What A Levels Do You Need To Be A Vet?

Estimated reading time: 7-9 minutes

The first requirement to become a veterinary surgeon in the UK is to study for a degree in Veterinary Science/Medicine at a university.

Veterinary Science degrees usually take 5 or 6 years to complete and applying can be an extremely competitive process. Aspiring veterinarians must work through a rigorous application process that involves meeting specific entry requirements. This includes demonstrating academic excellence, possibly demonstrating a significant amount of work experience, and showcasing their passion for the field.

An important first step on the path to studying Veterinary Science, is selecting the right set of A level subjects.

What A levels do I need to become a vet?

A Level Biology and A Level Chemistry are the two most essential subjects for Veterinary Science, usually both required at grade A. The third subject normally has a little more choice, but it is important to check the specific course requirements of the place you may be interested in studying at. There is often a list of acceptable subjects. Science subjects and A Level Maths are always welcomed.

Consider a set similar to the following:

• Biology, Chemistry, Maths

• Biology, Chemistry, Physics

• Biology, Chemistry, Psychology

See the table in the section below for more detailed information on grade requirements.

What grades do I need to become a vet?

There are currently 11 veterinary schools in the UK. The below table summarises where you could study, and their entry requirements for A levels. All of the below universities may also make contextual offers with lower entry requirements, depending on various circumstances or prior places of education. For more details on this, visit the relevant university website.

Information correct as of June 2023, sourced from Vet School Council and BVA.

For up to date information, always check the university website. 

When is the deadline for Veterinary Science applications?

Veterinary Science courses have an early application deadline, much like Oxford and Cambridge, and other competitive courses such as Medicine and Dentistry.

The deadline for UCAS applications to be made is usually the 15th of October, instead of the usual January deadline for other courses. You can apply for up to 4 veterinary courses, and one other non-veterinary course.
You can check the exact application deadline dates here on the UCAS website.

Are there any entrance tests for veterinary science?

There is no specific veterinary entrance exam like there is for some other subjects, but many universities will ask applicants to sit their own entrance tests or fill in their own applicant questionnaires to learn more about potential students’ aptitude for Veterinary Science.

For example the University of Bristol states; “All applicants meeting our academic requirements are ranked based on their responses to questions within the questionnaire and offers made to the highest-ranking applicants.”

Students applying for Cambridge for example, would also be asked to complete the university’s Admissions Assessment which provides insight into applicants’ science and maths attainment.

Another example is at Glasgow, students are asked to complete an “online ethical reasoning test” prior to being invited for an interview.

Due to the varying requirements and measures put in place by different universities, it is necessary to read the information on the university’s website carefully. This information can also be found in the Vet School Council Admissions Guide.

What work experience do I need to become a vet?

Historically, work experience has been a key part of applying for Veterinary Science courses. Whilst it is still important, vet schools are increasingly acknowledging that this can be hard to come by, and expensive. Different universities require different amounts and types of work experience, sometimes describing a total amount of hours needed, whereas some may not require any at all, or provide a “recommended” amount and type of work experience. As such it is necessary to read the specific requirements on the university website or contact them yourself.

Work experience could include shadowing vets in a veterinary surgery, out on a farm, or in a non-clinical animal husbandry environment. No matter how much or what type of work experience you undertake, the most important aspect is being able to reflect on what you learned from the experience. There will undoubtedly be questions about this during your interview, so it is worth considering your key learning points and thinking about some key cases you encountered beforehand. 

What should be in a personal statement for veterinary courses?

UK veterinary schools have made it clear that personal statements now play a smaller role than they have in the past. This is due to the fact that students receive a huge variation of advice and help with personal statements, depending on their circumstances. Some universities have now replaced personal statements for Veterinary Science with their own questionnaires for applicants. You should look on the course page on the university website for more details about the specific arrangements for the course(s) you are interested in.

On the other hand, this does not mean that you should not spend a good amount of time on your personal statement. It will still be read by admissions officers and it is highly likely that anecdotes and reflections in your personal statement will be asked about and explored further at interview. You could include reflections on your work experience, academic progress, and extra curricular activities and hobbies.

Interviews for Veterinary Science

As with any university course, the format of interviews will vary between course and provider. You should be able to find some information about the format of interviews on the university’s website, but some details may only be disclosed when you are invited to interview. Sometimes there may be multiple smaller interviews on the same day, with different staff, for each candidate. Whilst at a different university they may prefer fewer, but longer interviews. An interview process may also involve group tasks or individual assessed tasks.

Interview questions can range from traditional to semi-structured or task-based, aimed at identifying key skills. Your preparation for these should involve reflecting on your motivations for studying Veterinary Science and your suitability for it. Use real examples from your experiences to support your points. These could be within your studies, work experience, or in activities outside of education. Try to show your engagement with the veterinary industry beyond work and school, like staying updated on current veterinary and science news. 

What other veterinary roles and courses are there?

It is a common misconception that a Veterinary Science degree is the only route into working in the veterinary industry. Much like in healthcare, there are many different roles within veterinary practices, and in wider industry such as research, teaching, public health, and many more.

You may find upon further research that you would be more likely to enjoy and be more suited to a role different to a veterinary surgeon. To discover more about alternative roles within the veterinary field, the University of Nottingham has a “Virtual Work Experience and Exploring the Veterinary Profession” available here. There is also a free online course available provided by the University of Edinburgh designed to give a “taster” of the topics covered in the first year of a veterinary degree. 

One of the major alternatives to becoming a veterinary surgeon is becoming a veterinary nurse. Veterinary nurses work in supporting the care of animals receiving treatment within the practice. This could include preparation for surgery, post-surgical care, giving advice to owners, assisting in the operating theatre itself or to help take x-rays, and carrying out a range of diagnostic tests in the laboratory (e.g. blood tests).

Veterinary nurse training can be provided by either universities or colleges, and offer accreditation to become a registered veterinary nurse (RVN). Some programmes offered at universities will also enable you to graduate with a degree at the same time, which broadens the options available to you after education. For instance at the University of Bristol, you can study for a BSc in Veterinary Nursing and Companion Animal Behaviour. This course requires BBC at A level, including B in Biology. Alternatively, routes to obtain RVN status through colleges will have lower requirements (not requiring A levels necessarily), sometimes as part of an apprenticeship programme. This could be a programme such as a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. Details of these programmes can be found on college websites.

More information on becoming a veterinary nurse can be found on the RCVS website. 

A veterinary care assistant, or animal care assistant is another role which is present in veterinary practices. Working alongside veterinary surgeons and nurses, they may be involved in exercising and feeding hospitalised animals, monitoring inpatients, preparing theatre equipment, cleaning and preparing accommodation for animals, record keeping, restraint of animals for treatment, and giving advice to clients on preventative health care. Qualifications for this role are usually through a college, such as the Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support. Details of these programmes can be found on college websites.

More information on becoming a veterinary care assistant can be found on the College of Animal Welfare website. 

How To Become a Vet in the UK Infographics

Further reading:

• How Many A Levels Can You Take

• What A Levels Should I Study for Medicine?

• What A Levels Do I Need for Dentistry?

• Is Psychology A Level Hard?

• What A Levels Do I Need To Study Law?

• How To Get Into Oxford University