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Veterinary Nursing Science

  • FdSc
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
University of Portsmouth
More about University Centre Sparsholt

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

What Makes This Course Unique?

  • Offering a scientific and innovative approach to the veterinary nursing industry, it combines concepts of scientific principles with clinical skills to prepare graduates for real‑world challenges.

  • Beautiful 183‑hectare campus with purpose‑built state‑of‑the‑art Veterinary Nursing Centre, designed to expand and grow student expertise to meet industry standards in veterinary nursing and animal welfare.

  • Cutting‑edge science laboratories for students to undertake detailed research and analysis relating to the wider veterinary industry.

  • Our expert tutors bring a wealth of practical experience, to prepare you for your veterinary nursing career.

What makes UCS special?
University Centre Sparsholt has a very strong provision for teaching and training Veterinary Nurses. Our teaching staff bring experience and expertise in all areas of animal work including vet nursing, health and welfare work as well as animal training. Our purpose‑built Veterinary Nursing Centre boasts radiology, consultation preparation and theatre rooms and all the equipment veterinary nurses use on a daily basis. In addition, our BIAZA‑accredited Animal Health and Welfare Research Centre is stocked with a diverse and extensive range of animals that allows you to develop your practical animal handling and husbandry skills.
A veterinary nursing course can lead you to a variety of fulfilling career paths, including veterinary nursing in general, specialist or referral practice; animal health and conservation; education; insurance for animal health companies; work for organisations and charities such as the RSPCA; teaching and research in Veterinary Nursing. At UCS, we partner with over 50 local registered training veterinary practices to provide invaluable professional experiences. Guest lectures, conference trips and networking opportunities give you first hand insight into the industry and help you build networks that pave the way into your veterinary nursing career.

What will I learn?
Throughout the course you will be taught a wide range of science‑based subjects, vital in developing your knowledge of diverse topics of companion animal nursing including anatomy and physiology, analytical techniques, anaesthesia, pharmacology and animal behaviour.
Practical learning to ensure you graduate job‑ready:

  • Practical learning is at the heart of this programme, with a range of laboratory sessions, animal handling and clinical practicals all designed to develop the essential skills for a registered veterinary nurse and ensure you are meeting the RCVS Day One Competencies and Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses.

How will I be assessed?
Our assessments mirror the challenges you will face in your career, combining academic depth with practical application. While you are working within the clinical environment, you will also be assessed in the competencies needed for a career as a veterinary nurse.

Focused on Your Future:
This course will enable you to work as a RVN within the companion animal profession in general practice. Veterinary nursing is a diverse and satisfying career with many opportunities to work within patient rehabilitation, specialised referral hospitals, equine practice, the pharmaceutical industry, zoological/wildlife parks and in education.

How our graduates are shaping the future:

  • Working in a variety of careers within the veterinary industry, including specialist or referral practice, animal health and conservation, education, charitable organisations and wider research within veterinary nursing.

Modules

LEVEL FOUR
Analytical and Diagnostic Techniques,
Animal Husbandry, Inheritance and Disease,
Functional Anatomy,
Industrial Experience,
Practice Organisation and Personal Development Planning,
Principles of Veterinary Nursing.

LEVEL FIVE
Level 5 modules will be taught during the course
of year 2 and 3

Application of Veterinary Nursing Care,
Diagnostic Imaging,
Pharmacology ,
Animal Behaviour ,
Applied Industrial Research ,
Recent Advances in Animal Health,
Veterinary Nursing Clinical Skills.

Assessment method

Assessment is through a combination of coursework, including laboratory investigations, assignments and presentations and, for the elements of the Professional Syllabus, closed book examinations. Whilst on placement you will also complete a Nursing Progress Log to evidence practical competencies and on your return to college you will undertake a practical clinical examination.

Professional bodies

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

  • Veterinary Surgeons, Royal College of

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

This course is available in Clearing. If you have submitted an application, you can add this course. If you haven’t sent us an application yet, you can do this until 24th September 2026.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • FdSc • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • September 2026

Apply by
14 January

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:
D311
Institution code:
S34
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

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:
D311
Institution code:
S34
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

We welcome applications from international students. For further details on the English language requirements, visa requirements and student life, please see our website https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/international/.

Entry requirements

A level
CCE

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

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

In a relevant subject/science (112 UCAS tariff points)

Access to HE Diploma
M: 45 credits

Merit in a relevant subject/science (96 UCAS tariff points)

Scottish Advanced Higher
CC

Including one in a relevant subject/science (80 UCAS tariff points)

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
24 points

Including a relevant subject/science and one other at H4 or above with Maths and English at S3 if no GCSE or equivalent (112 UCAS tariff points)

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H4, H4, H4, H4

Including one in a relevant subject/science (90 UCAS tariff points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
DMM

In a relevant subject/science (112 UCAS tariff points)

T Level
M

In a relevant subject/science (120 UCAS tariff points)

Minimum requirement is 80 UCAS tariff points (dependant on qualifications).

Students who successfully complete the FdSc may apply to 'top-up' to the BSc.

We welcome applications from people with non-standard or international qualifications.

Additional entry requirements

Other
Five GCSE including Maths, English and Science @ Grade C/4 or above (or level 2 equivalents), plus completion of 2 weeks clinical work experience in a veterinary practice.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6Overall score of 6.0 with minimum scores of 5.5 in any of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.ielts.org/about-ielts/ielts-for-migration/united-kingdom
Trinity ISEPassPass in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/SELT/UKVI
PTE Academic60Minimum score of 60 or higher in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.pearsonpte.com/selt-tests/pte-academic-ukvi
We will also accept the following qualification: LanguageCert International ESOL SELT - minimum score of 33/50 in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) https://www.languagecert.org/en/uk-visa-exams/study-in-the-uk

Please email degree-enquiries@sparsholt.ac.uk for detailshttps://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/

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

* 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

www.sparsholt.ac.uk/university-centre/additional-costs/
Students from EU member states can apply for an EU scholarship. Please contact degrees@sparsholt.ac.uk for details.

Sponsorship information

University Centre Sparsholt (UCS) will award bursaries of £4,500 to up to four new students each academic year.
There is flexibility in how these bursaries can be used, but they are intended to help with the cost of studying in order to make university more affordable.
The recipients of the bursaries will continue to receive the same amount for each year of their studies, as long as expectations for attendance and engagement are met.
The bursaries are a part of the University Centre's Access and Participation Plan , and therefore priority will be given to students whose backgrounds are traditionally underrepresented among the UCS student body.
Further details regarding how to apply will be supplied to all offer holders who have accepted an offer to study with us when they complete their 'Next Steps' registration form in the Summer term.

Clearing contact details

Clearing Contact Details

degrees@sparsholt.ac.uk

Course Clearing information

Additional information

There’s still time to join University Centre Sparsholt this September through UCAS Clearing. Whether your results were unexpected, your plans have changed, or you’ve only recently decided to apply, Clearing gives you another chance to find the right course.

We offer specialist degrees in areas such as Applied Animal Science, Zoo Biology, Equine Studies, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Aquaculture and Fishery Management, Marine Ecology and Conservation, and Veterinary Nursing Science.

Why choose Sparsholt? You’ll benefit from expert lecturers, strong industry links, outstanding facilities, and degrees awarded by the University of Portsmouth. Study in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, nearby to Winchester.

We're proud of our new £5 million Higher Education Science Centre, a major investment into the future of our students.

Explore your options and apply through Clearing today.

Course contact details

Main Contact

degrees@sparsholt.ac.uk

University Centre Sparsholt

Sparsholt
Winchester
SO21 2NF

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