Veterinary Medicine and Surgery - BVetMS
- Year of entry
- 2022 - for 2023 entry see here
- Course type
- Single Honours
- Duration of study
- 5 years
- Location
- Keele University campus
- Subject area / School
- Harper and Keele Veterinary School
- UCAS code
- D100
Course overview
Combining the excellence of two institutions - Harper Adams University and Keele University - with state-of-the-art facilities, to create career ready veterinary graduates of the future.
Top 10
for Student Experience Times Good University Guide, 2020Top 10
in England for Overall Student Satisfaction NSS, 2021 (broad-based public universities)Winner
Global Sustainability Institution of the Year Green Gown Awards, 2020Student testimonials
Course content
This new undergraduate degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) provides the opportunity for a contemporary and exciting curriculum, meeting the RCVS Day One Competences and also developing a wider range of professional attributes.
Students will study a five-year programme leading to a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree.
During their studies students will be able to benefit from Harper’s long standing reputation in animal sciences and access to Harper’s farm and companion animal facilities, alongside Keele’s experience of establishing a leading UK medical school and significant recent investment in facilities such as state-of-the-art teaching laboratories.
The course is a highly practical and clinically-focused programme from year one. A contemporary ‘spiral’ curriculum design enables students to study the key concepts in relevant clinical context from the outset. These are revisited in subsequent years with increasing complexity drawing on input from researchers, clinical specialists and industry colleagues from our extensive network.
The clinical rotations will follow a distributed model of delivery through authentic workplace-based placements hosted by our veterinary practice partners. This affords a highly student-centred and individualised final year in a range of relevant settings that will prepare new graduates for a smooth transition to professional life.
Veterinary programmes are intensive for students, who can expect around 28 hours per week of contact time.
Students also need to complete extra mural studies, an RCVS requirement that augments their practical experience, and so the total study year ranges from 35-45 weeks a year across the five year programme.
Due to the vocational nature and focus of the programme, all modules have been created exclusively for it:
- Extensive use is made of the farm and companion animals on site at Harper Adams as well as state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and clinical skills resources at both Harper and Keele
- Small group teaching facilitates the development of confidence in practical skills
- The curriculum will incorporate case studies from early in the first year
- Teaching is led and coordinated by experienced educators including scientists, veterinary surgeons and other professionals. Throughout the programme keynote lectures, tutorials and practical classes are also delivered through contributions from many subject matter experts, practising vets and clinical specialists.
- Clinical teaching takes place not only in a hospital setting with the unusual or more complex cases, but also in practices where management of the everyday case is the primary focus.
How will the teaching be delivered?
Students spend full days on either campus, mostly at their 'host' site, with travel days to the other site limited to the need to access specialist facilities, typically in the region of four days a month. The final year will be mostly spent on clinical rotations, with individual days or weeks back at the host site for tutorials.
Extra-mural studies (EMS) are taken throughout the veterinary degree and help to prepare students for life in the clinical and related environments. They are an essential part of veterinary education and are student led.
EMS can take place anywhere in the country, whereas final year Veterinary School managed clinical rotations will predominantly take place within easy travelling distance from either host site.
Harper Adams University and Keele University are 23 miles and 50 minutes apart by road. A shuttle bus service is provided for Vet School students allowing them to travel free of charge and safely between the two institutions in order to access timetabled classes.
Course structure
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Compulsory Modules
Compulsory Modules
- Veterinary Pathology
- Preparation for Clinical Practice
- Veterinary Public Health and State Veterinary Medicine
- Law, Ethics and Professional Practice
- Clinical Medicine and Surgery
- Business and Professional Skills
- Inter-professional Collaboration OR Research A
- Clinical rotations with support/tutorials at both sites
- Elective OR Research Project B
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 |
Offer |
|
A levels |
AAB |
Grade A in Biology or Chemistry |
|
International Baccalaureate (IB) |
34 |
6, 6, 6 at Higher Level, including Biology or Chemistry |
|
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma 1080 glh |
D*D*D* |
Animal Management with Science with at least a Distinction in the following units:
Applied Science (all routes) with at least four from the following optional units:
|
|
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma |
D* |
If taken in lieu of a 3rd A level, you will still require: Two A levels at Grade A, including Biology or Chemistry |
|
City and Guilds Level 3 National Extended Diploma |
D* |
Animal Management with a Distinction in the following units:
|
|
Access to HE Diploma |
45 |
Pass with 45 level 3 credits at Distinction. Diplomas must be science based and include:
|
|
SQA Higher and Advanced Higher |
AA |
|
|
Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate |
A |
If taken in lieu of a 3rd A level, you will still require:
|
|
Irish Leaving Certificate |
To include Biology and Chemistry at H2 or higher |
|
|
Graduates |
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.
Foundation year
You may choose to study this course via foundation year.
If you’re returning to education following a break, wish to study a new subject or don’t have the grades or sufficient equivalent experience for direct entry to this course, a foundation year may be a good option for you.
Following successful completion (including any additional progression requirements) of the foundation year you can progress on to this course.
The foundation year offers September starts across all subjects, and January starts across all science, humanities, social sciences and business routes.
The January intake excludes the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree with Foundation Year and other health-related foundation Year degree
For more details visit our foundation year webpages.
Foundation year
Foundation Year Overview
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry onto our Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) course, our Foundation Year can provide an alternative route into your degree.
Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years’ experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you’ll study on campus, joining our community from the outset, and you will have access to a range of support.
This tab provides information relating to:
- Indicative modules for the Foundation Year
- Foundation Year entry requirements
- Information on how to apply
- UCAS code for this course
Course Content
Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.
This Foundation Year is a two-semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS). For example, the Foundations of Life Sciences module looks at basic cell biology in terms of structure and function and go on to examine how cells obtain their energy and raw materials. It considers how organisms interact and analyses the effects of climate change on ecosystems. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.
Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.
Course Structure
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Semester One Modules
| FYO-00185 | Practical and Academic Skills in Science | 15 credits |
| FYO-00211 | Foundations in Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Scientists | 15 credits |
| FYO-00197 | Foundations of Life Sciences | 15 credits |
| FYO-00189 | Foundations in Chemistry | 15 credits |
Semester Two Modules
| FYO-00199 | Advancing Life Sciences | 30 credits |
| FYO-00271 | University Research Portfolio | 30 credits |
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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, European Union and International students.
Applicants wishing to progress onto Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) are required to have:
- GCE A Level grades ABC/BBB excluding Biology
AND
- Normally a minimum of 5 GCSEs at A/7 including Science and Additional Science (or Biology and Chemistry) with at least B/6 in English Language; Maths and Physics (if taken as a separate GCSE). If you do not have this GCSE profile please contact Admissions for further guidance on admissions@keele.ac.uk.
Please note to progress on to this programme from the foundation year, students will be required to pass the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery selection event and successfully complete the Foundation Year at the required threshold grades of 70% in each semester 2 module. Students will also need to have the following work experience; 2 weeks in a vets practice and 4 weeks in an animal environment. The selection event will take place during the Foundation Year.
Please note that the Foundation pathway for Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) is not a suitable route for those applicants that have completed/ are completing GCE A Level Biology.
If you wish to apply for the Foundation pathway for Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) please state this in the further details box in the choices section of your UCAS application form and also in your personal statement.
Equal consideration deadline is 15 October 2021
How to Apply
Students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Biology with Foundation Year (UCAS code C103) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. Applicants need to state that the application is for the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) course in the further details box in the choices section of the UCAS application form and in your personal statement.
Direct Entry Students
If you are a UK student, already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.
Information for students returning to education
We are interested in a broad range of qualities, not just your points on entry. We would like to learn more about you, your interests, experiences and motivation to study.
We would be delighted to talk to you about your work experience (paid or voluntary) and qualifications, and help you to explore your options for study with us.
Contact us via admissions@keele.ac.uk
Fees and funding
Unfortunately this course is not open to international applicants who require a tier 4 visa to study in the UK.
Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.
We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.
For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.
Career prospects
96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (HESA, 2017)
Combining the extensive resources of Harper Adams University and Keele University, the new Veterinary School is uniquely structured and will help students to graduate with the required skills to be immediately effective first opinion practitioners in the rapidly changing modern veterinary and animal welfare industries.
Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.
Additional opportunities
Discover the Keele difference
Everything’s on your doorstep at Keele, and you’ll soon feel at home and make friends wherever you go.
We help students manage their money and ensure that they receive any funding for which they may be eligible.
Make yourself more employable after graduation by taking advantage of the whole host of additional opportunities.