Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery - BVetMS

Achieve your ambition to pursue a career in the exciting and rewarding field of veterinary medicine and surgery. We offer a unique delivery model that combines the expertise and resources of two outstanding universities enabling you to develop into a dedicated and compassionate veterinary professional.

Year of entry

2024 - for 2025 entry see here - for 2024 entry see here

Course type

Single Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

Harper and Keele Veterinary School

UCAS code

D100

Duration of study

5 years

Enquire about this course Clearing vacancies and entry requirements 2023 Book an open day Chat to students

Why study Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at Keele University?

Combined expertise and facilities from two high-quality institutions

Benefit from a wide range of clinical placement opportunities

Study within new state-of-the-art veterinary school buildings on both campuses

On campus farm and companion animal facilities at Harper Adams

State-of-the-art laboratory and clinical facilities at both Harper and Keele

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Course overview

This five-year, dynamic programme provides you with the specialist skills required for a varied and challenging career in veterinary medicine and surgery. It is delivered by two highly respected universities, and you will benefit from their excellent joint facilities and academic expertise. Harper Adams has a superb reputation for animal sciences combined with exceptional resources, including an on-campus farm and companion animal facilities. Keele University has an impressive track record in health and life sciences and excellent state-of-the-art teaching laboratories.

This is a highly practical and clinically focused programme where you will study key concepts in the veterinary medicine field, which will increase in complexity as you progress on the course. Teaching is delivered by experienced educators including scientists, veterinary surgeons, and other professionals. You will also have multiple opportunities to engage with students on other programmes which will give you an invaluable insight into the roles of allied professionals.

You will experience authentic work placements on your clinical rotations with our network of vet practice partners and other related businesses. These help you to build up your practical experience and develop a portfolio of professional, clinical skills.

We give you the clinical skills and expert know-how to become a resilient and confident veterinary professional. This includes equipping you with techniques to look after your own health and wellbeing so you can be confident operating in what can be a demanding and challenging veterinary profession. Both universities provide an excellent student support environment for you throughout all aspects of the programme.

During your studies you will spend full days on either campus, mainly at your ‘host’ university and travelling to the other campus to access specialist facilities when necessary.

Harper Keele Veterinary School

For more information such as course structure, including the full Programme Specification, and Harper Keele Veterinary School open days, please visit the Harper Keele Veterinary School website.

Harper Keele Veterinary School

Next steps

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Teaching Excellence Framework GOLD

Keele University has been awarded the highest rating of gold in the teaching excellence framework (TEF), 2023. The TEF assessment identifies excellence in the educational experience and outcomes of our students, focusing on all undergraduate courses and students.

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer. If you are looking for the 2023 schemes please see here.

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.

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 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)	665 or 34	665 in three Higher Levels including 6 in Biology or Chemistry and 6 in one other of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths or Physics or 34 points including 6 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry and 6 in one other of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, or Physics
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma 1080 glh	DDD*	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	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	D*	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
Access to HE Diploma	45	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	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	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		6 x H2 or 1 x H1, 4 x H2, 1 x H3 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.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

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.

Next steps

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Additional information

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 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)	665 or 34	665 in three Higher Levels including 6 in Biology or Chemistry and 6 in one other of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths or Physics or 34 points including 6 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry and 6 in one other of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, or Physics
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma 1080 glh	DDD*	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	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	D*	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
Access to HE Diploma	45	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	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	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		6 x H2 or 1 x H1, 4 x H2, 1 x H3 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

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

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 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.

English language requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer 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.

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Veterinary Medicine and Surgery students

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

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 undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

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 be eligible to transfer to the Bachelor Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) degree at Harper & Keele Veterinary School.

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.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

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

Foundation Year Entry Requirements

Applicants wishing to progress onto Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) are required to have:

A Levels

GCE A Level grades ABC/BBB - please note this is not a suitable route if you have taken, or are currently studying both A Level Biology AND Chemistry

BTEC

International Baccalaureate

H5,H5,H5 or 30 overall - please note this is not a suitable route if you have taken, or are currently studying, both Higher Level Biology AND Chemistry

Access to HE

Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff pointS including a minimum of 30 L3 credits at Distinction. Must not be taking Biology AND Chemistry. And, if the gap between commencement of the Diploma and prior formal study is at least three years, the minimum GCSE requirement is each of Maths, English Language and Science GCSE grades B/6

GCSE Requirements

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.

How to Apply

Students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Science with Foundation Year (UCAS code D103) 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.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but on a compressed timescale and tailored to a blended learning approach (with the majority of learning taking place online).

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree.

Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will be eligible to transfer to the Bachelor Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) degree at Harper & Keele Veterinary School.

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