BSc

Veterinary Biosciences (with integrated year in industry)

Veterinary Biosciences (with integrated year in industry) Code D907 Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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You are viewing this course for September start 2024

Veterinary Biosciences at Aberystwyth University is dedicated to the biology underpinning veterinary medicine. On this course, you will explore the biology of farm animals, horses, and companion animals. This degree programme will also provide a suitable pathway to a veterinary medicine course, with other exciting career options including veterinary laboratory diagnostician, nutritionist or as an animal health researcher.

If you are passionate about a career in the animal health field, this course will improve your career prospects with an integrated year gaining work experience in the veterinary-related industry. This will give you a head start in gaining the skills, experience and contacts before you enter the job market.

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.

Course Overview

Why study Veterinary Biosciences with integrated year in industry?  

  • The syllabus of this course with the integrated year in industry is identical to its sister course BSc Veterinary Biosciences (D906) Your work experience must be relevant to this degree and the year is assessed which will count towards your degree grade;
  • Students will have to organise their work experience under the guidance of our Director for Employability. There is no guarantee that the work experience will be paid. (If you cannot obtain a placement, then you must transfer to its sister course BSc Veterinary Biosciences D906);
  • During your year in work experience, you will pay a discounted tuition fee of which the information can be found here;
  • You will be taught and mentored by veterinary surgeons and world-class veterinary scientists;
  • Our collaboration with the Wales Veterinary Science Centre and other organisations allows you to understand the wider veterinary field;
  • Over 100ha of farmland, including lowland and upland sheep farms, a 500 cow dairy herd, intensive and extensive beef production systems, an equine centre;
  • Flourish and develop in our fantastic modern laboratories, dissection rooms and microscopy suites on campus;
  • Develop and expand your knowledge of this subject area through practicals involving molecular, cellular, anatomical and behavioural aspects of veterinary health;
  • Learn and Live in an exceptional environment where you will have marine, moorland, mountain, grassland and coast right on your doorstep.
Our Staff

The majority of teaching staff in the Department of Life Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active. Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry. The Department has a large number of research only staff with whom students may have contact.

Modules September start - 2024

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Integrated Year in Industry BRS0060 60

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Behaviour and Welfare of Domesticated Animals BR35120 20
Research Project * BR36440 40
Veterinary Infectious Diseases BR34120 20
Veterinary Pharmacology and Disease Control BR36820 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Behavioural Neurobiology BR35320 20
Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics BR37120 20
Equine Nutrition and Pasture Management BR35720 20
Livestock Production Science BR30820 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Employability is embedded across all of our teaching at Aberystwyth University.

In a growing market where graduates with skills and specialist knowledge in the Veterinary Biosciences area, our graduates seek employment in the following:

  • Veterinary research
  • Charity advocacy (e.g. RSCPA)
  • Research in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industry
  • Teaching
  • Civil service

Many students have processed to further training in:

  • Veterinary Medicine training
  • Postgraduate research (PhD, MRes, PGCE)

Your year in industry:

Make no mistake, you will develop confidence and gaining experience in the industry will stimulate your enthusiasm for the subject.

 Completing a year in industry will allow you to:

  • Apply the learning from your course to the work environment;
  • Make industry contacts;
  • Develop practical skills related to your area of study;
  • Apply your practical skills and technical knowledge after returning to study;
  • Enhance your CV and better prepare yourself for a job after graduating.

Students on this scheme should note that the department institute does not have automatic placements for every applicant. You will be responsible for finding securing the work experience, however, you will have the assistance of our institute Work Experience Coordinator and our dedicated careers advisor (James Cuffe, jpc11@aber.ac.uk). If you fail to find work experience you will be able to convert your course to the three-year version of your subject.

Teaching & Learning

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four year degree scheme.

What will I learn?

In the first year you will explore:

  • Comparative anatomy and physiology of domestic animals
  • Tutorials providing training with essays, reports and presentations
  • Molecular Laboratory Skills
  • Animal Handling
  • Genetics and related diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry of Life
  • Diagnostic techniques in the veterinary practice and laboratory

In the second year you will discover:

  • Domestic animal nutrition including specialisation in livestock, equine or companion animal
  • Treatment and diseases of cat, dog and exotic pets
  • Reproductive physiology
  • The immune system
  • A range of options covering microbiology, anatomy, livestock production and other relevant modules

In your third year you will undertake your work experience which will be relevant to your degree in Veterinary Biosciences. If you cannot obtain your work experience then you will transfer to its sister course BSc Veterinary Biosciences D906.

In the final year you will study:

  • Research Dissertation
  • Animal Behaviour and Welfare
  • Veterinary Pharmacology
  • Veterinary infectious diseases
  • A range of options covering behaviour, Equine management and other relevant modules
  • You will also undertake a compulsory dissertation in your final year.

Among many skills, you will learn to: synthesize information from scientific literature; understand and explain the implications of technological developments in animal science; scrutinise data in terms of quality and quantity; and respond to new data through laboratory investigation

How will I be taught?

We teach our students in through lectures, workshops, tutorials and practicals.

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree course, who will help you with any problems or queries.

We assess our students through:

  • Exams
  • Essays
  • Practical exercises
  • Oral presentations
  • Worksheets
  • Reports
  • Statistical exercises
  • Dossiers
  • Posters
  • Portfolios
  • Wikis
  • Reflective diaries
  • Literature reviews
  • Magazine articles
  • Field notebooks

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 128 - 104

A Levels ABB-BCC with B in Biology

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh, Science and Mathematics

BTEC National Diploma:
DDD-DDM in a specified subject

International Baccalaureate:
30-28 with 5 points in Biology at Higher Level

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall with 7 in Biology

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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