There are increasing employment opportunities within veterinary nursing, veterinary practice management, the development of vet practices and the animal health industry. Harper Adams’ courses are approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the requirements for gaining the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Veterinary Nursing Licence to Practice are written into the course structure, so you will not only have the skills and rights of a registered veterinary nurse but also those skills provided by an honours degree in science. Because of the vocational nature of the course, the content is a balance between practical work (vital to gain the necessary experience to become a qualified nurse) and the intellectual skills needed for a degree. You will learn practical skills at Harper Adams, via short block release during the university terms, from work experience completed during vacations and by the work placement year.
4 years (full-time) including a one-year work placement.
This course is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Modules
For up to date module information please visit the university website at: http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/undergraduate/course/UDNVNSAR
Assessment method
A wide range of assessment methods are used. Where modules contain specific veterinary nursing content there is always an exam component, whether essay exam, multiple choice/short answer questions or practical exam. There may also be course work presentations or assignments in the assessment of these modules. Both coursework and exam elements must be passed.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
Veterinary Surgeons, Royal College of
If the course start date is before 31 December 2025 and you have already submitted an application, this course can be added. If you have not submitted an application, contact the university or college direct.
If the course start date is between 01 January and 31 July 2026 click the 'Apply' button to make an application.
Apply by 29 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
Course code:
D310
Institution code:
H12
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Harper Adams University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
Course code:
D310
Institution code:
H12
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 96 - 112 points
A2 Biology to grade C
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM
We would typically require you to have taken a BTEC Extended Diploma/C&G Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in a Science subject area relevant to the degree that you wish to study, although all applications will be considered on their individual merits. Please note that we do not accept the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Equine Management or the City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Equine Management for this course.
Also for the City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Animal Management we require the Science Pathway option to be undertaken. This MUST include the following modules:
Fundamentals of Science
Chemistry for Biological Technicians
Cell Biology and Genetics
Biochemistry and microbiology
Please contact Admissions for further advice.
Please note these grades apply only to the new examined (reformed) version of the Level 3 Extended Diploma which should be 1080 Guided Learning Hours. For the old non-examined (unreformed) version of the course we require grades D*DD. We do not accept the 720 GLH version as fully meeting our Level 3 entry requirements. If you are unsure which version you are studying please contact your school or college for advice.
For applicants taking a City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma, offers tend to be in the region of DDM
Please note these grades apply only to the new examined (reformed) version of the Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma which should be 1080 Guided Learning Hours. For the previous version of this course, the City and Guilds Level 3 Extended Diploma, we require grade D*. We do not accept the 720 GLH version as fully meeting our Level 3 entry requirements. If you are unsure which version you are studying please contact your school or college for advice.
Access to HE Diploma - D: 30 credits
M: 15 credits
Need to achieve 15 credits in Biology to Distinction
Scottish Higher - ABBB
To include Biology
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points
All applicants must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 to include Maths, Science and English Language.
T Level - M
T-Level Technical Qualification in Animal Care and Management (Level 3) including 306 Animal Science core pathway and 408 Animal Management and Science Occupational Specialism at grade Merit
For full entry requirements, including details of all other qualifications accepted, please see our website www.harper.ac.uk
The University is committed to bringing fresh talent to the industries we serve and has developed a range of initiatives to give everyone the best chance to access our undergraduate programmes. Known as 'Access to Harper' our contextualised offer scheme recognises difficulties that some applicants may face and provides those applicants with an offer lower than our standard requirements. Further details can be found at https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/access.cfm
Please note our work experience requirements apply equally to all applicants and exceptions cannot be made. Work experience must be completed within the same application cycle and if an applicant chooses to defer their entry, a "gap year" cannot be used to gain the required experience to meet the conditions of any offer.
A minimum of 4 weeks work experience carried out since July 2022, is required. This should comprise at least 2 weeks (10 days) in a small animal veterinary practice (preferably 5 days of this should be in a block) and the remainder in an animal related placement. Ideally some of this work experience should be completed prior to application. Work experience must be completed and evidence (including a satisfactory reference from each veterinary practice) submitted in the format requested by 3rd July in the cycle in which an application is made.
Please note we do not accept on-line experience as meeting our work experience requirements as this needs to be in a face-to-face setting.
Interviews will take place on an ad-hoc basis should the Course Manager wish to discuss any aspect of your application and for all potentially suitable applicants who require visa sponsorship.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Data from:
This course and 7 other animal science courses
Date range:
2022-2024
Grades held by accepted students
For Harper Adams University, the top and bottom 5% of student grades have been removed from these
calculations. This change helps to remove any extraordinary circumstances that could impact the data.
Learn more here
.
CCC
Most common
CCC Most common
AAA
Highest grades
DDD
Lowest grades
Offer rate for UK school & college leavers
89%
89% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.
How do you compare?
See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.
N/A
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
87%
87 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
96%
96 Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Location
Fee
Year
Republic of Ireland
£9535
Year 1
England
£9535
Year 1
Northern Ireland
£9535
Year 1
Scotland
£9535
Year 1
Wales
£9535
Year 1
Channel Islands
£9535
Year 1
EU
£16500
Year 1
International
£16500
Year 1
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
This 4 year course consists of 3 years on campus at a cost of £9535 per year with a placement in year 3 which costs £1905 (Fees for International students are £16500 per year with a placement in year 3 which costs £3,848)
