2024 entry (view 2023 entry)
BVSc Gateway to Veterinary Science (D108)
Course overview
Typical offer
A-level standard offer: BBC
A-level contextual offer:
See entry requirements for full details and eligibility.
Course duration
6 year(s) full-time
Part-time study is not available for this course
Application method
Full-time: UCAS
The closing date for Veterinary Science UCAS applications is 15 October. UCAS advises that no more than four choices from a possible five are used for Veterinary Science.
Fees
£9,250 per year, home students
Students should be aware that vacation extra mural studies (EMS) is a mandatory component of any UK veterinary curriculum. These may incur transport and accommodation costs.
Fees quoted are for 2023 entry only. Fees for 2024 will be confirmed, subject to government approval, later in 2023.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
International students
This course is open to applicants from specific schools and colleges in the UK only.
Location
Gateway to Veterinary Science is aimed at students who have the potential to become vets but do not meet the standard academic entry criteria to apply directly to our five-year undergraduate Veterinary Science course. Our Gateway courses are a widening participation initiative for UK students who fulfil specific criteria and wish to apply for a clinical programme in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science.
During the Gateway year students will learn alongside each other, benefiting from shared interprofessional insight and the unique community of Bristol's medical, dental and veterinary schools. Students will be taught by academic teachers who are scientists and clinicians.
The Gateway course builds on core basic sciences underpinning clinical subjects; encourages reflection and places emphasis on personal and professional development; strengthens practical, statistics, research and library skills; and considers attributes and behaviours that enable successful transition to university study. Successful completion of the Gateway year allows automatic progression onto the five-year BVSc Veterinary Science.
Eligibility
This course is open to applicants from specific schools and colleges in the UK only and/or to those who have spent three months or more in care. Further information and lists of the eligible schools and colleges is available on the contextual offers webpage.
For 2024 entry, The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT, formerly UKCAT) is required for admission to this course. You may be eligible for a UCAT bursary to cover the cost of taking the test; please visit www.ucat.ac.uk for more information. The course admissions statement will provide full details and will be available online by September 2023.
Course structure
Studies will include:
- Basic cell biology, anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the healthy human/animal;
- Fundamental principles of chemistry;
- Numeracy skills and statistics relevant to health sciences programmes;
- Clinical professional attributes;
- Clinically-relevant work experience.
Successful students will then join the five-year BVSc Veterinary Science course.
Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.
Go to programme catalogueEntry 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.
A-level standard offer
BBC including B in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of AAB or above (or points equivalent), or with A in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course
BTEC
DMM BTEC Extended Diploma Applied Science (RQF): Grades DDM or DMM, including five specified Biology or Chemistry units in any combination. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of DDD or above cannot be considered for Gateway programmes but could be considered for the five-year standard entry course instead.
Find out more about our BTEC entry requirementsInternational Baccalaureate Diploma
29 points overall with 14 at Higher level, including 5 at Higher Level in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of 33 points overall including 16 at Higher Level, or with 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Advanced Higher: BB including Biology or Chemistry, and Standard Level: BBBBC. Applicants with achieved or predicted Advanced Higher grades of AA, or with Chemistry at A grade, are not eligible for this course.
Access to HE Diploma
Not accepted for this course. Access to HE students are instead welcome to apply to the standard Veterinary Science course.
Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.
Welsh Baccalaureate
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.
Cambridge Pre-U
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.
Applicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
Standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent) and Standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent)
Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
- 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills
- GCSE English Language grade B or 6
- An alternative English Language Profile B qualification
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels
Additional requirements
The University Clinical Aptitude Test is required. Bursaries are available to cover the cost of taking the UCAT - please see the UCAT website for details. Work experience is recommended - please see the Admissions Statement.
More about UK qualifications.
Selection process
- We select successful applicants based on the UCAS application. We will invite candidates who fit the academic entry criteria and the additional widening participation criteria to interview.
- Full information about our selection processes for this course:
- The admissions statement above relates to 2023 entry. The statement for 2024 entry will be available in summer 2023.
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement:
