BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Nursing

• A minimum of 112 tariff points from A & AS levels, including at a least a grade C in one of the following subjects: GCE A Level: Biology, Chemistry, Science or Applied Science
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) – A minimum of grade DMM in Applied Science or Animal Care/Management
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) – a minimum of grade D*D* in Applied Science or Animal Care/Management
• Scottish Higher – a minimum of 112 tariff points, including Biology, Chemistry or Applied Science
• Access to Higher Education – 112 tariff points to include a minimum of 15 credits at Distinction. Course must be Science based.
• International Baccalaureate – A minimum score of 26, including 5 in HL Biology or HL Chemistry
• T Level – a minimum grade of Merit in Science
• A minimum of 5 GCSE’s (or equivalent) at grade C/4 or above, to include English Language, Maths and Science
• Mature students (aged 21+) will be considered on an individual basis on their prior knowledge and experience. This may be assessed by interview, completion of coursework/essay or other methods. There may be a requirement for a formal qualification to be completed first e.g. Access to Higher Education course

• 140 hours work experience with companion animals, 70 hours of which needs to be in a veterinary practice. This need not be in blocks but can be made up by hours and days.

Applicants still undertaking work experience can still apply however it is likely to be a condition of any offer made.

• Decisions will be made based on entry qualifications and acquired work experience, accompanied with supporting references.
• Students are required to declare whether they have any criminal convictions at the earliest opportunity.
• We reserve the right to interview applicants where further information is needed relating to experience, qualifications, criminal convictions, or other relevant matters.

Year 1 (Level 4) – all modules are compulsory

• Comparative Functional Anatomy and Physiology
• Companion Animal Husbandry, Behaviour and Welfare
• Professional Practice and Communication Skills
• Veterinary Operational Standards and Legislation
• Foundation Skills in Veterinary Nursing
• Introduction to Scientific Communication
• Clinical Placement (6 weeks)

Year 2 (Level 5) – all modules are compulsory

• Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Skills
• Hospitalisation and Care of Companion Animals
• Companion Animal Surgical Support and Perioperative Care
• Clinical Placement (21 weeks)

Year 3 (Level 5) – all modules are compulsory:

• Anaesthesiology for Veterinary Nursing
• Evidence-based Clinical Practice
• Research Methods
• Clinical Placement (21 weeks)

Year 4 (Level 6) – compulsory modules

• Dissertation
• Veterinary Nurse-led Clinics
• Advances in Veterinary Nursing

Year 4 (Level 6) – optional modules

• Care, Nursing and Rehabilitation of Wildlife and Exotic Species AND Animal Rehabilitation Therapies

OR

• Clinical Animal Behaviour AND Animal Assisted Interventions

Students must also complete the OSCEs for Veterinary Nursing during Year 4.

Availability of optional modules is subject to the recruitment of a minimum viable student number (7 individuals). Should a module not be deemed viable for operation, all the students who had selected it will be contacted in writing before the start of the academic year and asked to select an alternative from the options available.

Students will be expected to make option module choices for the following academic year during March/April using the online module selection service. Confirmation of module choices will be provided via email following approval.

Students on this degree will experience a variety of teaching and learning approaches across all levels of study. These will include:

• Lectures
• Practical classes
• Seminars and workshops
• Master classes and guest lectures
• Clinical Skills teaching
• Laboratory practicals

Students will typically have between 10 and 15 contact hours per week, typically across 2 to 4 days. Additionally, students will be expected to undertake independent study to reinforce learning that has taken place in timetabled sessions.

Staff teaching on the programme include a number of registered veterinary nurses as well as veterinary surgeons. In addition, staff from the Higher Education Animal Sciences team will also contribute to the programme through the delivery of the shared modules.

Class sizes average between 12 and 20 for modules that are unique to this programme. For modules that are shared across several programmes, class sizes would be higher than this.

Assessment Methods

Assessment will take a variety of forms including reports, essays, academic posters, presentations, clinical role play and examinations. Assessment components will be identified in line with the University of Chester modular framework guidance.

An additional requirement of the assessment strategy will be the demonstration of clinical skills competence through observation during clinical placement.

This programme is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as conveying a license to practise . This means that successful graduates are eligible to apply for entry to the register of veterinary nurses and use the post-nominal RVN.

Students are expected to complete and pass all the identified modules at the required level of study in order to progress to the following year. To successfully progress to the next level of study, students are required to achieve the minimum weighted module mark of 40% for each module. In addition, for specified modules at Levels 4 and 5, each item of assessment in the module must achieve the minimum threshold attainment of 40%.

If an item of assessment within a module is failed (i.e. it does not achieve the minimum mark of 40%), a reassessment opportunity may be offered. Whilst the format of a reassessment is likely to be the same as the original assessment, the specific details will be different. Failure to complete outstanding components of assessment may result in the student not being eligible for progression.

Students must complete and achieve the requirements of the clinical placement before they are eligible to take the OSCEs.

A variety of assessment forms are included in this programme. These include written reports, presentations, case studies, research proposals, workbooks, academic posters and written and practical exams.

Typically, students will complete 2 to 3 items of assessment for each module which will include a combination of the assessment types identified above. A number of modules in years 1 to 3 include written and practical exams in line with RCVS requirements.

In addition, students undertake a formative assessment at the start of the programme. This is designed to help identify any additional support needs the student may have but also to establish expectations in terms of the requirements of higher education level work. Formative assessment opportunities are built into all modules through the use of in-class activities such as question and answer, debates and seminar discussions and through the completion of activities using the virtual learning environment, Moodle.

Details of all assessments are made available to students at the start of the academic year, typically via their course handbook. This includes details of the modules, assessment components, learning outcomes assessed and launch, submission and return dates. Each coursework assessment is accompanied by a specific brief that provides details of the assessment task along with the assessment and grading criteria that will be used for marking purposes.

Feedback

Opportunities for feedback on your progress will be available throughout your course. This will be provided in many formats, including written and verbal. Students should expect to receive provisional assessment marks and constructive feedback within twenty working days of the original submission date. If this is not possible, students will be informed in a timely manner and provided with a revised return date. Assessment marks are confirmed at the Module Assessment Board.

All assignment work is to be submitted electronically via Turnitin. This enables work to be checked to identify instances of plagiarism or academic misconduct. Work is marked electronically using Grademark software and returned to students via the module submission page or link.

Students will be able to access course timetables for the academic year in September.

To meet Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) requirements for registration as a veterinary nurse, students will need to complete a minimum of 1,800 hours of clinical placement in an approved Training Practice as part of their course. As a result, the B.Sc. (Hons) in Veterinary Nursing is delivered over four years with periods of clinical placement spread out in blocks over the first three years.

Completion and achievement of the clinical placement requirement is compulsory for those wishing to graduate with the Veterinary Nursing degree.

University Centre Reaseheath maintains a list of approved training practices that are prepared to provide clinical placements for degree students. Students are given access to this list and are supported to identify and secure a suitable placement. Students may also suggest alternative placement providers but these must be judged suitable by University Centre Reaseheath before a placement can be undertaken in them.

Students are required to complete the equivalent of 48 weeks of placement based on a 37.5-hour week. It should be noted that placement blocks range from 4 to 21 weeks in length and are unpaid. When selecting a placement, students should consider the financial implications associated with accommodation and travel as University Centre Reaseheath is unable to subsidise such costs.

Tuition Fees

As a student at UCR, you will have two main costs to meet; your tuition fees and living costs.

Our full-time tuition fees for UK and EU students, entering University, can be found on our student finance page. These fees are charged for each academic year of a course and are set by the college annually.

Tuition fees for international students can also be found on our student finance page.

Additional Costs

This programme includes significant periods of compulsory clinical placement. Students should consider the costs associated with accommodation, travel, subsistence etc that are likely to arise from this when selecting their clinical placement provider.

Students may also wish to purchase their own personal copies of recommended set-texts to assist them in their studies and to support them whilst on clinical placement. A full list of recommended texts is available prior to enrolment. It is not essential to purchase key texts as the campus library is well stocked and has multiple copies of the main texts.

Equipment Costs

• Pens
• Pencils
• Notepad
• A laptop that is windows compatible
• Scientific calculator – can use mobile phones
• Leaver arch files or equivalent
• USB memory stick/hard drive or cloud based digital storage space
• Protective steel toe capped boots (£20 min) 
• Sensible clothing
• Dark coloured clothes that can be easily cleaned
• Vet nursing scrub tops (£25) purchased from the online shop
• Fob watch for practice placement – about £3-£5
• Lab coat

Prices of equipment are subject to change dependent on retailer.