Veterinary Medicine and Surgery including a Gateway Year - U6UVTMGY

Required subjects

B in both biology (or human biology) and chemistry.

A pass in science practical tests will be required, where these are assessed separately.

Excluded subjects

Citizenship studies, critical thinking, general studies, global perspectives.

GCSEs

Five GCSEs at grade 6 (B), including biology, chemistry* and maths. Minimum grade 4 (C) in English language.

* Or double science or core science, additional science, further additional science.

IB score

26 points overall or 554 in three HL certificates

IB requirements

HL5 in biology, HL5 in chemistry

RQF BTEC Nationals

• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma DMM
• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Diploma DM plus one A level grade C 
• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Certificate M plus two A levels grades BB (including biology and chemistry)

Access to HE Diploma

We will consider applicants who have undertaken access courses on an individual basis:

• Access to HE Diploma 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction, 24 Level 3 credits at Merit and 6 Level 3 credits at Pass

Scottish Advanced Highers

• Minimum of BB in Advanced Higher level, including biology and chemistry.
• Minimum of BBBCC at Higher level, including biology and chemistry.
• Minimum of five grade Bs at National level 5, including biology, chemistry and maths. Minimum grade C in English language.

At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.

Interview

You will need to attend an interview, lasting approximately 30 minutes. This will assess your:

• motivation, insight into a veterinary career and interest in veterinary topics
• academic ability, communication skills, animal orientation, personal attitudes and fitness to practice as a veterinary surgeon

Work experience

You'll need a minimum of five weeks work experience. Work experience can be done over varying hours and days and should include:

• a minimum of three weeks of animal handling
• up to two weeks of either customer facing and/or teamwork experience
• up to one week for the completion of the Virtual Work Experience and Exploring the Veterinary Profession free online course

All experience needs to be completed within three years prior to application and by the 15 October application deadline. Work experience booked after this date will not be taken into consideration.

View the admissions process for our veterinary medicine courses.

Students with disabilities

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 should contact the school for advice before applying. Please read the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Fitness to Practice Guidelines.

Students with criminal convictions

All students are required during the admissions process to disclose any criminal convictions. We do not discriminate against conviction or other information revealed. Please read the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Fitness to Practice Guidelines.

This course is only open to students who are living in the UK and have UK home status, indefinite leave to remain or refugee status (with a letter from the home office as evidence) at the time you make your application.

You must also meet the university's contextual admissions criteria.

This gateway course is for UK (home) students meeting our contextual offer criteria, and is not available to international students.

See Veterinary Medicine and Surgery BVMBVS with BVMedSci for our standard undergraduate veterinary degree course.

On this course, subject to meeting the relevant criteria, your final year will consist of a compulsory placement year. You may experience first and second opinion cases, and gain exposure to a varied caseload, in real environments. We have a dedicated Rotation Placement team in the school who can support you to find suitable placements.

Placements cover:

• all domestic species
• exotic animal medicine
• livestock production systems
• wildlife conservation

The Clinical Associates we work with for final year placements may change, but currently include:

• Ark Vets Sheffield - Killamarsh
• Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital
• Defence Animal Training Regiment
• Dick White Referrals
• Dovecote Veterinary Hospital
• Oakham Veterinary Hospital
• Pool House Equine Hospital
• Scarsdale - Farm and Equine
• Wright and Morten Vets
• LLM Farm Vets - Bakewell
• Rainbow Equine Hospital
• RSPCA Bolton
• Pinfold Vets
• Scarsdale Vets (small animal)
• PDSA Derby
• PDSA Nottingham
• RSPCA Radcliffe
• RSPCA Leicester (Woodside)
• Twycross Zoo
• Vets4Pets - Eastwood

Additionally, you will be required to undertake extra-mural studies at a range of animal handling environments including farms and veterinary practices, as required by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). Some of the extra mural studies may offer opportunities for you to work abroad.

Please note: In order to undertake a placement, you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet any requirements specified by the placement host.

2027/28 (UK undergraduate students)

This is the UK undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 27/28. It may increase for the academic year 28/29 and we will update our information once we have received confirmation of the fee.

For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), please visit our fees page.

You should factor in additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.

The additional costs cover essential items you will need for the course such as:

Health and safety equipment

Compulsory branded and named protective clothing and equipment including:

• boiler suit 
• digital thermometer 
• waterproof jacket and trousers 
• parlour top 
• small animal handling tunic 
• stethoscope clogs and scrubs (required in your final year)

Total costs for these items are approximately £300. Our vet school shop sells all items at a low cost. A complete list will be provided following your successful application.

Extra mural studies (EMS)

Undertaking EMS also incurs extra costs, but these are dependent on the location of your chosen placements in terms of travel and accommodation.

Students choose the location of EMS, so you might be able to undertake most of your EMS near to your home - helping reduce these additional costs.

Final year placements

In addition, extra costs will be incurred in your final year placements.

Accommodation is provided at some rotations but there will be extra travel costs.

The school currently provides a travel allowance to help towards these costs which are paid directly into your bank account, to assist with these costs.

Other items

You should be able to access most of the books you will need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies either through our vet school shop or second-hand. Please note that figures are approximate and subject to change.

The University of Nottingham offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. These funds can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. For up to date information regarding tuition fees, visit our fees and finance pages.

Home students

Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.

A 'home' student is one who meets certain UK residence criteria. These are the same criteria as apply to eligibility for home funding from Student Finance.