Veterinary Nursing Science

Why choose this degree?
- Three-year full time FdSc programme designed to meet RCVS Day One Competencies and Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses.

- 1800 hours on clinical placement, working in collaboration with over 60 local registered training veterinary practices.

- Build vital industry experience through handling skills, clinical skill development, extensive work placements and strong links with industry.

- Be eligible to register as a veterinary nurse upon graduation with excellent rates of employment.

What makes UCS special?
University Centre Sparsholt has a very strong provision for teaching and training Veterinary Nurses. Our teaching staff bring experience and expertise in all areas of animal work including vet nursing, health and welfare work as well as animal training.

Our purpose-built Veterinary Nursing Centre boasts radiology, consultation preparation and theatre rooms and is stocked with all the equipment veterinary nurses use on a daily basis. In addition, our Animal Health and Welfare Research Centre is stocked with a diverse and extensive range of animals that allows you to develop your practical animal handling and husbandry skills.

What will I learn?
The programme is designed to equip you for the veterinary industry, studying in a supportive environment with industry professionals. Throughout the course you will be taught a wide range of science-based subjects, vital in developing your knowledge of companion animal nursing within diverse topics including anatomy and physiology, analytical techniques, professional skills of the veterinary nurse, anaesthesia, pharmacology and animal behaviour. You will learn through a combination of formal lectures, laboratory sessions, animal handling and clinical practicals, along with guided and independent study.

Work placements are key to your professional development and benefit from the University Centre’s strong links to diverse organisations within the veterinary and animal professions. To meet RCVS clinical placement requirements you will spend a minimum of 1800 hours in veterinary practice in a year placement.

We also offer students the chance to participate in optional overseas study tours including South Africa and in Costa Rica.

You will be encouraged to undertake challenging and innovative research. Previous student projects include:
- Does obesity in canines affect the rate of recovery after an anaesthesia?

- Comparing the effectiveness of warming methods used in anaesthesia to improve clinical practice.

- Do veterinary professionals and the general public perceive clinical signs of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) to be “Normal” for the Breed?

How will I be assessed?
A wide range of assessment methods are used including written coursework, presentations, practical examinations and traditional written examinations. While you are working within the clinical environment, your progress will be monitored with practical competency assessments, designed to assess RCVS Day One Competencies and Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses.

Where can I go from here?
Veterinary nursing is a diverse and satisfying career with many opportunities for registered veterinary nurses. Following graduation, you will be able to work as a RVN within the companion animal profession in general practice.

Students completing the FdSc are also given the prospect to continue their studies for a final year in a wide range of related BSc top-up courses including BSc (Hons) Applied Animal Science, BSc (Hons) Applied Animal Behaviour or BSc (Hons) Zoo Biology, all of which are offered by University Centre Sparsholt.
The veterinary industry also presents increasing opportunities for veterinary nurses to work within patient rehabilitation, specialised referral hospitals, equine practice, the pharmaceutical industry, zoological/wildlife parks and in education.