Heya!
I'm a newbie on here too...and might just be able to help...
There are definitely shed loads of options as far as courses are concerned, but you are probably best deciding exactly what it is you want to get out of it - ie. where do you see yourself in 5 years time! - and then investigating further as different set-ups vary massively in structure. For example, a degree in zoology will give you a very different skill-set to a more vocational qualification in animal management. Also find someone who does the job you would like to be doing in a few years and ask them how they got there - I can only tell you what I know from my experiences.
I started out a zoology BSc and ended up switching to ecology and conservation as it was more relevant to my interests, and zoology degrees can sometimes be very dry physiological study that will end up with you knowing lots about the variety of the animal kingdom, how it evolved and so-on, but not necessarily a whole lot that is particularly useful if you actually want to work with animals. If you are in Belfast, Queens is probably as good a place as anywhere to start investigating - I'm pretty sure they have a zoology course (I had a friend who used to go there...), and most universities are flexible enough to offer part time study if thats what you are after.
From my experience, people I know who were on my course at uni went on to do further study post-zoology/ecology/marine biology undergrad (I am now doing a masters...) as from a practical perspective, whilst providing a knowledge base on which to build, undergraduate study at a lot of uni's is not geared up to dropping you straight into a practical career without further input, especially zoology (hence why I changed!).
A lot of places will allow part time study whether its vocational-style courses or otherwise, but if you are looking to work practically with animals in the longer term I would definitely recommend looking more at vocational type qualifications, maybe agricultural colleges if there is anything like that near you - and getting as much voluntary hands on experience in your spare time as possible, as experience will win over certificates any day!
