Your training in animal care at the university hospital

As an animal keeper in the research and clinical area, you will contribute to animal welfare and the success of scientific studies.

Apply now

"The well-being of the animals at
is very important to me."

Lara, an animal care apprentice

Your training in animal care at Cologne University Hospital at a glance

Animal keeper for research and clinic

Duration of training, salary, vacation: everything you need to know about training as an animal nurse at the university hospital.

Duration of training

3 years

Start of training

Annually on August 1

Application period

September to the end of February

Salary

1st year € 1,236.82
2nd year € 1,290.96
3rd year € 1,340.61

Vacation

32 days

Your working hours

Flexitime

Prerequisites

Fachoberschulreife

Your school

Elly Heuss Knapp School in Düsseldorf

Your Responsibilities as an Animal Keeper

Caring for Animals for Research Purposes

You will care for animals in research laboratories, prepare them for experiments, and support our researchers with tasks such as breeding planning and documentation. In doing so, you will implement the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act and the Laboratory Animal Regulations, thereby ensuring the safety, hygiene, and well-being of the animals. Through your dedication, you make an important contribution to research day after day. The training program in Animal Care for Research and Clinical Settings offers a comprehensive and hands-on introduction to the various fields of medical research and laboratory animal science.

These are the requirements

Application for the Animal Care Training Program

You have a high school diploma with good grades in science subjects and possess a strong understanding of scientific processes. You are reliable, a team player, and physically resilient. Your attention to detail helps you quickly notice changes. You are interested in and enjoy working hands-on with animals such as mice, rats, and pigs. Experience gained through an internship is a plus.

Your benefits as an apprentice

Training in animal care

At the University Hospital, you will help us to carry out animal experiments that will enable us to develop new drugs and therapies. We greatly appreciate your commitment and offer you many benefits from the very first day of your training.

Meaningful work

You contribute to disease research every day.

Always learn something new

With our internal trainee training program

A strong team

You are important here - from day 1

Great atmosphere

At the summer party and our many other events

Discover more advantages

Frequently asked questions / FAQ

During your training, you will alternate between spending time at the Elly-Heuss-Knapp-Schule in Düsseldorf and working with us at the University Hospital Cologne. At school, you will focus on the health, behavior and physiology of animals and the laws on animal and species protection. You will also learn how to use laboratory equipment safely, take samples and analyze them. You can deepen your knowledge in several full-day courses in North Rhine-Westphalia.

You will work in various institutes and laboratories in our animal husbandry network and at external facilities. Our qualified trainers will always be at your side.

Animal welfare is a central part of your work. You ensure that all legal requirements are met. You also make sure that the animals are exposed to as little stress as possible during the experiments. For example, by using painkillers or anaesthesia during procedures.

Veterinary nurses specializing in research and clinical care are in demand. Many research institutions and pharmaceutical companies are increasingly investing in research, which increases the demand for well-trained specialists. At the University Hospital of Cologne, you also have a very good chance of being taken on after your training.

You are welcome to apply using the online form, which you can find under the current vacancy. Unfortunately, we cannot consider e-mail applications.

Your opportunities at the university hospital

Get to know us better

Internship for orientation

Are you interested in training, but not yet sure whether it suits you? Then an internship could help you decide.

Internship

What makes us unique

People who work at the university hospital often not only enjoy their job, but really enjoy it. For example, because everyone can rely on each other 100%.

Corporate culture