Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

You will be entitled to work as a veterinarian in the UK as soon as you have earned your BVetMed degree and, have registered as a Member of the RCVS. Following the UK’s departure from the EU graduates seeking to work in EU member states, with the exception of Ireland, should consult the regulatory authority of the country in which they wish to pursue employment. The Federation of Veterinarians in Europe maintains a useful list of contacts here.

Reciprocal arrangements between the RCVS and the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC), the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), and the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC), allows BVetMed Graduates to practice in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa without requiring any further qualifications, visa requirements notwithstanding.

• For further information about practicing in Australia and New Zealand, see www.avbc.asn.au 
• For further information about practicing in South Africa, see www.savc.org.za
• For further information about practising in Ireland, see www.vci.ie 

American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA)

In addition, the Council on Education (CoE) of the AVMA recognises the BVetMed degree as equivalent to those awarded by veterinary colleges in North America. Some of the USA and Canada’s major veterinary employers recruit actively among our final year students. Please note, however, that you will be required to sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) if you intend to work in North America after qualifying as well as satisfying state/provincial veterinary board requirements where relevant – just as you would if graduating from any North American school, and notwithstanding any visa requirements.

In 2023/24, the most recent year for which figures are available, our pass rate was 60%. The pass rate required by the CoE Standard for Outcomes Assessment is currently 80%. For further information on the NAVLE, please visit www.icva.net/navle.

The RVC currently holds probationary accreditation status as assigned by the Council on Education of the AVMA on consideration of Standard 11 (Outcomes, NAVLE pass rate). This is not an adverse decision and does not impact on enrolled students. We are working to address the issue as quickly as possible to avoid detrimental change to our accreditation status.

We provide the NAVLE Support programme (twice/year) for students who wish to sit the NAVLE.

Accreditation Reports

The BVetMed degree underwent a joint professional body accreditation visit in November 2018. The RVC prepared a Self Evaluation Report for the November 2018 accreditation visit and the visit reports of each professional body can be found on their webpages via web-links provided below:

• RCVS – accredited to 2025, www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/accrediting-primary-qualifications/accrediting-veterinary-degrees/visitations/
• Council on Education of the AVMA – accredited to 2025, www.avma.org/education/center-for-veterinary-accreditation
• EAEVE visit reports, as approved by ECOVE – accredited to 2025, www.eaeve.org/esevt/ser-and-visitation-report-of-visited-establishments  

Our FdSc and years one to three of the BSc Veterinary Nursing courses are accredited in the UK by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and in the EU by the Accreditation Committee for Veterinary Nursing Education (ACOVENE).

These bodies set the standard for the delivery of veterinary nursing education in the United Kingdom and the European Union.

For further information about the RCVS accreditation, see https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/accrediting-primary-qualifications/accrediting-veterinary-nursing-qualifications/ 

Our Graduate and Postgraduate Certificates in Advanced Veterinary Nursing in: 

• Anaesthesia & Analgesia  

• Emergency & Critical Care 

• Medical Nursing   

Are accredited in the UK by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) which means RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurses on these programmes have the option to gain a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing qualification awarded by the RCVS.  

Candidates applying for and enrolling with the RCVS CertAVN in Medical Nursing, Emergency & Critical Care or Anaesthesia & Analgesia must meet the specific requirements as set out by the RCVS, to include: 

Be on the current RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. 

Have evidence of sufficient CPD from the point of entry onto the RCVS Register for Veterinary Nurses (in line with the RCVS requirements) prior to registration for the RCVS CertAVN. 

During their studies, be employed in, or have agreed access to placement in, a suitable professional environment, tailored to their area of focused study. 

Before commencing studies, enrol with the RCVS specifying the accredited university or awarding organisation where they plan to undertake their studies and the title of the qualification.   

Registration for the RCVS CertAVN will be valid for up to five years.  Further information: www.rcvs.org.uk  

Our Biological Science programmes are accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.

This symbol of excellence is highly regarded by employers and demonstrates our ability to develop your skills and expertise throughout your course. Not only does this mean you will gain an in-depth understanding of the subject, but that you also will have the opportunity to contribute to advancements in science through research projects.

The following courses received Accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology  in January 2021 for five years following an independent and rigorous assessment:  

Accreditation

• BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences    
• BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Sciences        
• BSc (Hons) Animal Biology, Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics       
• BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Wildlife Health Sciences)

The following courses have been advanced accredited by the Royal Society of Biology in February 2021 for five years following an independent and rigorous assessment

Advanced Accreditation

• BSc in Bioveterinary Sciences with a Certificate in Work-Based Learning and Research    
• BSc in Biological Sciences with a Certificate in Work-Based Learning and Research           
• MSci in Bioveterinary Sciences   
• MSci in Bioveterinary Sciences with a Certificate in Work-Based Learning and Research         
• MSci in Biological Sciences        
• MSci in Biological Sciences with a Certificate in Work-Based Learning and Research         
• MSci Applied Biological Research         
• MSci Applied Bioveterinary Research         
• MSci Wild Animal Biology (WAB) (to be phased out - final cohort expected to graduate in 2024)  
• MSci Biological Sciences (Wildlife Health Sciences)        
• MSci Biological Sciences (Wildlife Health Sciences) with a Certificate in Work-Based Learning and Research

The reports can be found here.  

For more information see www.rsb.org.uk    

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) quality assures veterinary degrees at UK vet schools by means of specific accreditation standards.

Graduates from accredited schools join the RCVS register as members allowing them to practise veterinary surgery in the UK.

Aberystwyth University, the Royal Veterinary College and the RCVS are working together to ensure that the new degree meets these standards and that graduates will be eligible for registration. Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, veterinary degrees must have a “recognition order” from the Privy Council before graduates can automatically be eligible for registration with the RCVS.

The Privy Council will take advice from RCVS on this. The process takes a number of years as full approval cannot be considered until after the RCVS undertakes a formal inspection of the full course and its standards in 2026 when the first cohort of students will have completed their degrees.

Until that time, both institutions are liaising regularly with the RCVS to ensure that progress towards accreditation is maintained.

Should any unforeseen issues arise, the Veterinary Surgeons Act includes a provision to help ensure that those completing their final exams in an as-yet-unapproved degree may still be allowed to register, in that the Privy Council may invite the RCVS to set examinations for any students attending a non-approved UK veterinary degree course, or alternatively appoint RCVS External Examiners to oversee the standard of the final year examinations. Students who pass the RCVS-controlled examinations would then be able to register with the RCVS and practise as veterinary surgeons in the UK, regardless of the outcome of the degree’s accreditation process. This is in line with the arrangements for any new veterinary degree programmes.