Veterinary Nursing

As the range of responsibilities held by veterinary nurses increases, practices are looking for veterinary nurses qualified at degree level to fulfil this requirement. If you have the motivation and commitment to build a career within the veterinary nursing profession, this degree is for you.

Accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), this course enables you to develop a range of professional skills, knowledge and competencies needed in the veterinary nursing profession. You will enjoy a unique combination of academic study and practical learning, utilising our animal centre and dedicated clinical training facility to advance your skills and knowledge. This will be reinforced through the completion of a clinical placement* in an approved veterinary training practice.
*Travel arrangements at your own cost.

Programme Modification - Approved
In response to student and stakeholder feedback, the course has been reviewed and changes made for September 2025 entry to the course structure and modules of study.

Course Features

• Learn in our medical and clinical skills suite, diagnostic imaging suite, dedicated OSCE practice suite and modern laboratories

• Practical handling session with live animals at our onsite zoo

• Work with our industry-standard anaesthetic, radiography and theatre equipment

• Use ultrasound imaging, endoscopy and prep facilities

• Accredited by RCVS

• Clinical placement for 52 weeks

Career Options

• Veterinary nurse

• Lecturer

• Clinical coach

• Practice manager

• Drug representative

• Head nurse

• Referral and specialist nurse

• Training practice liaison

• Workplace assessor

Year 1 (Level 4) – all modules are compulsory

• Introduction to Scientific Communication
• Comparative Functional Anatomy and Physiology
• Companion Animal Husbandry, Welfare & Behaviour
• Foundation Skills for Veterinary Nursing
• Professional Communication, Veterinary Ethics and Legislation
• Laboratory Skills
• Clinical Placement (10 weeks)

Year 2 (Level 5) – all modules are compulsory

• Research Methods
• Evidence based Clinical Practice
• Anaesthesiology for Veterinary Nursing
• Hospitalisation & Care of Companion Animals
• Companion Animal Surgical Support & Perioperative Care
• Diagnostic Imaging

Year 3 (Level 5) – module is compulsory

• Clinical Placement Year for Veterinary Nursing

Year 4 (Level 6) – compulsory modules

• Dissertation
• Advances in Veterinary Nursing
• Veterinary Nurse Led Clinics

Year 4 (Level 6) – optional modules

• Animal rehabilitation Therapies
• Clinical Animal Behaviour
• Care and Rehabilitation of Wildlife
• Exotic Animal Health and Nursing Care

Students must also complete the OSCEs for Veterinary Nursing at the beginning of Year 4.

Assessment will take a variety of forms including reports, essays, academic posters, presentations, clinical role play and examinations. Assessment components will be identified in line with the University of Chester modular framework guidance.

An additional requirement of the assessment strategy will be the demonstration of clinical skills competence through observation during clinical placement This programme is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as conveying a license to practise. This means that successful graduates are eligible to apply for entry to the register of veterinary nurses and use the post-nominal RVN.

Students are expected to complete and pass all the identified modules at the required level of study in order to progress to the following year. To successfully progress to the next level of study, students are required to achieve the minimum weighted module mark of 40% for each module. In addition, for specified modules at Levels 4 and 5, each item of assessment in the module must achieve the minimum threshold attainment of 40%.

If an item of assessment within a module is failed (i.e. it does not achieve the minimum mark of 40%), a reassessment opportunity may be offered. Whilst the format of a reassessment is likely to be the same as the original assessment, the specific details will be different. Failure to complete outstanding components of assessment may result in the student not being eligible for progression.

Students must complete and achieve the requirements of the clinical placement before they are eligible to take the OSCEs.

A variety of assessment forms are included in this programme. These include written reports, presentations, case studies, research proposals, workbooks, academic posters and written and practical exams.

Typically, students will complete 2 to 3 items of assessment for each module which will include a combination of the assessment types identified above. A number of modules in years 1 to 3 include written and practical exams in line with RCVS requirements.

In addition, students undertake a formative assessment at the start of the programme. This is designed to help identify any additional support needs the student may have but also to establish expectations in terms of the requirements of higher education level work. Formative assessment opportunities are built into all modules through the use of in-class activities such as question and answer, debates and seminar discussions and through the completion of activities using the virtual learning environment, Moodle.

Details of all assessments are made available to students at the start of the academic year, typically via their course handbook. This includes details of the modules, assessment components, learning outcomes assessed and launch, submission and return dates. Each coursework assessment is accompanied by a specific brief that provides details of the assessment task along with the assessment and grading criteria that will be used for marking purposes.

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

• Veterinary Surgeons, Royal College of