Academic Requirements

Candidates are required to take a sixth year and undertake Advanced Highers.

University-approved SQA subjects

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is committed to widening access and welcomes applications from students with diverse backgrounds. We are keen to consider whether some applicants could benefit from being made an offer of an interview at the minimum entry requirement (the level you need to have achieved to be successful on the programme), or whether you might be eligible for additional credit in the selection process, in support of your application. 

• Candidates assigned with a PLUS FLAG are normally guaranteed an interview provided they achieve or are predicted to achieve the academic minimum entry requirements and are able to demonstrate an understanding of the profession in their application.
• Candidates assigned with a FLAG will be considered for an offer at the standard requirement, but will receive additional consideration during the selection process

You can find further information on the University’s Widening Access policy, and use our Widening Access Online Checker to see if you meet the criteria for being either PLUS FLAG or FLAG here:

Widening Access - Online Checker 

Graduates applying for our undergraduate veterinary medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.

We do not accept General Studies or Critical Thinking as a third A Level subject. 

University-approved subjects

A BTEC National Extended Certificate in Applied Human Biology (D) is accepted in lieu of A-level Biology/Human Biology. 

AS modules

Resits of AS level modules are acceptable. In order to be considered candidates must be predicted to gain our minimum entry requirements in A2 subjects. Only candidates who gain or are predicted to gain our minimum entry requirements within the normal 2-year period for A level examinations will be considered.

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is committed to widening access and welcomes applications from students with diverse backgrounds. We are keen to consider whether some applicants could benefit from being made an offer of an interview at the minimum entry requirement (the level you need to have achieved to be successful on the programme), or whether you might be eligible for additional credit in the selection process, in support of your application. 

• Candidates assigned with a PLUS FLAG are normally guaranteed an interview provided they achieve or are predicted to achieve the academic minimum entry requirements and are able to demonstrate an understanding of the profession in their application.
• Candidates assigned with a FLAG will be considered for an offer at the standard requirement, but will receive additional consideration during the selection process

You can find further information on the University’s Widening Access policy, and use our Widening Access Online Checker to see if you meet the criteria for being either PLUS FLAG or FLAG here:

Widening Access - Online Checker 

Graduates applying for our undergraduate veterinary medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.

University-approved subjects

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is committed to widening access and welcomes applications from students with diverse backgrounds. We are keen to consider whether some applicants could benefit from being made an offer of an interview at the minimum entry requirement (the level you need to have achieved to be successful on the programme), or whether you might be eligible for additional credit in the selection process, in support of your application. 

• Candidates assigned with a PLUS FLAG are normally guaranteed an interview provided they achieve or are predicted to achieve the academic minimum entry requirements and are able to demonstrate an understanding of the profession in their application.
• Candidates assigned with a FLAG (previously Context) will be considered for an offer at the standard requirement, but will receive additional consideration during the selection process

You can find further information on the University’s Widening Access policy, and use our Widening Access Online Checker to see if you meet the criteria for being either PLUS FLAG or FLAG here:

Widening Access - Online Checker 

Graduates applying for our undergraduate veterinary medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.

The RVC Veterinary Gateway course is aimed at those who want to study veterinary medicine but who might not otherwise meet our entry requirements. The programme integrates an additional preparatory year designed to equip candidates with the knowledge and skills you need to study veterinary medicine.

This course is open to UK students only, who come from a 'widening participation' background.

RVC Gateway Programme

Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) is an alternative route for adult learners and mature students to get into university or college.

SWAP offers an Access to Medical Studies programme which we accept for consideration for entry to year one of Veterinary Medicine from eligible applicants.

Access to Medical Studies

D3, D3, D3 (or a combination of D3 and A level grade A) in Chemistry, Biology and one other University-approved subject.

University-approved subjects

Please refer to the the page below which provides specific information and advice for prospective students by country.

Applicants are expected to have completed at least 2 years pre-veterinary or science courses at College or University. Courses to be covered should include Chemistry I and II (with lab), Biology I and II (with lab), Organic Chemistry I (with lab) and Maths/Statistics. An overall GPA of 3.4 (4 point scale) is expected. We would expect high grades in all science subjects.

The Admissions Committee aims to select mature candidates from a variety of backgrounds to further enhance the diversity of the intake. Although mature applicants receive consideration, there is no relaxation of programme entry requirements. In order to be considered you would, therefore, have to achieve the normal minimum entry requirements. Normally candidates must attain these grades in the one sitting and at the first attempt. However, if you are not able to study full time (if, for example, you are continuing to work) you would not necessarily be expected to gain the grades at the one sitting but you would certainly have to attain them at the first attempt.

Mature students are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office providing further information on both school and further education examination results to discuss their qualifications on an individual basis prior to making a formal application.

A 2:1 Honours Degree (or equivalent), in an appropriate science subject. Candidates with a non-science degree will be considered provided they have gained high grades in Chemistry and Biology high school qualifications. 

Please note that all candidates applying for the BVM&S as a second degree (including graduates from the UK, EU, EEA) are considered at the International Fee rate.

The Admissions Committee regrets that it cannot consider ONC, HNC, HND or part- degree qualifications as equivalent to an Upper Second Class Honours degree for entry requirement purposes.

Graduates applying for our undergraduate veterinary medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 at A
• SQA Intermediate 2 at C
• GCSE C or 4
• IB Standard Level 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic module overall 7.0 with 7.0 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT 100 (including Special Home Edition) or above with 23 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• Cambridge English: Advanced & Proficiency overall 185 with 185 in each component
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements