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Veterinary Medicine and Surgery including a Preliminary Year

  • Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery
  • 6 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 20 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
University Park Campus
More about University of Nottingham

Course options

2027-2028
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Course summary

If you are aiming for a career as a vet but do not yet have the required science qualifications, this six-year route gives you a supported and structured way to get there. The preliminary year builds your scientific knowledge and confidence so you can progress directly into our five-year Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree. You will study integrated modules in animal biology, animal care and behaviour, and chemistry, designed to show how core science subjects connect and how they apply to real veterinary practice.

After successfully completing and passing examinations for the preliminary year, you automatically join the main degree. Veterinary medicine is a hands-on profession, so your training focuses on early and continuous experience with live animals, real clinical environments and a broad mix of small animal, farm animal and equine practice. With world-recognised accreditation and a unique network of clinical associates instead of a single teaching hospital, our vet school offers one of the widest and most varied experiences in the UK.

From the beginning of the main course, you’ll work with a full range of species, including companion animals, livestock, horses, wildlife and exotics. You’ll learn using modern facilities at our Sutton Bonington campus, including a clinical skills lab, on-site farm, stables for student-owned horses, exotic animal care facilities and the Peter Rubin Centre, a mock veterinary practice designed to build confidence before entering real clinics.

Your final year is entirely lecture free and spent in clinical rotations with our clinical associates, which include small animal practices, farm animal vets, equine hospitals, wildlife centres, zoos and referral hospitals. You will experience first opinion and second opinion cases in real working environments. You’ll also complete 30 weeks of extra mural studies (EMS), which are a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon (RCVS) requirement. This is supported by a dedicated team who help you find placements in the UK and abroad.

Life on Sutton Bonington campus is welcoming and close knit. With over 40 societies, an active Vet Soc, the Big Vet Little Vet mentoring scheme, an award-winning farmers market and an annual SB Fest, you quickly feel part of a vibrant community.

With accreditations gained through this course, graduates are eligible to practise in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland – and in Europe or the USA and Canada subject to further examinations. This leads to careers in clinical practice, pathology, research, industry, charity work and many other areas.

Uniquely, our courses have an integrated BVMedSci, providing an honours degree level qualification that is achieved after completion of year three. This part of the course will enhance your ability for continual learning and development in veterinary medicine through research.

Why choose this course?

  • Experience animal handling and RCVS Day One Competences from day one in our purpose-built vet school.

  • Opportunities for placements in veterinary surgeries, farms, zoos and specialist animal centres.

  • Graduate with three qualifications – a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM), Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery (BVS), and an additional award of BVMedSci after completing an integrated research project in your third year.

  • We’re ranked 3rd in the UK for veterinary medicine (Complete University Guide 2026).

  • 100% of School of Veterinary Medicine and Science undergraduates secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23).

Modules

Course Modules

For detailed information about the modules you will study, please visit the course page: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/Veterinary-Medicine-and-Surgery-including-a-Preliminary-Year-BVM-BVS-with-BVMedSci-BVMBVS.html

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/Veterinary-Medicine-and-Surgery-including-a-Preliminary-Year-BVM-BVS-with-BVMedSci-BVMBVS.html

Assessment method

For detailed information about the course assessment methods please visit the course page: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/Veterinary-Medicine-and-Surgery-including-a-Preliminary-Year-BVM-BVS-with-BVMedSci-BVMBVS.html

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Veterinary Surgeons, Royal College of
  • American Veterinary Medical Association
  • European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • University Park Campus

Study options

  • Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery • Full-Time • 6 Years

Start dates

  • 20 September 2027

Apply by
15 October 2026

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
D104
Institution code:
N84
Campus name:
University Park Campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Nottingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
15 October 2026

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
D104
Institution code:
N84
Campus name:
University Park Campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
AAB

in any subjects at A level to include, at most, only one of Biology or Chemistry at AS level or A level, and excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking.
A pass is required in science practical tests, if assessed separately

T Level
D

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
AABBB

in any subjects, but not including both Biology and Chemistry. This qualification is acceptable when combined with Advanced Higher grades AA (not including both Biology and Chemistry).

Access to HE Diploma
Distinction: 30 Merit: 15

Subjects considered on an individual basis.
Applicants must also have GCSE grade B/6 in Maths and GCSE grade C/4 in English language.

Scottish Advanced Higher
AA

in any subjects, but not including both Biology and Chemistry. This qualification is acceptable when combined with Scottish Higher grades AABBB, (not including both Biology and Chemistry).

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 32

665 in 3 Higher Level IB certificates OR 32 points overall in the IB Diploma.
Must not include both Biology and Chemistry.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
B

This qualification is acceptable when combined with A level grades AA (not both Biology and Chemistry).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDD

Applications are assessed on an individual basis

In addition to the above, all applicants (apart from Access or RVN) must meet GCSE requirements - minimum of five grade As (numeric grade 7) at GCSE to include minimum B (6) in chemistry and maths plus grade C (4) in English language. If Double science (single science and additional science) are taken then both must be grade B (6). If Triple science (single science, additional science and further additional science) are taken then all 3 must be grade B (6).
If GCSEs have not been taken, applicants must provide evidence of achievement at an equivalent level.

Registered Veterinary Nurses with RVN qualification and minimum of B (6) in maths and C (4) in English language can apply.

At least 2:1 in a non-animal, biology or chemistry-related subject, and A level qualifications of BB, to include, at most, one of biology and chemistry and excluding citizenship studies, critical thinking, general studies and global perspectives) and GCSE Grade B (6) in maths plus GCSE Grade C (4) in English language.

European Baccalaureate - 80% overall, which must not include both Biology and Chemistry.

Additional entry requirements

Health Checks
Further information will be provided by the University if an offer is made.
Interview
Please see university website at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/vet/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/admissions.aspx
Other
Applicants must complete a minimum of five weeks experience including three weeks working with animals
Institutions Own Test (IOT)
Please see university website at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/vet/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/admissions.aspx

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7.5no less than 7.0 in any element As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English. Check our English language policies and equivalencies for further details. For presessional English or one-year foundation courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a Presessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) course. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK. If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We consider applicants solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential – we use exam grades to prioritise applicants but look at a range of factors and aim to give everyone an equal opportunity to show their achievements.

We understand that background and personal circumstances can have an impact on academic performance at school or college. Applicants who are eligible under our contextual admissions policies may be considered for a reduced contextual offer.

Learn more on the University of Nottingham website

International entry requirements

null https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/international-applicants/index.aspx

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
EU & InternationalTBC
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050*

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

View undergraduate tuition fees for UK and international students: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/fees/tuitionfees/202627/undergraduate.aspx

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