal bonds.
Graduates of this specialization are prepared to work in diverse fields, including:
This program is a perfect fit if:
In line with the new requirements for visa applications introduced by Polish consulates around the world, candidates applying for a student visa are now required to submit a document confirming their eligibility to apply for a bachelor’s degree (first-cycle studies), issued by the Polish Education Superintendent Office (in Polish – Kuratorium Oświaty). Previously, this document could be provided after arrival in Poland, but under the new regulations, it must be submitted along with the visa application. The procedure for master’s degree candidates remains unchanged.
While the new requirement may slightly extend the visa process, the UAFM is fully prepared to support bachelor’s degree candidates throughout this period. To ensure there are no disruptions to their education, candidates who cannot arrive in Poland before the start of classes will be able to participate in lectures online via MS Teams. For more information call us: (+48) 12 25 24 400
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| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Health and Safety | 0 | 8/8 |
| Academic Skills | 1 | 15/8 |
| General Pedagogy | 5 | 30/16 |
| Introduction to Philosophy | 5 | 35/20 |
| Introduction to Psychology | 5 | 30/24 |
| Fundamentals of Social Communication | 4 | 30/24 |
| Animal Anatomy and Physiology | 4 | 60/32 |
| Zoology | 3 | 30/16 |
| Animal Welfare | 3 | 30/16 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Sport and Recreation Activities | 0 | 30/- |
| Foreign Language (I) (Elective) | 2 | 30/16 |
| Research Methodology | 4 | 30/16 |
| Emotions and Motivation | 2 | 30/24 |
| Animal Emotions and Motivation | 3 | 30/16 |
| Biological Basis of Behaviour | 2 | 30/24 |
| Biological Basis of Animal Behaviour | 3 | 30/16 |
| Cognitive Processes | 2 | 30/24 |
| Animal Cognitive Processes | 3 | 30/16 |
| Ethology | 5 | 60/40 |
| Professional Placement (I) – Observation and Participation Placement | 4 | 120/120 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Sport and Recreation Activities | 0 | 30/- |
| Foreign Language (II) (Elective) | 2 | 30/16 |
| Animal Health and Behavioural Issues | 4 | 60/32 |
| Canine Behavioural Issues | 3 | 30/16 |
| Psychological Aspects of Animal Husbandry and Nutrition | 5 | 60/32 |
| Ethics of Human–Animal Interactions and Human Attitudes towards Animals | 3 | 45/24 |
| Psychological Aspects of Animal Rearing and Training | 5 | 60/32 |
| Avian Behaviour / Exotic Animal Behaviour (Elective) | 4 | 35/20 |
| Professional Placement (II) – Observation and Participation Placement | 4 | 120/120 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Foreign Language (III) (Elective) | 2 | 30/16 |
| Fundamentals of Psychological Support | 5 | 30/16 |
| Quantitative Methods – Statistics | 4 | 60/40 |
| Introduction to Animal-Assisted Therapy | 4 | 60/32 |
| Comparative Psychology | 3 | 30/16 |
| Basic Veterinary First Aid | 2 | 15/8 |
| First Aid | 1 | 15/8 |
| Feline Behavioural Issues | 3 | 30/16 |
| Equine Behavioural Issues | 2 | 30/16 |
| Professional Placement (III) – Observation and Participation Placement | 4 | 120/120 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Foreign Language (IV) (Elective) | 3 | 30/16 |
| Psychopathology | 4 | 30/24 |
| Legal Protection of Animals | 2 | 30/16 |
| Behaviour of Rodents and Rabbits | 2 | 15/8 |
| Specialisation subject 1 (see below) | 4 | 45/24 |
| Specialisation subject 2 (see below) | 3 | 45/24 |
| Specialisation subject 3 (see below) | 3 | 30/16 |
| Professional Placement (IV) (Elective) | 6 | 180/180 |
| Project Development Methodology | 3 | 30/16 |
| Subject name | Cummulative amount of ECTS points | Cummulative amount of hours |
| Specialisation subject 1 (see below) | 4 | 30/16 |
| Specialisation subject 2 (see below) | 4 | 45/24 |
| Specialisation subject 3 (see below) | 4 | 45/24 |
| Specialisation subject 4 (see below) | 4 | 45/24 |
| Specialisation subject 5 (see below) | 3 | 15/8 |
| Professional Placement (V) (Elective) | 6 | 180/180 |
| Social Project | 5 | 60/32 |
SEMESTER V
– specialism modules Terapia behawioralna i psychologia szkolenia zwierząt: Psychological Aspects of Dog and Horse Training (subject 1), Behavioural Therapy and Canine Case Studies (subject 2), Behavioural Therapy and Feline Case Studies (subject 3);
– specialism modules Animaloterapia: Canine-Assisted Therapy (subject 1), Equine-Assisted Therapy (Hippotherapy) (subject 2), Animal-Assisted Rehabilitation (subject 3);
SEMESTER VI
– specialism modules Terapia behawioralna i psychologia szkolenia zwierząt: Interpersonal Communication Skills Training (subject 1), Psychological Aspects of Training Service and Therapy Horses (subject 2), Psychological Aspects of Training Assistance and Service Dogs (subject 3), Behavioural Therapy and Equine Case Studies (subject 4), Running a Business in Behavioural Therapy and Animal Care (subject 5);
– specialism modules Animaloterapia: Developmental Disorders in Children and Adolescents (subject 1), Animal-Assisted Therapy with Selected Animal Species (subject 2), The Use of Animals in Supportive Therapy (subject 3), Designing Animal-Assisted Therapy Programmes (subject 4), Running a Business in Animal-Assisted Therapy (subject 5);
By choosing to study at UAFM, you can be sure that the tuition fee will not change throughout the duration of your studies. You can pay the tuition fee once for the entire year of study or spread over a semester payment. This allows you to decide how you want to plan your expenses.
Save 1 000 € per year — throughout your entire studies
INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP (IRS)
The International Regional Scholarship (IRS) is a permanent reduction of your annual tuition fee designed to support international students and make high-quality education more accessible. Candidates with citizenship of one of the 30 selected countries are entitled to the scholarship for the entire duration of their studies. The discount is reflected in your tuition fee based on the country selected in your application.
| Programme name | With Scholarship (IRS) | Regular tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Behavior and Psychology | 3000 € / year or 1650 € / semester* | 4000 € / year or 2150 € / semester* |
In the academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, UAFM in Kraków awarded nearly 500 Rector’s Scholarships.
Any student who has achieved a high grade point average may apply for a merit-based scholarship.
In the academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, UAFM in Kraków awarded nearly 500 Rector’s Scholarships in the amount of PLN 1,000 per month, depending on academic performance, or PLN 800 / PLN 1,200 per month, depending on scientific, artistic, or sports achievements.
The scholarship can also be awarded for scientific or artistic publications, participation in scientific research or development work, participation in internships, practical training or courses beyond the study program, participation in scientific conferences, and participation in scientific, artistic competitions, exhibitions, or festivals.
A sports scholarship may be granted to a student who stands out with sporting achievements at least at the national competition level or is a member of the national team. Scholarships may also be awarded to athletes representing the university in academic competitions. A first-year student may receive a scholarship based on sports achievements from the 12 months preceding the start of their studies.
Young athletes may receive financial support in the amount of PLN 800 or PLN 1,200 per month.
A scholarship for students with disabilities may be awarded to a student who holds a certificate of disability, a degree of disability, a ZUS medical certificate, a certificate of classification into an invalidity group, or a certificate of permanent or long-term inability to work on a farm.
In the academic year 2024/2025, depending on the degree of disability, approximately 100 scholarships were awarded for students with disabilities, in amounts ranging from PLN 850 to PLN 1,250 per month. In 2023/2024, about 80 scholarships were awarded in the same amounts.
Emergency financial aid is a form of one-time financial support. Any student who has temporarily found themselves in a difficult life situation due to unforeseen events beyond their control may apply for it. Emergency aid can be awarded twice during one academic year; however, it cannot be granted twice for the same event.
In the academic year 2023/2024, we granted 215 emergency financial aids for a total amount of PLN 389,900. Depending on the student’s situation, the amounts ranged from PLN 500 to PLN 3,500 as a one-time payment.
Academic Year 2023/2024:
· 500 Rector’s Scholarships
· 215 emergency financial aids
· 188 social scholarships
· 83 scholarships for students with disabilities
In 2024, we spent nearly PLN 8,800,000 on scholarships.
