91°µÍø

This Veterinary Gateway course is aimed at students 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 you 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.

The programme focuses on developing your analytical, problem solving and practical skills in the biological sciences; improving your study, team working and communication skills; and introducing you to the handling and husbandry (control and management) of animals, most of them farm animals. If you successfully complete the year, you will automatically progress onto our Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree programme. You will also be eligible to apply to continue at other UK vet schools for their D100 programmes. The following universities currently guarantee interview to those on the 91°µÍø's Gateway year: Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool. 

The course is primarily delivered at our Camden Campus, with some practical elements of the course undertaken at our Hawkshead Campus.


Gabriella Bell, Veterinary Gateway and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

Taking the gateway route was one of the best decisions I have ever made, it really prepared me for the progression onto the BVetMed course.

I love that the 91°µÍø is one big community. Although being from an ethnic minority, I have never once felt like I did not belong at the 91°µÍø or on the BVetMed course. No matter who you are or where you are from, there is a club or society that you will fit into.


Faynowsh Ghani, Veterinary Gateway and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

One of my favourite things about the 91°µÍø is the anatomy and pathology museums which offer a substantial range of anatomical pots, skeletal and plastinated specimens, most of these come with an online “potcast” which is a video or recording of a lecturer talking you through the specimen and what you are observing. This has been extremely useful in my own private study and has aided my revision.


Heather Gray, Veterinary Gateway and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

The gateway year provided me with additional knowledge and experience which enabled me to progress onto the five year BVetMed course. The Gateway year provided me with the environment to develop and enhance my biological knowledge which made me feel more confident about progressing into subsequent years.

There were also additional development sessions supporting our transition to university level. It was really helpful and reassuring to hear from gateway alumni during these sessions.


Accreditation

We were the first veterinary school in the world to achieve full accreditation by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and full recognition by the UK’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), as well as a reciprocal arrangement between the RCVS and the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc (AVBC). Currently we hold full recognition or accreditation from RCVS, AVBC and AVMA and conditional from EAEVE.

What does this mean for you? It means that when you graduate in veterinary medicine at the 91°µÍø, you will be qualified to practise in Europe, North America and many Asian and African countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand – a real advantage for those looking to develop an international career.


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The Veterinary Gateway course is a one-year programme with the aim of preparing you for the five-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine undergraduate degree on completion.

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

Gateway Year

  • Biology of the cell
  • Inheritance, genes and evolution
  • Development
  • The moving animal
  • Integrated physiology
  • Animal handling and husbandry
  • Problem, definition and investigation
  • Library research project

Animal Husbandry Extra-Mural Studies (AHEMS)

AHEMS is undertaken during the pre-clinical years of the programme. AHEMS is designed to develop your knowledge, critical thinking, understanding and practical skills.

A minimum of six weeks AHEMS is to be completed by the end of BVetMed Year 1 (which includes the summer vacation period), including a minimum of two weeks lambing experience to be undertaken at the Easter vacation block in your Gateway Year.

The remaining weeks are to be completed by the end of the summer vacation in BVetMed Year 2. In total, you must complete:

  • Two weeks on a lambing enterprise
  • Two weeks on a dairy cattle farm
  • Two weeks at a commercial pig operation
  • Two weeks of equine experience
  • Four weeks of your choice

AHEMS placements involve spending a number of weeks based at employers where you can focus on developing work place skills and industry expertise that will sit alongside the knowledge you gain throughout your course.

  

You will need to fulfil our WP pre-conditions, WP criteria and academic requirements to be considered for interview:

In addition to your UCAS application (deadline 29 January 2025), you will also need to submit your Supplementary Gateway Form in order to be considered for interview. 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. Interviews are normally held between January and March (sometimes including December) depending on the year.  

Widening Participation pre-conditions (to be met by all)

The Veterinary Gateway programme is available to Home students only that satisfy all of the following specific non-academic requirements:

  • You are a UK/Irish national resident in the UK or have settled status (including permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain) in the UK.*
  • You are EITHER currently predicted to achieve no more than two grades below the standard Gateway entry offer for that qualification (NB: all successful applicants will receive the standard offer for the course, irrespective of their predicted grades) OR you have gained a qualification that meets the standard offer for the Gateway course in the 12 months prior to your application.
  • You have studied only one period of Level 3, unless you are resitting that same qualification the following year.
  • You have never attended university or a higher education institution. 

*non-UK nationals unsure of their status should contact Admissions - terms may change depending on Brexit developments. 

Widening Participation criteria (route-dependent)

To be eligible for the course, you must meet all of our Route A or Route B requirements. You must indicate how you meet these on the Supplementary Gateway Form. 

ROUTE A:

  • You have completed all education since the age of 11 at a UK state school that does not select based on academic performance or charge tuition fees to any of its students, and is not classified by the UK government as an independent school.

You will also need to score a minimum of 15 points by fulfilling one or more of the following criteria:

  • POLAR4 Score: If you live in an area with a POLAR4 score of 1, 25 points are awarded. If you live in an area with a POLAR4 score of 2, 10 points are awarded. You can check this via the .
  • IMD Quintile score **: If you live in an area with an Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile score of 1, 25 points are awarded. If you live in an area with an IMD quintile score of 2, 10 points are awarded. You can check this using one of the following links, depending on which country you live in:
    England:   (an IMD “Decile” score of 1 or 2 given here is equivalent to “quintile 1” above, and Decile 3 or 4 is equivalent to “quintile 2”). 
    Wales:  
    Scotland:  
    Northern Ireland:  (a Deprivation Rank in the top 20% most deprived is equivalent to “quintile 1” above, and top 40% is equivalent to “quintile 2”).
  • TUNDRA MSOA scoreIf you live in an area with a TUNDRA MSOA score of 1, 25 points are awarded. If you live in an area with a TUNDRA MSOA score of 2, 10 points are awarded. You can check this via the .
  • Care Leaver: 30 points are awarded to any applicant who has been looked after by a local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 (requires letter from relevant authority). This includes foster care, residential care, kinship care as a formal agreement with the local authority or living at home under the supervision of the local authority.
  • Level 2 School: If the school at which you took your GCSEs is a school with an 91°µÍø contextual flag, 10 points will be awarded. You can check this .
  • Level 3 School: If the school at which you are taking your Level 3 qualifications (A Levels or equivalent) is a school with an 91°µÍø contextual flag, 10 points will be awarded. You can check this
  • Low Household Income: If you have a low household income and you/your parent(s) are in receipt of an eligible means-tested benefit, you will be awarded 20 points. This could be child tax credits, free school meals, 16-19 bursary, or a government-assessed income award that demonstrates low household income.***
  • Refugee: If you are a refugee, 15 points will be awarded (requires Home Office letter)
  • Parental Education: If your biological parents and/or step-parents and/or guardians have no higher education qualifications, such as a degree, diploma or certificate of higher education (attendance as a mature student is exempt), 5 points will be awarded. This must also be indicated on your UCAS application.

*** Please note: You should be in a position to provide proof of household income if you are going to use this criterion in support of your application. . 

ROUTE B:

  • You have completed all education since the age of 11 at a UK state school that does not charge tuition fees to any of its students or that is classified by the UK government as an independent school.

and

  • You attended the  within the 18 months prior to application. 

Widening Participation eligibility will be determined based on the information provided in the Supplementary Gateway Form. 

Where the number of applicants scoring at least 15 points or more exceeds the number of students the College is able to interview, applicants will then be selected based on their total score.

Academic qualifications

The minimum academic requirements for entry onto the Veterinary Gateway programme are outlined below. Please note that only one period of study of Level 3 qualifications will be accepted unless applicants are resitting those qualifications the following year.

A Levels

CCC in three A Level subjects including:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry 
  • One other subject of your choice* 

It would also be expected that candidates pass their science practical for each relevant subject, where taking the English curriculum.

For further information on our policy on reformed UK qualifications, please click

*The third A Level subject should not overlap with Biology or Chemistry, and cannot be General Studies.

  • We support the opportunity to take additional subjects at AS Level, but do not prescribe or prefer any particular subject choices or combinations.
  • There is no third subject which is preferred by selectors or gives any special advantage in the selection process. Science and non-science subjects are treated equally for the third subject.

See additional GCSE requirements.

Welsh and Scottish Applicants

Welsh Baccalaureate

Applicants who have achieved the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales qualification with grade C will be accepted with two A Levels: 

  • Biology at grade C
  • Chemistry at grade C

Please also see notes under the 'A Levels' tab above.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

Advanced Highers at grade C or above in:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry

in addition to 5 Highers at grade C or above including:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry

and at least National 5 grade C in:

  • English
  • Mathematics

* If you have bypassed one or more of these subjects at National 5, you will need this subject/grade at Higher level. 

Level 3 Extended Diploma

Qualifications below are considered on top of existing GCSEs. 

Level 3 Extended Diploma (reformed syllabus) 

Applied Generals

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science / Applied Science (Biomedical Science): DDM overall with Distinctions in:

  • Principles and Applications of Science I (90)       
  • Principles and Applications of Science II (120)        
  • Science Investigation Skills or Contemporary Issues in Science (120)

Candidates must also achieve at least Merits in two of the following units:

  • Applications of Organic Chemistry; Applications of Inorganic Chemistry; Practical Chemical Analysis (120)

In addition:        

  • Applied Science: at least three units from  must be taken
  • Applied Science (Biomedical Science): at least four units from  must be taken 

Tech Levels

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Animal Management (1080): DDM overall with Distinctions in:

  • Animal Biology (120)      
  • Practical Skills in Animal Science (60)      
  • Animal Metabolism (60)
  • Animal Breeding and Genetics (120) or Animal Welfare and Ethics (120) with Merit in the other   

City & Guilds Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Animal Management (Science)*: D / DDM overall with Distinctions in:

  • Biological Systems of Animals         
  • Theory Exam (2)         
  • Synoptic Assessment (1) or (2) with Merit in the other      

*Please ensure that you are enrolled on the correct pathway - you must be on the Science pathway and taking the mandatory Science pathway modules listed in this document:

Level 3 Extended Diploma (unreformed syllabus)

Pearson Animal Management (2010 syllabus) QCF

DDM overall, with Distinctions in:

  • Fundamentals of Science
  • Chemistry for Biology Technicians or Understand the Principles of Chemistry for Biological and Medical Science 
  • Understand the Principles of Animal Biology
  • Understand Animal Anatomy and Physiology
  • Undertake an investigative project in the land-based sector.

Pearson Applied Science (2010 syllabus) QCF

DDM overall, with Distinctions in:

  • Genetics and Genetic Engineering
  • Physiology of Human Body Systems or Physiology of Human Regulation and Reproductions
  • Using Statistics in Science or Informatics in Science
  • Two of: Biomedical Science Techniques; Chemical Laboratory Techniques; Chemistry for Biology Technicians

International Baccalaureate

444 at Higher Level in:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • One other subject

All third choices are equally acceptable to 91°µÍø selectors. There is no third subject which is preferred or gives any special advantage in the selection process. 

See additional GCSE requirements.

Where candidates have not taken GCSEs prior to the IB Diploma, they will need a minimum of grade 4 in:

  • EITHER MYP Mathematics (standard or extended) OR SL Mathematics Analysis and approaches OR SL Mathematics Applications and interpretation.
  • SL English A

Mathematical Studies cannot be accepted in lieu of Mathematics. 

GCSEs (only in addition to other qualifications)

A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4/C including the following subjects:

  • 4-4 in Combined Science or CC in Science (Double Award) or C in both Science & Additional Science or 4/C in Biology and Chemistry.
  • English Language
  • Mathematics

For further information on our policy on reformed UK qualifications, please click .

Welsh applicants

Please note, GCSE Mathematics-Numeracy will not be accepted instead of GCSE Mathematics but is welcomed alongside it, and as part of the Welsh Baccalaureate.

Work experience (optional extra)

Although we don't require applicants to have any work experience, it is desirable. If you can gain work experience, try to get it both in veterinary practice and in other animal environments in order to develop animal handling skills and obtain an insight into the work of veterinary surgeons.

We encourage you to think creatively about these environments and are interested to hear about any experiences that have helped to give you a sense of the veterinary role in the wider world. Examples of suitable other animal environments might include, but are not limited to: kennels, cattery, animal shelter, rural or city farm, stables, pet shop, lambing, intensive livestock, abattoir, animal research laboratory, wildlife park, zoo, etc. You do not have to have gained experience in all these areas.

If you wish to inform us of work experience you have completed, there is a section to do this in the Supplementary Gateway 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.

Mitigating circumstances

If you wish to make us aware of any mitigating circumstances related to your application please see our guidance on mitigating circumstances here: 

Interviews

All applicants to this course must attend an interview if invited and cannot receive an offer without attending an interview. All UK interviews for this course will be held between January and March. 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

All applicants invited to interview will need to provide their passport (in some cases another valid form of ID will be acceptable), original A-level and GCSE certificates (if already completed).

Please note that if you apply to more than one of our Veterinary Medicine courses (excluding the Bachelor of Veterinary Science) and your application progresses to the interview stage, you will be invited to attend one interview only which will be used in our assessment of each of your applications.

Important information 

The 91°µÍø 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 91°µÍø cannot accept responsibility for any applications that are unsuccessful as a result of missed information or deadlines.  

FAQs

I started doing a Level 3 qualification but then switched colleges/qualifications. Does this count as two periods of Level 3?

Where you have only studied for one year (e.g. completed AS Levels) and then gone on to a new college or qualification, you should still be eligible under this pre-condition. However, if you have attended more than one college, both will need to be contextually-flagged for you to meet this WP criterion. Otherwise, it is at the discretion of the 91°µÍø as per our Admissions Policy. 

If I score less than 15 points. Do I still have a chance of getting an interview?

Unfortunately not, to be considered eligible for the Veterinary Gateway programme, you must score at least 15 points. 

What will I be able to do with my qualification?

Upon successful completion of this six-year course, you will graduate with a degree in veterinary medicine. 

Our graduates go on to enjoy a wide range of careers in veterinary medicine, including positions in:

  • Small animal practices
  • Mixed practices
  • Equine practices
  • Farm/livestock environments
  • Wild animal environments
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Military support
  • Industry
  • Research
  • Government
  • Academia

Global careers

You will be entitled to practise as a veterinarian as soon as you have earned your BVetMed degree and registered as a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). The 91°µÍø's accreditation status with the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and the reciprocal arrangement between the RCVS and the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc (AVBC) allows BVetMed graduates to register to practise in Europe, Australia and New Zealand without requiring any further qualifications.

In addition, the American Veterinary Medical Association () will recognise your degree as equivalent to those awarded by veterinary colleges in the United States. Some of the USA’s major veterinary employers recruit actively among our final year students. Please note, however, that you will be required to sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination () if you intend to work in North America after qualifying, just as those studying at US universities do. 

91°µÍø Gateway students testimonials

Rhian Jefferies and and Abbie Ward both came to the 91°µÍø on the Gateway programme and are now studying BVet Med. Listen them talk about how they came take the Gateway path into study and how they feel it has benefitted them as they progress through their studies.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for students commencing the course in 2024/25 are as follows:

UK Tuition Fees
£9,535

 

Tuition fee amounts are subject to increase each academic year, please be aware of this when making your calculations and planning how much money you will require.

  • Students from countries outside the UK who wish to undertake full-time study at the 91°µÍø are required to pay the international fee for their programme of study (please see  section).
  • Information on Fees & Funding for existing students can be found here

The following course-related costs are included in the fees:

  •  of the  for course duration
  • Access to books and journals essential to your course (print and digital)
  • Open access and bookable IT equipment such as PCs and laptops
  • Largely paperless curriculum plus £10 p.a. printing allowance
  • Annual membership of College gym (both campuses)

The following course-related costs are not included in the fees:

  • Specialist clothing and equipment £600 for the whole course. This amount includes some likely additional spend on replacement items.
  • Travel to AHEMS and EMS placements
  • Some AHEMS and EMS placements will also require students to pay for board and lodging
  • Travel to various intramural rotations (IMR). While majority of the core IMR take place in the College’s clinical centres, various weeks of core and tracking IMR require you to travel to various parts of London or further afield. Financial support is provided to help offset the likely travel costs entailed and for certain rotations accommodation is also provided    

Accommodation and living costs are not included in the fees. Our Housing Advice pages provide further information on College and private housing. 

Funding Options

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