Royal Veterinary College, University of London
UCAS Code: D105 | Bachelor of Veterinary Science - BVSc
Entry requirements
A level
Biology at grade A; Chemistry at grade A; A third subject of your choice at grade A (excluding General Studies). We also require a 'pass' in the science practical for each subject, where taking the English curriculum. A* grades are not required and predictions for A* will not give advantage at selection or offer stage over applicants predicted A. There is no third subject which is preferred by selectors or gives any special advantage in the selection process. Science and non-science subjects are treated equally for the third subject. Contextual Offers: Offers of ABB (with an A in Biology or Chemistry) will be made to those meeting certain Widening Participation (WP) criteria. No separate application is required but care leavers should submit proof from the relevant local authority once they have applied.
Access to HE Diploma
Diplomas must be Science based and include a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits in Biology at Distinction and 15 Level 3 credits in Chemistry at Distinction. You must achieve at least Merit in all other graded Level 3 credits. It is expected that applicants undertaking the Access to HE Diploma will normally be returning to education after a period of at least three years absence. If have extenuating circumstances which mean you do not fulfil this please contact the Admissions team on [email protected] before you submit your application.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
in three Principal Subjects: Biology; Chemistry; A third subject of your choice.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
(Only in addition to other qualifications). A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 7 (A) including: Combined Science OR Biology and Chemistry or Science and Additional Science. with at least a grade 6 (B) in: English Language OR Welsh Language (with grade 4 in the other language if both are taken) Mathematics; Physics (if taken as a separate GCSE). For Scottish applicants, and at least National 5 grade B in: Physics; English; Mathematics.
666 at Higher Level including: Biology; Chemistry; A third subject of your choice. Our standard offer is based on specific subject-grade requirements, rather than a total points score. Where candidates have not taken GCSE’s or an equivalent qualification prior to the IB, they will need a minimum of grade 5 in: SL Mathematics: Analysis and approaches SL English A Lang-Lit (or grade 6 in English B) and must also demonstrate competency in Physics. Mathematics: Applications and interpretation cannot be accepted in lieu of Mathematics: Analysis and approaches.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including Biology and Chemistry. H1 required in one of these sciences. If not included in the above, O3 is required in: English; Mathematics; Physics* * where Physics is not available at Leaving Cert level, we'll consider a high grade in Junior Cert Science.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
The following Level 3 Extended Diplomas are accepted with specific unit requirements (see the website for details): Pearson 'Applied Science' or 'Applied Science (Biomedical Science)'; Pearson 'Animal Management'; City & Guilds 'Animal Management (Science)'.
Scottish Advanced Higher
in Biology and Chemistry. in addition to 5 Highers at AAAAB grades including: Biology; Chemistry; and at least National 5 grade B in: Physics; English; Mathematics. Contextual Offers: Offers of AB in Biology and Chemistry will be made to those meeting certain Widening Participation (WP) criteria. No separate application is required but care leavers should submit proof from the relevant local authority once they have applied.
See 'Scottish Advanced Higher'.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Applicants who achieve the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate with grade A will be accepted with two A Levels: Biology at grade A; Chemistry at grade A. Contextual Offers: Offers of ABB (with an A in Biology or Chemistry) will be made to those meeting certain Widening Participation (WP) criteria. No separate application is required but care leavers should submit proof from the relevant local authority once they have applied.
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About this course
This degree is being offered in partnership with Aberystwyth University and the **first two years of study will take place at Aberystwyth**. Applications must be made to, and will be processed by, the RVC. Interviews will be held in Aberystwyth.
This degree is designed to meet the growing needs for competent practitioners to work in rural mixed practice. Through this comprehensive course you will acquire an understanding of the basic biological principles of normal body function, the ability to distinguish the pathological from the normal, prevent disease and safely manage the processes of animal production. You will explore opportunities to further veterinary knowledge through research and develop the expertise to diagnose and treat disease, alleviate suffering and develop the professional skills you will need to work and communicate effectively in practice.
In the first two years, you will be based in the heart of Wales at Aberystwyth University, studying the biology underpinning veterinary sciences, acquiring basic farm animal, horse and companion animal handling and examination skills, and developing your communication, problem solving and team working skills. Aberystwyth University has a long history of animal health teaching and research and is committed to educational excellence. Welsh-speaking students will have the option of taking some parts of the course in Years 1 and 2 in Welsh.
From your third year you will be based at RVC’s Hawkshead campus where you will acquire advanced knowledge and practical skills in clinical science. You will experience clinical practice at the RVC as well as private veterinary practice. Additionally, in your fourth or fifth year you will return to Aberystwyth University for specialist clinical training for a short period.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Aberystwyth University (Aber)
Royal Veterinary College
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Veterinary medicine and dentistry
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Veterinary medicine and dentistry
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Good news for would-be vets! Almost all graduates get jobs as vets on finishing their courses, and salaries are much better than the average for graduates. In fact, we produce the same number of vets every year than we did 10 years ago (a few hundred) and that means there are signs of shortages in the profession as the population increases. Not surprisingly, many jobs are in rural areas, and vets are much less likely than most other graduates to work in large cities.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Veterinary medicine and dentistry
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£31k
£36k
£38k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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