Animal Research Courses

Everyone who will work with experimental animals must receive training and practice in accordance with Annex E of the Regulations on the Use of Animals in Experiments before they design experiments, conduct experiments, care for animals, or euthanize animals.

With the implementation of EU Directive 2010/63, a new classification system for personnel working with animals in experiments was introduced. Technical skills requirements apply to those who will perform procedures on animals (Groups A, C, and D).

Those who plan experiments but do not perform procedures themselves (Group B) must still be familiar with these procedures, their impact on the animals, and how to perform them in the most refined way, but do not need to demonstrate practical proficiency.

Three Different Courses

The training is organized into three different courses. Two of these require physical attendance at UiB in Bergen, while the last course is 100% online and can be taken from anywhere. The teaching will be conducted in English. NOTE: It is mandatory to attend the online teaching at the times specified below.

Which subject you should take depends on your function (A, B, C, or D) and which experimental animals you will work with:

• LAS 601: General part of the theoretical training (physical attendance)
• LAS 603: Species-specific specialization for fish (physical attendance)
• CARE IN 601: General part of the theoretical training + species-specific part for rodents, pigs, and model fish (online)

Note that to perform procedures on animals (functions A and D), you must also complete practical training in accordance with current requirements. Practical training modules are not included in these subjects and must be taken separately.

Who may take the courses and where to apply?

Are you a master’s or PhD student?

UiB organizes courses for our own master’s and PhD students, as well as master’s and PhD students from our partner institutions. If you are a master’s or PhD student from another educational institution in Norway, you can apply for a place in the CareIn subject through Søknadsweb. The subject is named National Course in Laboratory Animal Science.

Application deadline: 1 December. You will receive a response around 18 December.

If you are a master’s or PhD student from another educational institution in Norway and wish to attend the LAS courses together with UiB students on campus, you must apply for guest student status at the Faculty of Medicine by 1 February 2025. Contact the study section, Clinical Institute if this applies to you, for further guidance.
 

Are you employed in the private sector?

If you work at independent research institutes, laboratories, or other private sector entities, you can apply for a place in Care-In or LAS 601/LAS 603. NOTE:  There will be a tuition fee for each course, see in the right hand menu/below.

Register your application in Evuweb, see application links see in the right hand menu/below.

First application processing: 1 December. We will then admit new applicants as long as we have available places.

Read more about each course: 

Admission Requirements

The following admission requirements apply to those who wish to take one or more of the subjects and work with animal experiments in private companies, research institutes, and laboratories:

The subjects are at the master’s level, and we therefore require that you have a bachelor’s degree, cand.mag. degree, or another equivalent degree or basic education with a scope of three years/180 ECTS credits. Furthermore, you must document that you have at least two years of relevant work experience, in the form of a certificate of service/attestation or other confirmation from your employer.

It is possible to compensate for part of the educational requirement (up to one year/60 ECTS credits) by documenting relevant work experience beyond the minimum requirement of two years. In that case, two years of basic education/120 ECTS credits will be sufficient. Please feel free to contact us for an assessment if this applies to you.