Skip navigation

Gateway to Veterinary Science

  • BVSc
  • 6 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about University of Bristol

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
Apply

Course summary

Gateway to Veterinary Science is aimed at students who have the potential to become vets but do not meet the standard academic entry criteria to apply directly to our five-year undergraduate Veterinary Science course (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2026/vet-science/bvsc-veterinary-science/). Our Gateway courses (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/gateway-eligibility/) are a widening participation initiative for UK students who fulfil specific criteria and wish to apply for a clinical programme in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science.

During the Gateway year students will learn alongside each other, benefiting from shared interprofessional insight and the unique community of Bristol's medical, dental and veterinary schools. Students will be taught by academic teachers who are scientists and clinicians.

The Gateway course builds on core basic sciences underpinning clinical subjects (chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, anatomy and physiology). It encourages reflection and places emphasis on personal and professional development; strengthens practical, statistics, research and library skills; and considers attributes and behaviours that enable a successful transition to university study. Successful completion of the Gateway year allows automatic progression onto the five-year BVSc Veterinary Science (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/vet-science/bvsc-veterinary-science/).

Eligibility
This course is open to applicants from specific schools and colleges in the UK only, those who have spent three months or more in care and/or those who have been in receipt of free school meals. For further information and lists of eligible schools and colleges, visit the contextual offers (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/) and Gateway courses eligibility webpages. We no longer accept the BTEC Animal Management qualification for this course.

See further key information about our veterinary courses on the Bristol Veterinary School website (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/vet-school/study/undergraduate/key-information/).

This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BVSc • Full-time • 6 Years

Start dates

  • 09/2026

Apply by
15 October

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:
D108
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Bristol has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
15 October

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:
D108
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

We do not accept international applications to our Gateway courses.

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

Not accepted

A level

BBC
BBC including B in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of AAB or above (or points equivalent), or with A in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DMM
DMM BTEC Extended Diploma Applied Science (RQF): Grades DDM or DMM, including five specified Biology or Chemistry units in any combination. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of DDD or above cannot be considered for Gateway programmes but could be considered for the five-year standard entry course instead.

Access to HE Diploma

Not accepted

Scottish Higher

BBBBC
Standard Level: BBBBC. Applicants with achieved or predicted Advanced Higher grades of AA, or with Chemistry at A grade, are not eligible for this course.

Scottish Advanced Higher

BB
Advanced Higher: BB including Biology or Chemistry, and Standard Level: BBBBC. Applicants with achieved or predicted Advanced Higher grades of AA, or with Chemistry at A grade, are not eligible for this course.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

29 points
29 points overall with 14 at Higher level, including 5 at Higher Level in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of 33 points overall including 16 at Higher Level, or with 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/ D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/ M2 is B, and M3 is C.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must also meet these GCSE profile requirements: standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent) and standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent) Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/gcse/

Work experience is recommended; please see the Admissions Statement.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Health checks
Health questionnaire and medical examination. Non-immune students must be immunised against hepatitis B and tuberculosis.
Interview
Candidates who fit the academic entry criteria and the additional widening participation criteria will be considered for interview. Interviews take place at the University of Bristol campus at Langford.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you need to meet this profile level: Profile B Further information about English language requirements and profile levels: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/language-requirements/ For 2020 entry English language requirements are being reviewed and will be confirmed by August 2019.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. We consider a large range of contextual factors when making application decisions.

If you receive and accept an offer from the University of Bristol, and you meet the terms of your offer in full, you will be accepted.

Learn more on the University of Bristol website

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.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 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

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Related courses

At University of Bristol

Like this page