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Check eligibility →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.
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:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Animal / Crop Science Foundations Biology applied to livestock, companion animals or crops. |
| Year 1 | Agri-food Systems How food gets from farm to fork, markets and sustainability. |
| Year 1 | Practical Husbandry & Farm Skills Hands-on work with animals, land and machinery. |
| Year 2 | Nutrition & Health Feeding and keeping animals (or crops) healthy and productive. |
| Year 2 | Grassland & Environment Management Soils, pasture and farming within environmental limits. |
| Year 2 | Data & Technology in Agriculture Precision farming, sensors and farm data. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Typically livestock production, equine, conservation or agronomy. |
| Year 3 | Farm Business Management Economics and planning of agricultural enterprises. |
| Year 3 | Dissertation / 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.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code D313). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write 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.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results 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.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
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
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.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
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.
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.
Careers & earnings
What Agriculture & Animal Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in agriculture & animal science · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Agriculture & Animal Science nationally
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.
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.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Agribusiness & food producers
- DEFRA & agencies
- Estates & farms
- Animal & wildlife charities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Agriculture & Animal Science graduates.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Ulster University
Agriculture, food and related studies across the UK
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.
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.
Related courses
More at Ulster University
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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