Veterinary Science (BVSc),NQUG

Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science is delivering the BVSc Veterinary Science degree in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). Aberystwyth University has been established since 1872, and for over a hundred years has been delivering innovative research in the Agriculture, Animal and Biological Sciences.

Established in 1791, The RVC is the UK’s largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a member institution of the University of London. The RVC is ranked as the world’s number one veterinary school in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2024.

The Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree, jointly hosted at both Aberystwyth University and the RVC offers you a chance to train at two world-leading institutions.

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. Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, veterinary degrees must have a “recognition order” from the Privy Council before graduates can automatically be eligible for registration with the RCVS.

The Privy Council will take advice from RCVS on this. The process takes a number of years as full approval cannot be considered until after the RCVS undertakes a formal inspection of the full course and its standards in 2026 when the first cohort of students will have completed their degrees. Until that time, both institutions are liaising regularly with the RCVS to ensure that progress towards accreditation is maintained.

Should any unforeseen issues arise, the Veterinary Surgeons Act includes a provision to help ensure that those completing their final exams in an as-yet-unapproved degree may still be allowed to register, in that the Privy Council may invite the RCVS to set examinations for any students attending a non-approved UK veterinary degree course, or alternatively appoint RCVS External Examiners to oversee the standard of the final year examinations. Students who pass the RCVS-controlled examinations would then be able to register with the RCVS and practise as veterinary surgeons in the UK, regardless of the outcome of the degree’s accreditation process. This is in line with the arrangements for any new veterinary degree programmes.

Practical and Clinical Teaching

Animal Husbandry Extra-Mural Studies (AHEMS)

AHEMS is undertaken during the first two years of the programme. AHEMS placements are designed to help you consolidate your learning about animal husbandry, develop animal handling skills, and learn about animal industries. You must complete 10 weeks of AHEMS before entry to the third year of the course.

Clinical Extra-Mural Studies (ClinEMS)

ClinEMS is the time dedicated to gaining practical clinical experience in the latter years of your veterinary science programme to support your learning and clinical experience. ClinEMS will allow you to gain experience in a variety of different clinical and other veterinary-related organisations, where you will consolidate your learning about diagnosis and management of animal diseases, enhance your practical clinical skills, and acquire greater understanding of how veterinary organisations operate.

During the third, fourth and fifth years you will undertake ClinEMS placements, totalling 20 weeks of placements.

Intramural clinical rotations

In the final two years of the course, your clinical experience will focus on:

• observation, discussion and practical experience as a clinical team member within the RVC hospitals, and in clinical enterprises in which the RVC is a collaborating partner
• during your time on rotations your learning and understanding will be complemented by a broad range of lectures, seminars and workshops.

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","language":"

BTEC National Diploma:
D*D*D* Applied Science / Applied Science (Biomedical Science), to include distinctions in required units

International Baccalaureate:
Successful completion of IB Diploma with 666 at Higher Level to include Biology, Chemistry and one other subject

European Baccalaureate:
N/A

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

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. The RVC, Aberystwyth University and the RCVS are working closely together to ensure that our BVSc course meets the standards required for the RCVS to grant full accreditation in 2026 when the first cohort of students graduate.

Graduates develop an in-depth scientific knowledge that may be applied to a broad range of career pathways including the spectrum of clinical practices, veterinary and biomedical research, veterinary public health and food security, conservation medicine and a range of activities with government and veterinary-related industries. Additionally, having trained partially in Wales throughout the degree, graduates will be extremely well-suited to continue their career in Welsh practices and other veterinary institutions and employers.