The online AniLex program

September 2021 – June 2025

What:
Online program on Animal Law
Consists of:
45 ECTS credits (9 courses in total)
Target audience:
Academics from various disciplines, practitioners of law and representatives from authorities involved in matters regarding animals and animal law
Language of education:  
English
Registration:
Separate registration for each course
Organiser:
Open University at Åbo Akademi University

General information

AniLex is a new program on Animal Law provided as continuous learning by the Open University at Åbo Akademi University.

The program consists of 10 courses à 5 credits (ECTS). The students get a course certificate for a passed course. The total credits of the courses in the program is 50 ECTS.

1 ECTS is 25 hours of work. One course equals 135 hours of work. The length of each course is five weeks, and the courses are held consecutively. The schedule is found on the ‘Schedule’ page.

Students at Åbo Akademi University can study Animal Law as a 25-30 ECTS minor subject, or as a 20 ECTS thematic module.

The course schedule for the academic year 2024-2025 has been published. Please look at the schedule-page for more information

Overall schedule 2023-2026

Please see this linked page for the over-arching structure of the AniLex-program. NB! Please note that this is a preliminary schedule. The specific course schedule will be published annually in spring for the incoming academic year.

Target audience

The program is mainly intended for university students and researchers from various disciplines, but also for practitioners of law, authorities involved in animal law issues and in other matters related to animals and law.

We warmly welcome everyone regardless of background or education in law. The AniLex program is based in the Nordic and European systems of law and their jurisdiction. This means that also students from countries with common law system can participate.

The courses are intended to help increase understanding of the relation between humans and other animals in the context of law. All courses are organised on the learning platform Moodle. All pertinent information concerning the course can be found on the Moodle page of each course. All courses are offered as online courses with a set beginning and end date, with weekly deadlines. This means that the courses aren´t dependent on time zones.