Entry requirements
Keele is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. On that basis we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria.
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom and International students.
A wide range of qualifications are considered suitable for entry onto the course. For further information please contact the Harper Keele Veterinary School admissions team: admissions@hkvets.ac.uk
Typical conditional offers
All applicants must have a minimum of five GCSEs at grades at A/7 or above including:
Science and Additional Science (or Biology and Chemistry)
With at least a grade B/6 in:
English Language
Mathematics
Physics (if taken as a separate GCSE)
Qualification type
|
Grades
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Offer
|
A levels
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AAB
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Grade A in Biology or Chemistry A second science subject at grade A (including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Statistics) A third subject of your choice at grade B (excluding General Studies, Critical Thinking and a second maths subject if used as a science above)
|
International Baccalaureate (IB)
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34
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6, 6, 6 at Higher Level, including Biology or Chemistry A second science subject A third subject of your choice A minimum of 5, 5, 5, in Standard Levels
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma 1080 glh
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D*D*D*
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Animal Management with Science with at least a Distinction in the following units:
- Animal Biology
- Animal Health and Diseases
- Advanced Animal Nutrition
- Animal Breeding and Genetics
Applied Science (all routes) with at least four from the following optional units:
- Physiology of Human Body Systems
- Human Regulation and Reproduction
- Biological Molecules and Metabolic Pathways
- Genetics and Genetic Engineering
- Diseases and Infections
- Applications of Inorganic Chemistry
- Applications of Organic Chemistry
|
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma
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D* |
If taken in lieu of a 3rd A level, you will still require:
Two A levels at Grade A, including Biology or Chemistry Another science (which may include either of the above)
|
City and Guilds Level 3 National Extended Diploma
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D*
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Animal Management with a Distinction in the following units:
- Understand and Promote Animal Health
- Understand the Principles of Animal Biology
- Understand the Principles of Animal Nursing
- Understand Anatomy and Physiology
- Understand the Principles of Animal Nutrition
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Access to HE Diploma
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45
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Pass with 45 level 3 credits at Distinction. Diplomas must be science based and include:
- A minimum of 15 level 3 credits in Biology or Chemistry
- An additional 15 level 3 credits in a second science subject
|
SQA Higher and Advanced Higher
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AA |
- AA in Advanced Higher in Biology or Chemistry
- AABBB minimum at Higher level, to include Biology and Chemistry
|
Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
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A |
If taken in lieu of a 3rd A level, you will still require:
- Two A levels at Grade A, including Biology or Chemistry
- Another science (which may include either of the above)
|
Irish Leaving Certificate
|
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- 6 x H2 or
- 1 x H1, 4 x H2, 1 x H3
To include Biology and Chemistry at H2 or higher
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Graduates
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Normally minimum 2i in any honours degree plus minimum of BBB at A-level, including biology or chemistry; students with good degrees (1st or 2i) in an animal-related or bioscience discipline who do not meet the A-level requirements are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis alongside all other applicants. |
Work Experience
The primary aim of gaining work experience prior to a vet school application is to ensure that candidates understand the varied and sometimes challenging nature of veterinary work and the commitment required to be a successful student and have a long and fulfilling career. This is best achieved by spending time with vets in practice and alongside others working with animals in a variety of settings.
Not all candidates will have equal opportunities for access to work experience. We appreciate it may be difficult for every student to amass a large number of weeks of varied placements especially since this may also affect your academic studies.
The guidelines below are not, therefore, prescriptive and we will consider applicants who do not manage to fully meet the suggested times spent. No weight will be afforded to those with greater time spent on placements.
Far more importantly, we will expect you to be able to discuss in detail the insights you have gained during your work experience. This should be derived from time spent ‘seeing practice’ with vets in a clinical setting and from animal work experience.
Suggested experience to aim for:
Two weeks in one or more veterinary practices, ideally covering both large and small animal work
Up to four weeks in a mixture of non-clinical placements which could include any of:
- farms: cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry; dairy and lambing experiences are very useful
- stables, kennels, catteries etc
- veterinary or medical laboratories and pathology services
- a day at an abattoir
If you are unable to secure large animal clinical experience with a vet it would be sensible to ensure you spend time on livestock farms to understand the nature of this work where you can also gain insights about the interaction with visiting vets
We appreciate it may be easier to gain smaller chunks of experience such as a day a week at a local vet practice and therefore do not expect your experience to be made up of week-long blocks at each placement.
For successful interviewees with relatively little work experience, we may make offers conditional on gaining further specified work experience.
Please note: the above are suggestions and ideas for work experience. This is not a checklist and achieving all these placements is not a requirement.
Further Details
The school will also accept applications from students who are on the gateway preparatory year Extended Degree programme at Harper Adams University. Additional alternative pathways are currently being developed.
The progression requirements for these courses are still to be confirmed at the time of writing and will be available on the website in due course.
At this time, the school is unable to consider applications from students who require a Tier 4 visa.
PREPARATION PROGRAMMES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.
These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.