Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine with an Intercalated Year
This programme allows you to study the five-year BVetMed course plus an additional year completing an intercalated degree. The additional year of study means that you will gain a more rounded education, additional scientific context, and carry out in-depth research to better your understanding.
In your intercalated year, you can study a BSc course on offer at other UK universities, or one of two tailor-made intercalated BSc courses at the RVC. These are available for intercalation for second and third year veterinary, medical and dentistry students.
Intercalated BSc Bioveterinary Sciences
Aimed at students with a strong interest in research, the programme allows you to develop your interests in cutting-edge scientific research and aims to equip you with a passion for biomedical research within the context of a diverse range of species, an appreciation of the fundamental principles of bioveterinary disciplines, and an understanding of the complexity of comparative biology.
Intercalated BSc Comparative Pathology
Experience first-hand the excitement of contemporary pathology, and its far-reaching scientific relevance. This intercalated programme will stimulate curiosity at the boundaries of research in pathology.
Pathology, the science of disease, is central to understanding and conduct of veterinary and biomedical research, clinical medicine and surgery. There is a need for veterinary scientists who are trained in pathology and pathology techniques to fulfil the ever-growing demand for such expertise arising from clinical practice, academia and industry.
The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine course is delivered across both of our campuses. You will spend the first two years primarily based at our Camden Campus, before being based at the Hawkshead Campus in the latter years. Your intercalated year will be dependent on your choice of subject and research project, as our labs are situated across both campuses.
Gorprit Singh, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine with Intercalated Year (Comparative Pathology)
I studied an intercalated year between years two and three of my veterinary medicine degree, where I was able to conduct my own research project. It allowed me to control my own lab hours, and work with my supervisor on ‘here is what I have found’ and ‘here is what I think we should do’. It is great to be in charge of my own project, where I could work on research that has never been done before.
Studying Comparative Pathology, I have been able to do things, like post-mortem examinations, that I will be doing in my fourth and fifth year during clinical rotations, so it has been good getting some practise now for something I will need in the future.
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 RVC, 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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For details on what you will study on the five-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme, please visit the BVetMed course page. You will typically study your intercalated year between the second and third year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine course.
Research project
Throughout your intercalated year, emphasis is placed on a research project, which accounts for half of the intercalated degree programme. You will have a choice of different projects, from a broad range of specialisation including locomotion, reproduction, cell and molecular biology, physiology, epidemiology, infection and immunity.
Please note that these are indicative modules and may be subject to change.
Core modules Optional modules Core modules
Intercalated BSc Bioveterinary Sciences
Intercalated BSc Comparative Pathology
The estimated breakdown of assessment for your final grade for the Bioveterinary Sciences intercalated year is:
- Written (coursework, tests, essays) - 15%
- Examination (practical, written) – 35%
- Projects - 45%
- Presentations - 5%
The estimated breakdown of assessment for your final grade for the Comparative Pathology intercalated year is:
- In-course assessment (coursework, essays) - 17%
- Examination – 33%
- Projects – 40%
- Presentations – 5%
- Supervisors mark (from academic supervising project) - 5%
The standard entry requirements for the BVetMed with Intercalated Year (D101) are the same as those for the BVetMed (D100). Click here for full details.
Intercalation is also an option for D100 students, but choosing the D101 route guarantees your selection (subject to satisfactory academic progress) and may ease organisational matters such as loans/funding or visas.
What will I be able to do with my qualification?
You will be entitled to practice 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) but the intercalated degree is also excellent preparation for postgraduate research or careers within various related industries or governmental agencies.
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
The RVC'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 (AVMA) will recognise your degree as equivalent to those awarded by veterinary colleges in the United States. The RVC is the only English veterinary school accredited by the AVMA, and this gives you a unique advantage. 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 (NAVLE) if you intend to work in North America after qualifying.
Tuition Fees
The tuition fees for students commencing the course in 2024/25 are as follows:
|
Home Tuition Fees including Island Fees (Channel Islands & Isle of Man) | International Fees |
|---|---|
| £9,250 |
£44,610 * |
* for the intercalated year, international students will be charged the international BSc fee rate.
The UK Government has confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss national students who have started an eligible course in the 2020/21 academic year or earlier academic years remain eligible to pay the “home” rate of tuition fees and claim any financial support for which they are currently eligible for the duration of that course.
EU/EEA and Swiss national students starting studies in the 2021/22 academic year or later academic years may no longer be eligible to pay the “home” rate of tuition fees and claim any financial support for their studies - but this depends on your personal circumstances (including immigration status and residence history in the UK) and UK government rules which are currently being developed. For further information on this emerging situation, please visit UK Council for International Affairs Brexit pages.
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 European Union (EU) who wish to undertake full-time study at the RVC are required to pay the international fee for their programme of study (please see Fee status section).
- Information on Fees & Funding can be found here
The following course-related costs are included in the fees:
- Student membership of the British Veterinary Association 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.
Canadian Student Loans
The Royal Veterinary College is not involved in processing your application for a loan, however we can confirm your student status; please direct your queries to the Financialaidoffice@rvc.ac.uk
For an overview of the financial aid process for Canadian students, please visit the Campus Access website
Students should apply through their provincial student assistance office or website. When you apply for a loan, you are considered for funding by both the Provincial and Federal Government, meaning you only have to apply once for funding for the year. Federal loans are processed via the National Student Loans Service Centre and provincial loans through the provincial governments and student aid branches.
RVC Bursary for Home Undergraduate Students
RVC Bursaries are customary to assist students from lower income households with the cost of undergraduate study.
UK Government Financial Support for Undergraduate Students
Financial support in the form of tuition loan and maintenance loan is available for students from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and EU countries who normally live in UK.
NB: UK students considering studying on the BVetMed Graduate Accelerated or the BVetMed as a second degree are entitled to maintenance loan (a variable means tested living cost loan) and RVC bursary. However, they are not eligible for tuition fee loans so please consider how you will pay the tuition fees for each year before enrolling. For more info see money-matters.
For full details of the government financial support visit the links below.
Additional important point to note
Maintenance Grant - this is only available to full-time UK undergraduate students who commenced their studies on or before 2015/16 academic year.
USA Student Loans
The RVC participates in the Direct Loan Program in which federal financial assistance is made available from the US Department of Education to US students studying at the RVC. The purpose of this page is to inform you about the process of applying for financial assistance.
The RVC College will originate Direct Stafford loans and Direct Graduate and Parent PLUS loans and full-time students from the USA who are attending at the RVC are normally eligible for funding. The RVC also participates in the VA Educational Benefits programme.