Venues

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Content

Year 1:
Your major courses are The Animal Body 1 and 2, which integrate anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, introductory pathology and infection and immunity. You also study animal health, welfare and food safety and begin courses in professional and clinical skills.

Year 2:
You continue to study integrated anatomy, physiology and pathology in The Animal Body 3 and will have the opportunity to integrate materials learnt in The Animal Body 1, 2 and 3 during The Animal Body 4 at the end of the year. Animal health, welfare and food safety and professional and clinical skills courses continue. You will also work on a group-based, student-selected component.

Year 3:
You study the clinical foundation course (surgery, diagnostic imaging, pharmacology, anaesthesia and clinical oncology), veterinary pathology and the dog and cat integrated clinical course. Animal health, welfare and food safety and professional and clinical skills courses continue. You also select a research project to work on over the next two years as your second student-selected component.

Year 4:
Species-based clinical studies continue with the farm animal, equine and exotics integrated clinical courses. Animal health, welfare and food safety and professional and clinical skills courses also continue. You will continue to plan and then carry out your small research project in your chosen area of veterinary medicine.

The clinical induction, integration and consolidation course completes the fourth year as preparation for the final clinical year.

Year 5:
Your final year is lecture-free, with the emphasis on practical experience. You carry out clinical rotations in our hospitals and support services to gain wide-ranging, practical experience and develop professional skills.

The final year is longer than the previous years and incorporates externship and elective periods to allow focus on areas of individual interest. You will bring together your personal and professional development portfolio.

Entry Requirements

2025 entry requirements

Standard entry:
5 Highers at AAAAB (by end of S5) plus Advanced Highers at BB including Biology and Chemistry at A and Maths or Physics plus Advanced Higher Chemistry and another science subject at BB plus English and Physics (if not held at Higher) at National 5. If Biology has not been studied in S5 it should be studied at Higher level in S6.

All subjects must be obtained at first attempt.