General Information

Admissions process
Interim marks
Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
Work experience
Deferred entry
Re-applications
Applications to other universities and courses
Resits
Late applications and clearing
International Students
English Language qualifications for International students
Mature candidates (21 or over on entry)
Fitness to practise
Students with disabilities or health concerns
Students with mental health or behavioural difficulties
Criminal offences and other related matters
Exemptions from parts of the Veterinary course
Course transfers  
Term Dates   

Admissions process

All applications for both the 5-Year and 6-Year courses must be made through UCAS.  The deadline for UCAS applications for all veterinary courses is the 15th October.  Out of your five choices you can only select four veterinary medicine and surgery courses.  You can either use the other choice to apply for other degree courses or leave it blank.  You should ensure that you include details of all qualifications that you have completed and are studying.

Applications must meet minimum academic requirements and also candidates must be able to demonstrate the appropriate attitudes and attributes required to be a veterinary professional.

Offers of places on the course will only be made after interview.  Further details of the admissions process can be found here .

Interim marks

We require you to declare any interim marks (for example AS grades, or degree year and course marks).  We will contact you once we have received your UCAS form if we require further information from you.

Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT)

We do not require BMAT scores for entry.

Work experience

All applicants should have gained at least six weeks experience of working with animals before they apply.  For example, this may include experience at the following establishments:

• One or more veterinary practices
• Working with larger domestic animals on a livestock farm
• Other animal experience (e.g.  kennels, riding school, zoo etc)

We will consider references from your work experience placements, although we do not wish to receive detailed case studies or journals.  These references should be sent to the Veterinary School Admissions Officer and identified with your UCAS number before the 1st of December.

Deferred entry

We welcome applications from students who wish to defer their entry until the following year.  Imaginative use of the gap year is encouraged.

Re-applications

If you apply one year and are not invited for interview you can apply again.  We do not consider candidates who have previously been unsuccessful after interview except after attainment of any subsequent undergraduate degree.  We do not consider a third application.

Applications to other universities and courses

Your application for the course is not affected by your applications to other universities and courses.

Resits

We do consider applications from students who have resat modules or whole A levels.

Late applications and clearing

We do not consider late applications.  It is worth noting that due to the high calibre of applicants it will be highly unlikely that any places will be available during clearing.

International Students

Applications from candidates eligible to pay fees at the international rate are considered against the same criteria as applications from home candidates, but are considered against the overall pool of international applicants.  In general terms, fee eligibility is based on having settled status in the UK and having ordinarily resided in the UK for three years prior to the start of the course, as laid down in the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1983 with subsequent amendments.

English Language qualifications for International Applicants

Applicants whose first language is not English are expected to have or be taking suitable English Language qualifications.  The following qualifications meet our minimum requirements:

• British Council IELTS test – At least 7.5 (not less than 7.0 in any element)
• TOEFL – At least 630 (no less than 5.0 in TWE) or 267 in computer-based TOEFL (no less than 5.0 in TWE)
• IBT TOEFL - At least 109 (no less than 22 in each element)
• GCSE/O Level English Language – Minimum Grade B
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English – Minimum Grade B

Fluency and competence in English are essential for all veterinary students, both for understanding the course and for communicating with animal owners or keepers.  As we do not offer places without an interview, competence in English is one of the qualities that can be assessed at first hand by the selectors.

Mature candidates (21 or over on entry)

We welcome applications from mature candidates.  All mature candidates must apply through UCAS in the normal way.

Fitness to practise

The award of the BVM BVS with integrated BVMedSci degrees will entitle the graduate to be registered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (subject to approval) and to practise as a veterinary surgeon.  By awarding a veterinary degree, the University is therefore confirming that the graduate is fit to practise to the high standards laid down by the RCVS.

As a veterinary student, you will therefore be studying not only for a university degree but also a professional qualification.  Consequently, the training is conducted in an environment that requires you to behave in ways that are consistent with the principles of veterinary professional practice.  Some relate to behaviour and conduct expected from students from the outset whilst others will be acquired during the course.

At the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, we will select students who we believe will demonstrate appropriate attitudes and behaviour from the start.  The Nottingham curriculum also has specific objectives for professional attitudes and behaviour, together with opportunities to facilitate their achievement.  Students who have difficulty in achieving these standards will be offered support and guidance to help overcome their difficulties.  In the majority of such cases students will be successful.  However, in exceptional circumstances a veterinary student may not be able to fulfil these requirements and continue to study veterinary medicine at the University of Nottingham.  In such circumstances the Veterinary School will make every effort to identify an alternative suitable degree course within the University.

All students offered a place on the course will be required to accept the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science code of practice by signing a Student Entry Agreement.  If your conduct as a student falls below the high standards of honesty or behaviour that the public has a right to expect from the veterinary profession you will be required to appear before the Faculty Fitness to Practice Committee and your course may be terminated.

Students with disabilities or health concerns

The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 requires that veterinary surgeons are able to give at least basic and emergency treatment to all common domestic species.  Students with any disability or long-term medical condition (including dyslexia), who are considering entry to the Veterinary School should contact the School to discuss their individual requirements, the support the University can offer and the requirements of the RCVS before the deadline for UCAS submissions.  This will help us to explore any reasonable adjustments, where appropriate.  All students are required to undertake a health assessment before joining the course. 

The school has a designated Disability Liaison Officer.  Please e-mail joanne.flewitt@nottingham.ac.uk for further information.

Students with mental health or behavioural difficulties

We ask you to inform us if you have been treated for a mental illness, if you have been diagnosed as having a personality disorder or if you have deliberately harmed yourself.  We also ask you to tell us if you are addicted to drugs, including alcohol.  Failure to disclose information which directly relates to your fitness to practise will result in termination of your course.

Criminal offences and other related matters

Because of the particular nature of the courses, the University uses the disclosure service of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to assess the suitability of applicants.

The University undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a disclosure on the basis of a criminal conviction or other information revealed.

Exemptions from parts of the Veterinary course

The Veterinary course is fully integrated and therefore we are unable to allow any exemptions from any part of the course or from any examinations even to students who already hold a related qualification or have completed part of a veterinary course elsewhere.  All students accepted at Nottingham Veterinary School must take the full academic, clinical and extra mural components of the course.

Course transfers

Because of the integrated nature of the course, students are not able to transfer into the Veterinary School from other courses run at the University or from other universities.  Any application will be required to be a new application through UCAS.