BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing · Ulster UniversityBachelor's degree · 4 years
Request information University profile
Ulster University · Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing Bachelor's degree at Ulster University

BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing at Ulster University is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), making graduates eligible to register as a veterinary nurse with that body.

BSc (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
Coleraine
Location

About this course

BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Ulster University, based in Coleraine. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Agriculture & Animal Science, see the sections below.

Curriculum & modules

A typical UK Agriculture & Animal Science degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:

StageModule
Year 1Animal / Crop Science Foundations
Biology applied to livestock, companion animals or crops.
Year 1Agri-food Systems
How food gets from farm to fork, markets and sustainability.
Year 1Practical Husbandry & Farm Skills
Hands-on work with animals, land and machinery.
Year 2Nutrition & Health
Feeding and keeping animals (or crops) healthy and productive.
Year 2Grassland & Environment Management
Soils, pasture and farming within environmental limits.
Year 2Data & Technology in Agriculture
Precision farming, sensors and farm data.
Year 3Specialist options
Typically livestock production, equine, conservation or agronomy.
Year 3Farm Business Management
Economics and planning of agricultural enterprises.
Year 3Dissertation / industry project
Applied research, often with a farm or industry partner.

Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.

Specialisations & pathways

Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

This degree prepares you for professional veterinary nursing practice through a structured progression in animal science and clinical skills. You'll usually begin with foundations in animal biology, husbandry and farm systems, then move into nutrition, health management and applied technology. From Year 2 onwards, you'll specialise in areas such as livestock production, equine science, animal behaviour and welfare, or agri-tech, whilst developing business and research skills. Throughout, you'll gain hands-on experience with animals and practical farm work. Your final year typically includes a substantial project or placement, often with veterinary or industry partners. The course emphasises the clinical and professional knowledge needed for veterinary nursing registration.

Who it's for

This course suits those committed to animal healthcare and welfare who want professional registration as a veterinary nurse. You'll need to engage seriously with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on clinical practice. The programme demands sustained study over four years and practical competence in veterinary nursing procedures.

University & format

Ulster University is a UK university located in Coleraine. The BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing is delivered full-time over 4 years in English. The course is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), meeting the requirements for eligibility to register as a veterinary nurse. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, your degree is nationally recognised.

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Entry & how to get in

Professionally accreditedAccredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for the purpose of eligibility for registration as a veterinary nurse with that body
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Ulster University's official course page for the current offer.

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Offer-based entry

Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
UCAS codeD313quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code D313). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Ulster University whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Internationalset by the university

Set under Northern Ireland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.

Check fees at Ulster University →

If you normally live in Northern Ireland

Studying in Northern Irelandtuition loan up to £4,985
Studying elsewhere in the UKtuition loan up to £9,790

2026/27 maximum Tuition Fee Loan for eligible Northern Ireland students. Maintenance support depends on household income. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.

Check the current amounts with Student Finance NI →

Paying for it

  • Tuition Fee Loan: up to £4,985 in Northern Ireland or £9,790 elsewhere in the UK for eligible NI-domiciled students in 2026/27.
  • Maintenance support: a mix of grant and loan from Student Finance NI, weighted to household income.
  • Repayment: only above the income threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

Northern Ireland runs its own system through Student Finance NI; check studentfinanceni.co.uk for current rates.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All Ulster University funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

Still deciding what to study?

StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Agriculture & Animal Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in agriculture & animal science · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Agriculture & Animal Science nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£22,000 – £27,000
After 3 years LEO
£17,850 – £25,200
After 5 years LEO
£22,525 – £31,800
national rangeaxis £16,500 – £33,000

National figures for Agriculture & Animal Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

Job market & outlook

How Agriculture & Animal Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

90%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Agriculture & Animal Science courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
40%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine information gathering
  • First-draft writing and summaries
  • Standard analysis and admin
  • Repetitive processing tasks

More human than ever

  • Judgement and original thinking
  • Working with and leading people
  • Owning and sense-checking AI output
  • Ethics and accountability

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where Agriculture & Animal Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • Agribusiness & food producers
  • DEFRA & agencies
  • Estates & farms
  • Animal & wildlife charities

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Ulster University

All students32,915
International32.5%
Aged 25+35%

Agriculture, food and related studies across the UK

Students17,960
Aged 25+33.3%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Coleraine

156 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Anti Social Behaviour 69Violent Crime 45Criminal Damage Arson 26Drugs 4Other Theft 4

Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.

Is Agriculture & Animal Science right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to Ulster University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by Ulster University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Ulster University’s funding pages.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Ulster University and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Set by Ulster University. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
See the career and earnings data for Agriculture & Animal Science below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
Fees for this course are set under Northern Ireland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. If you normally live in Northern Ireland, Student Finance NI can pay a Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university. For 2026/27 the maximum is £4,985 when studying in Northern Ireland and £9,790 elsewhere in the UK. Students from elsewhere use their ordinary-residence funding body, and maintenance support is a mix of grant and loan weighted to household income. You repay only above the income threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
No obligation

Request information about BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing

Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.

No spam · unsubscribe anytime.