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Veterinary Biosciences

Course details
  • 2 Study options
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Stag Hill

Course summary

Why choose this course

  • Study a research-led curriculum focused on animal health, where you can select from optional modules on topics including animal behaviour, biodiversity, environment and sustainability, pharmacology, and pathology and medicine.

  • Take the opportunity to get industry-ready with our award-winning Professional Training placements.

  • Access our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory and state-of-the-art Veterinary Pathology Centre to enhance your practical skills, and use equipment found in research facilities.

  • Learn from lecturers who are actively researching areas such as animal and human immunology, ecology and conversation, vaccine development, antimicrobial resistance, animal nutrition, and chronobiology, and apply their findings to their teaching.

We’re preparing you for the future by integrating AI into every course, building digital skills, confidence and creativity that employers value in tomorrow’s workplace.

What you will study
In your first year, you’ll study topics that are fundamental to veterinary biosciences, including biochemistry, cell biology, principles of evolution, molecular biology and genetics, microbiology, and veterinary anatomy and physiology, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build the rest of your degree.

During your second year, you’ll get the option to learn about the pathogenesis of major human diseases, gain an understanding of endocrinology, including the role of individual hormones, delve deeper into animal nutrition and food microbiology, and study animal and plant ecology.

In your third year, you’ll study animal infectious diseases, exploring prevention and control strategies and their impact on public health and safety, in addition to veterinary immunology, gaining an insight into comparative immunology between animal species specificities and exploring their immune responses. You’ll also select four modules, exploring topics such as animal behaviour, animal diversity, epidemiology of infectious diseases and food security.

You’ll also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical, and presentation skills you’ve developed. Recent projects include:

  • Investigating the nutritional, behavioural, and environmental factors influencing the welfare of Asian small-clawed otters and Amur tigers in European zoos

  • Investigating the contributing factors associated with canine osteoarthritis

  • Pre-clinical evaluation of a novel vaccine against malaria.

Modules

Course Modules

To see the full range of modules for this course please visit our website – the link is under the Course contact details. You will also find full details of the programme, including programme structure, assessment methods, contact hours and Graduate prospects.

How to apply

Application codes

Institution code:
S85

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
ABB-BBB

Overall:
ABB-BBB

We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.

Required subjects:
Biology and a second science or mathematics subject.

Applicants taking the Science Practical Endorsement are required to pass.

T Level
D

Overall:
Distinction overall, with minimum C in the Core Component.

Required subjects:

Science or Animal Care and Management.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language and Mathematics at grade 4 (C).

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
AABBB-ABBBB

Overall:
AABBB-ABBBB

Required subjects:
Biology or Chemistry and another science or mathematics subject.

GCSE or Equivalent:
Scottish National 5: English Language - C
Scottish National 5: Maths - C

Access to HE Diploma

Overall:
QAA recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall including 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit - 27 at Distinction and 18 at Merit.

Required subjects:
This must include 15 credits in Biology or Chemistry and 15 credits in another science subject.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (4) (or equivalent).

Scottish Advanced Higher
ABB-BBB

Overall:
ABB-BBB

Required subjects:
Biology and a second science or mathematics subject.

GCSE or Equivalent:
Scottish National 5: English Language - C
Scottish National 5: Maths - C

Extended Project
A

Applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) will receive our standard A-level offer for this programme, plus an alternate offer of one A-level grade lower, subject to achieving an A grade in the EPQ. The one grade reduction will not apply to any required subjects.

Applicants can only receive one grade reduction from the published grades, an EPQ grade reduction can’t be applied in addition to other grade reductions made through other schemes such as Contextual Admissions or In2Surrey.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
33-32

Overall:
33-32

Required subjects:
Biology or Chemistry HL5/SL6 and a second science or mathematics subject.

GCSE or Equivalent:
English A HL4/SL4 or English B HL5/SL6 and Mathematics (either course) HL4/SL4.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Overall:
Pass overall with ABB-BBB from a combination of the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales and two A-levels.

Required subjects:
A-level Biology and an A-level in another science or mathematics subject.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not accepted. Applicants taking the Science Practical Endorsement are expected to pass.

GCSE or equivalent: English Language and Mathematics at grade 4 (C).

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

Overall:
DDD-DDM in Applied Science or Animal Management.

Please contact the Admissions team if you are taking other BTECs in a similar subject area.

Applications are considered on an individual basis, taking into account qualifications achieved, predicted grades, personal statement and academic reference. Conditional offers are specified in terms of required grades; we do not make offers in terms of overall UCAS tariff.

We understand that predicted grades are an estimate and will consider applicants who have predicted grades that are a little lower than our published requirement. Any offers we make will align with the grades shown above unless a grade reduction can be offered under our Contextual Admissions policy or our In2Surrey scheme. Details can be found here: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/schools-colleges/contextual-admissions-policy

Applicants with a mixed qualification profile (e.g. those taking A-levels and BTEC qualifications) are encouraged to contact admissions@surrey.ac.uk for guidance on the grades accepted.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.56.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in each other element

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/apply/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.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales & Northern IrelandTBC

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

Please see our website for up-to-date information on our fees for 2027/28:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/undergraduate-2027-entry

Sponsorship information

Scholarships and bursaries 1

The University of Surrey offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support our students, please visit https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries for more details.

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