BSc Veterinary Nursing and Companion Animal Behaviour (D313)
2025 entry
Course summary
Course Overview
This degree enables direct application to the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. It is 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.
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.
Dual campus experience with access to cutting-edge facilities
Your first two years are based predominantly within the vibrant cultural hub of 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.
Bristol Veterinary School is home to a range of extensive facilities including Langford Vets multidisciplinary small animal referral hospital, farm animal and small animal practices, an on-site abattoir, a dairy farm and diagnostic labs, with an equine practice nearby. Students can also enjoy the onsite cafe, gym, student barn and abundant green spaces, alongside our much-celebrated welcoming and supportive community of staff and students.
Take a virtual tour of the Langford Campus
See further key information about our veterinary courses on the Bristol Veterinary School website.
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 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.
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.
Find out more about BTEC entry requirements
More about Access to HE entry requirements
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Selection process
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
- If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
- Full information about our selection processes for Veterinary Nursing and Companion Animal Behaviour can be found in the Admissions Statement:
Admissions statement