Basic course labaratory animal science

Do you want to design and carry out animal experiments? Then following the Laboratory Animal Science course (the basic course plus a species specific course) is an indispensable step. The course is an important part of the legal requirements to be allowed to set up and conduct animal experiments (ex. Art. 9 Experiments on Animals Act). The Laboratory Animal Science course at Utrecht University has been taught since 1986. The course is recognized by the Dutch government and is FELASA accredited since April 2019 (Function B for the basic course).

Animal experiments should only be set up and carried out by experts. In all cases, harm to the well-being of the experimental animal must be reduced to the absolute minimum. After all, all animals ultimately have the same intrinsic value. This requires knowledge, expertise and a correct attitude towards laboratory animals. The Laboratory Animal Science course teaches, among other things, implementation of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement), which are central to setting up or conducting animal experiments. We also cover legislation concerning animal experimentation, ethics, animal welfare, experimental design, and more.

This course is suitable for researchers who will be setting up and conducting animal experiments (ex. Art. 9. Experiments on Animals Act). The target group consists of researchers and Master’s students in a biological, biomedical, or zootechnical field of study, with sufficient knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biological/biomedical subjects. This knowledge is assessed prior to the course by means of an entrance test.

Please note: the course on Laboratory Animal Science is only part of the legal requirements for an ‘Article 9 officer’. You must also be scientifically trained (MSc level) in a member state of the EU or EEA, in a scientific discipline relevant to the work being undertaken.

To assess whether you meet the legal requirements to plan and perform animal experiments and to be registered as an Article 9 officer, please contact the Animal Welfare Body of your license holder. For more information regarding competency in animal experimentation, check out the website of the Animal Welfare Body Utrecht

The learning outcomes of this course are in accordance with the ‘Education and Training Framework’ (relating to Directive EU/2010/63 of the European Commission.

The following modules are covered:

Core modules:

1 National legislation 2 Ethics, animal welfare and the 3Rs (level 1) 3.1 Basic and appropriate biology - theory 4 Animal care, health and management 5 Recognition of pain, suffering and distress 6.1 Humane methods of killing - theory

Function specific modules:

3.2 Basic and appropriate biology – skills

7 Minimally invasive procedures without anaesthesia – theory (partially) 9 Ethics, animal welfare and the 3Rs (level 2) 10 Design of procedures and projects (level 1) 11 Design of procedures and projects (level 2)

Task specific modules:

20 Anaesthesia for minor procedures

The study load for this course is approximately 80 hours, spread across 3 weeks. Attendance is mandatory for all course subjects. There is a 100% attendance obligation.

22 June 2026 - 9 July 2026 Course is fully booked

If a course is fully booked, you can sign up for the next course via the registration button, or register for the waiting list via the interest form.

NOTE: in case enrollment is too low, courses may be cancelled. We will inform you about this one month before the start of the course at the latest.

The session takes place at Utrecht Science Park. On the Utrecht Science Park website you can find an overview of the different travel routes and transport options. You can also view an overview of the available paid parking options if you plan to come by car .

For course-related questions contact las@uu.nl

Admission requirements:

This course is open to researchers and Master’s students in a biological, biomedical, or zootechnical field of study with sufficient knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biological/biomedical subjects.

· General knowledge of basic biological subjects (anatomy/zoology and physiology) is assessed via a mandatory entrance test. Have you taken this test before for another course? Please mention this when registering.

· The entrance test consists of multiple-choice questions and lasts 1 hour. Read more about the entrance test here.

• You can register for the entrance exam here
• Sign up via the sign-up button at the top of the page

UU-master students

UU MSc students in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience and Cognition should register in consultation with their administration office via infobms@umcutrecht.nl by completing the separate registration form (scroll down for more info and the registration forms).

UU MSc students of Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Science and Business or Biosciences should register in consultation with their administration office via science.gsls@uu.nl by completing the separate registration form (scroll down for more info and the registration forms). Mail to LAS@uu.nl for more information.

Payment

Payment for the course can be made directly or via invoice via the created environment in Osiris after registration. Are you a master’s student at the Graduate School of Life Sciences (UU)? The invoice will then be sent directly to your master’s program. Cancellation policy

· 22 or more days prior to the course start date: no costs will be charged.

· 7–21 days prior to the course start date: 50% of the costs will be charged.

· 7 or fewer days before the course start date or no-show: the full amount will be charged.