In the first three years, students are primarily based at the Camden Campus in London, studying core veterinary sciences while developing practical animal handling and clinical skills. This Foundation Year prepares students for veterinary study through focused academic and scientific preparation.

You will develop knowledge in:

• Foundations of chemistry, biology and physics relevant to veterinary medicine
• Animal handling, behaviour, welfare and ethics
• English for science and academic purposes
• Foundations of professionalism, scholarship and research in society

The small class sizes and bespoke curriculum ensure students are fully prepared to enter the BVetMed programme.

For an outline of what you will study on the five-year course, please see our BVetMed course page.

Placements during the early years of the programme that provide experience with different animal species and industries.

Clinical training in the RVC’s hospitals and partner veterinary practices.

Clinical placements in veterinary practices and related industries that complement clinical training at the RVC.

Applications from those who have completed, or are in the process of completing, A Levels, the International Baccalaureate, a US Diploma with APs, or another qualification accepted for entry to undergraduate programmes at the RVC, will only be considered for the Integrated Foundation Year on a case-by-case basis.

To be considered, applicants must as a minimum:

• have studied their qualification outside of the UK.
• have not studied both Biology and Chemistry to A Level or Higher Level standard AND
• meet the minimum academic requirements outlined below.
• Where Biology or Chemistry has been taken at a lower level e.g. AS level or IB Standard level, we will. require a high grade to have been achieved.

These are minimum requirements only and do not guarantee acceptance. All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If you have studied in the UK, or have taken both Biology and Chemistry to this level, you are not eligible for this programme, regardless of grades.

A Level
ABB in three A Level subjects including:

Biology or Chemistry at grade A
A second and third subject of your choice

International Baccalaureate
Pass the IB diploma 655 at Higher Level including:

Biology or Chemistry at grade 6
A second and third subject of your choice

Advanced Placement Examinations
Graduate High School with at least three full-year Advanced Placement examinations at grade 544 including Biology or Chemistry at a grade 5.

Applicants who have studied both Biology and Chemistry at the highest level possible in their education system will be in a stronger position however, we will assess applications where performance has been strong if only one of those subjects has been studied.

We also require strong performance in Mathematics.

If your country is not listed below, please contact admissions@rvc.ac.uk for advice on whether your qualifications can be accepted for the Integrated Foundation Year.

Bahrain
Pass the Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Aama (Science pathway) with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry.

Egypt
Pass the Thanaweya A’ama Al-Azhar (Scientific track) with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 85% in Biology or Chemistry.

Iran
Pass the Diplom-Motevaseteh (Experimental Sciences Track) with a minimum of 16/20 overall, 16/20 in Mathematics and 17/20 in Biology or Chemistry.

Iraq
Pass the Sixth Form Baccalauréat/Certificate of Preparatory Education (Adadiyah – Scientific Track) with a minimum of 80% overall and 80% Mathematics and 80% in Biology or Chemistry.

Israel

Pass the Bagrut with an overall average of 80%, to include Biology or Chemistry at 5 units at 90% and two other 5 unit subjects at 80% one of which must be Mathematics.

Jordan
Pass the Tawjihi (General Secondary Education Certificate) scientific track with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 85% in Biology or Chemistry. 

Kuwait
Pass the Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Aama (General Secondary Education Certificate Examination or Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry.

Lebanon

Pass the Baccalauréat Libanais SV (Sciences de la Vie) specialisation or General Secondary Education Certificate life sciences stream with an average of 14 overall and 14 in Mathematics, and Biology or Chemistry.

Libya

Pass the Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Aama (General Secondary Education Certificate Examination or Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry. 

Oman

Pass the Thanawiya Amma (General Education Diploma) with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry.

Palestine

Pass the Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-Aama (General Secondary Education Certificate) with  a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry.

Qatar

Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Aama (General Secondary Education Certificate Examination or Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry.

Or,

Qatar Senior School Certificate (QSSC) Scientific Track with advanced level for each subject, a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry.

Saudi Arabia

Tawjihiyah (General Secondary Education Certificate) Scientific track with a minimum of 80% overall. 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry.

Syria

Al Shahada Al Thanawiya/Baccalaureat (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) Scientific stream with a minimum of 70% overall, 70% in Mathematics and 75% in Biology or Chemistry.

Turkey

Pass either Devlet Lise Diplomasi (State High School Diploma), Lise Bitirme Diplomasi (Private High School Diploma), or Anadolu Lisesi (Anatolian High School Diploma) with a minimum of 75% overall, 75% in Mathematics and 80% in Biology or Chemistry. 

United Arab Emirates
Pass the Tawjihiyah (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 90% in Biology or Chemistry.

Yemen
Pass the General Secondary Education Certificate with a minimum of 700/800 overall and 80/100 in Mathematics and Biology or Chemistry.  

China
Pass the Senior High School Graduation Certificate with a minimum of 80% overall and 80% in Mathematics, 85% in Biology or Chemistry. 

Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) is accepted for the BVetMed – see entry requirements.

India
Pass the India/Senior School Certificate Examination (ISC/SSC) with a minimum of 70% overall, 70% in Mathematics and 75% in Biology or Chemistry,

Or, 60% overall, 60% in Mathematics and 65% in Biology or Chemistry for Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal Boards.

Indonesia
Pass the Ijazah – Sekolah Menengah Atas/Madrasah Aliya (Science Stream) with a minimum of 80% overall, 80% in Mathematics and 80% in Biology or Chemistry.

Japan
Pass the Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Academic Science Track) with a minimum of 3 overall, 3 in Mathematics and 4 in Advanced Biology or Chemistry.

Malaysia
Pass the Unified Examination Certificate (Science track) with B3 or 75% in Biology or Chemistry and Mathematics.

The Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) is accepted for the BVetMed – see entry requirements.

Singapore

Singapore GCE A levels are accepted for the BVetMed – see entry requirements.

South Africa

Pass the South African National Senior Certificate with grade 7 in Biology or Chemistry and grade 6 in five subjects including Mathematics (excluding Life Orientation).

South Korea
Pass the Ilbankye Kodung Hakkyo (Science track) with an overall average of 70% in your final three years of High School and in Mathematics and Biology or Chemistry.

Taiwan
Pass the Senior High School Graduation Certificate with a minimum of 70% overall, 70% in Mathematics and 75% in Advanced Biology or Advanced Chemistry.

Vietnam
Tot Nghiep Pho Thong Trung Hoc (Upper Secondary School Graduation Certificate) with a final average grade of 8/10 overall, 8/10 and at least 8/10 in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics.

We do not expect applicants to complete a set number of weeks or specific types of work experience. Instead, we focus on the nature of the experience you have gained and the insights you have taken from it. Your experience does not need to be extensive or come from formal placements, as the Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop your understanding of animals, husbandry, handling, welfare, and veterinary practice while preparing academically for entry to the BVetMed programme.

Before applying, you should take steps to build a genuine understanding of animals and their care. This could include recent interactions with, or care of, animals that show you are comfortable working with them and have explored your interest in veterinary or animal-related careers. While caring for pets is common, your experience should go beyond routine ownership and involve active engagement in animal care or animal-focused environments.  As part of the selection process, you will be asked to provide official references to confirm the experience you have listed in your application.

We appreciate that opportunities differ between applicants. Most applicants should be able to demonstrate some meaningful exposure to animals when they apply. If your experience is limited or falls outside the usual two-year window, we still encourage you to apply, and you may receive an offer that requires you to complete further animal-related experience before enrolling.

All applicants applying through UCAS must complete the Applicant Supplementary Form. The form will be available in our application portal and applicants will be given access to this, and notified of the need to complete the form, via email on receipt of their application. The form must be submitted independently of, and in addition to, the UCAS application and within five days of your application being received by the RVC. The RVC will not contact applicants reminding them to submit the form before the deadline given.

The RVC uses email as the primary method for contacting applicants about their application. Emails may be sent from either admissions@rvc.ac.uk or myapplication@rvc.ac.uk and applicants are strongly encouraged to take the necessary steps to ensure emails from these addresses do not end up in spam or junk inboxes, as the RVC cannot accept responsibility for any applications that are unsuccessful as a result of missed information or deadlines.

If you wish to make us aware of any mitigating circumstances related to your application please see our guidance on mitigating circumstances here: www.rvc.ac.uk/mitigatingcircumstances

All applicants to this course must attend an interview if invited, and cannot receive an offer without attending an interview. Our interviews are held in person. If invited, it is often not possible to rearrange an interview for a different date, so applicants must ensure they are available for interview before applying and inform us by email of any specific days within this time period when they are unavailable.  Interviews will take place in the following locations and dates will be listed here soon:

November 2026
Charlotte, North Carolina
Fort Worth, Texas
Los Angeles, California

December 2026
London, England

January 2027
South East Asia – likely to be Singapore and Hong Kong

IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 or above with a minimum of 5.5 in each component or an alternative acceptable English language qualification.

All applicants must have an acceptable English Language qualification, many of which are listed under 'Academic qualifications' above. Please see our English Language Requirements page for a list of qualifications we accept as alternatives, or see the table below. The test result must have been obtained within 2 years of the start date of the course.