BSc Veterinary Nursing and Companion Animal Behaviour (D313)

2024 entry | view 2025 entry

Course summary

Your degree will enable you to apply to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. We are also the only veterinary nursing higher education provider to offer clinical rotations around one of the highest-level small animal referral hospitals in the UK, located on site.

If you're passionate about animal welfare, this exciting degree can lead to a range of careers; from working as a veterinary nurse in general practice, to opportunities in the field of behaviour and welfare for animal charities or the commercial sector.

Your first two years are based predominantly within the vibrant cultural hub that is Bristol city centre, where our pre-clinical facilities are situated at the UK's only School of Anatomy. You will also spend time at the nearby Bristol Veterinary School, located at our rural Langford campus, where you will be hands on with animals from day one.

Bristol Veterinary School is home to an extensive range of clinical facilities, including a small animal hospital and first opinion practices. Students can also enjoy the onsite café, gym, student barn and abundant green spaces, alongside our much-celebrated welcoming and supportive community of staff and students.

For information about our accreditations, please see our accreditations page.

See further key information about our veterinary courses on the Bristol Veterinary School website.

Accreditations

Our Veterinary Nursing and Companion Animal Behaviour BSc is approved by major professional bodies in the UK (CCAB, RCVS) so as a a graduate you can gain exemptions from a number of their examinations or credits for prior learning.

Course structure

Year one: you will learn the fundamentals of anatomy and mammalian physiology, the underlying principles and practice of veterinary nursing along with an introduction to professional practice.

Year two: you will continue to study anatomy, whilst a clinical veterinary nursing unit introduces anaesthesia and fluid therapy, surgical nursing and theatre practice, medical nursing, diagnostics and therapeutics. You will study the principles of animal ethology, behavioural development and be introduced to key concepts in clinical behaviour practice.

Placement: to meet the clinical placement requirements of the RCVS, you will spend time in clinical practice during the vacation in years one and two, usually close to your home.

Year three: placement year spent in a first-opinion veterinary practice (currently within a 50-mile radius of Langford) and on rotations in the on-site referral hospital. You will also study professional veterinary nursing practice through lectures and online tutorials.

Year four: units in applied clinical veterinary nursing, clinical skills in companion animal behaviour and a ten-week research project on a topic of your choice, supervised by one or more of our expert academic team.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Go to programme catalogue

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

BBC including B in Biology
DMM in Applied Science BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma, with Distinctions in five specified Biology units. DMM in the Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management. DDM in the City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Animal Management (Science Pathway) including one of the following modules: 308: Wildlife and Ecology Conservation 319: Inheritance and Genetics 334: Fish Biology

Find out more about BTEC entry requirements
29 points overall with 14 at Higher Level, including 5 in Higher Level Biology
73% overall, with 8.0 in Biology
Advanced Higher: BB including Biology and Standard Higher: BBBBC
Access to HE Diploma in Science, Biomedical/Medical/Health Science or Psychology (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include: at least 15 credits at Distinction and 30 at Merit or above; and at least 12 credits at Distinction in Biology units.

More about Access to HE entry requirements
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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