Veterinary Science (BVSc)

Program Overview

Veterinary Science (BVSc)

Key Facts

• UCAS Tariff:
• Course duration: 5 years
• Available for September start 2025

Course Overview

Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science is delivering the BVSc Veterinary Science degree in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). This exciting new course combines the scientific and clinical expertise from both organisations to help students gain wide-ranging veterinary training, and it will be especially appealing to those interested in veterinary careers within Wales or in rural mixed practice.

Accreditation

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) quality assures veterinary degrees at UK vet schools by means of specific accreditation standards. Graduates from accredited schools join the RCVS register as members allowing them to practise veterinary surgery in the UK. Aberystwyth University, the Royal Veterinary College and the RCVS are working together to ensure that the new degree meets these standards and that graduates will be eligible for registration.

Modules

Year 1

• Veterinary Science (Year 1) * (VE11460) - 60 credits

Year 2

• Form and Function (Year 2) * (VE22340) - 40 credits
• Population Medicine & Veterinary Public Health (VE21520) - 20 credits
• Principles of Science (year 2) * (VE20340) - 40 credits
• Principles of Veterinary Practice & Evidence Based Medicine (year 2) * (VE20120) - 20 credits
• Veterinary Science (Year 2) * (VE22460) - 60 credits

About this course

Teaching is organised in strands. These strands are visited on multiple occasions, initially focusing on the healthy animal, and progressing through diseases of different systems, their investigation and management. There are also non-system strands that focus on the underpinning science and the impact of animal disease on public health.

Careers

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) accredits UK veterinary degrees to ensure new veterinary surgeons are fit to practise on graduation, and thus eligible to join the RCVS Register as Members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Only those individuals registered with the RCVS can call themselves veterinary surgeons and practise veterinary surgery in the UK.

How to Apply

Full information concerning our Entry Requirements are available on our Veterinary School webpages.

Typical Entry Requirements

• UCAS Tariff:
• A Levels: AAA to include Biology, Chemistry and one other subject
• GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
  • At least five GCSEs at grade A (7) including:
    • AA in Science (Double Award)/7-7 in Combined Science or Biology and Chemistry or Science and Additional Science.
  • with at least a grade 6 (B) in:
    • Mathematics
    • Physics (if taken as a separate GCSE)
  • and at least a grade 6 (B) in:
    • English Language or Welsh language, with at least a grade 4 (C) in the second language if both were taken

Teaching & Learning

• Practical and Clinical Teaching
• Extra-mural studies (EMS) are an essential part of undergraduate veterinary education for all veterinary degrees in the UK.

Useful Links

• Accommodation
• Advice for International Students
• English Language Requirements
• Fees & Finance
• Global Opportunities
• Online Resources Hub

Statistics

• 39% say staff value students views and opinions about the course
• 79% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• 95% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.

Program Outline

Aberystwyth University - Veterinary Science (BVSc) YD105 NQUG

Degree Overview:

This jointly hosted Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) degree offers a unique opportunity to train at two world-leading scientific and educational institutions: the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Aberystwyth University. This exciting new course combines the scientific and clinical expertise from both organisations to help students gain wide-ranging veterinary training, and it will be especially appealing to those interested in veterinary careers within Wales or in rural mixed practice.

Objectives:

The program aims to equip students with the advanced knowledge and practical skills in the clinical sciences necessary to become a registrable veterinarian.

Program Description:

The program is a 5-year degree, accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). It is designed to meet the standards required for the RCVS to grant full accreditation in 2026 when the first cohort of students graduate. The program is delivered in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), the UK’s largest and longest established independent veterinary school. The RVC is ranked as the world’s number one veterinary school in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2019.

Outline:

Year 1 & 2:

• Location: Aberystwyth University
• Focus: Biology underpinning veterinary sciences, basic farm animal, horse and companion animal handling and examination skills, communication, problem solving and team working skills.
• Modules:
• Animal Husbandry:
VE10430 (30 credits)
• Form and Function (Year 1):
VE11350 (50 credits)
• Principles of Science:
VE10320 (20 credits)
• Principles of Veterinary Practice & Evidence Based Medicine:
VE10120 (20 credits)
• Form and Function (Year 2):
VE22340 (40 credits)
• Population Medicine & Veterinary Public Health:
VE21520 (20 credits)
• Principles of Science (year 2):
VE20340 (40 credits)
• Principles of Veterinary Practice & Evidence Based Medicine (year 2):
VE20120 (20 credits)

Year 3, 4 & 5:

• Location: RVC’s Hawkshead Campus in Hertfordshire
• Focus: Advanced knowledge and practical skills in the clinical sciences.
• Modules:
• Clinical Rotations:
Students will work in small groups in a variety of clinical environments, including the RVC’s clinical facilities, affiliated veterinary practices, and a specific rotation at Aberystwyth University focused on production animal issues relevant to Wales.
• Research Project: Students will undertake a research project of their choice.

Teaching:

• Teaching Staff: The majority of teaching staff in the Department of Life Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active.
Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry. The Department has a large number of research-only staff with whom students may have contact.
• Teaching Methods:
• Lectures:
Delivered by world-class researchers and clinicians who are passionate about their field.
• Seminars: Provide opportunities for in-depth discussion and analysis.
• Workshops: Offer hands-on experience and practical skills development.
• Clinical Rotations: Provide practical clinical experience in a variety of settings.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Clinical practices
• Veterinary and biomedical research
• Veterinary public health and food security
• Conservation medicine
• Government and veterinary-related industries
• Opportunities: Graduates will be well-suited to continue their career in Welsh practices and other veterinary institutions and employers.
• Outcomes: Graduates will be eligible to join the RCVS Register as Members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and practise veterinary surgery in the UK.

Other:

• Animal Husbandry Extra-Mural Studies (AHEMS): Students must complete 12 weeks of AHEMS placements before entry to the third year of the course.
Six weeks of these placements will be performed in Wales.
• Clinical Extra-Mural Studies (ClinEMS): Students will undertake ClinEMS placements, totalling 26 weeks of placements.
Thirteen weeks of these placements will be performed in Wales.
• Intramural Clinical Rotations: In the final two years of the course, students will gain clinical experience within the RVC hospitals and in clinical enterprises in which the RVC is a collaborating partner.