Program Overview

Why choose this course

• Study a research-led curriculum focused on animal health, where you can select modules tailored to your interests, including animal immunology, animal ecology and animal nutrition.
• Access our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory, microscopy suites and pathology laboratories to enhance your practical skills and use equipment found in research facilities.
• Gain industry experience through a Professional Training placement, where you could work in one of our partner laboratories across the world.
• Learn from lecturers who are active researchers and apply their findings to your teaching.

What you will study

In your first year, you’ll study topics that are fundamental to veterinary biosciences, including biochemistry, cell biology, principles of evolution, molecular biology and genetics, microbiology, and veterinary anatomy and physiology, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build the rest of your degree.

During your second year, you’ll get the option to learn about the pathogenesis of major human diseases, gain an understanding of endocrinology, including the role of individual hormones, delve deeper into animal nutrition and food microbiology, and study animal and plant ecology.

In your third year, you’ll study animal infectious diseases, exploring prevention and control strategies and their impact on public health and safety, in addition to veterinary immunology, gaining an insight into comparative immunology between animal species specificities and exploring their immune responses. You’ll also select four modules, exploring topics such as animal behaviour, animal diversity, epidemiology of infectious diseases and food security.

You’ll also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical, and presentation skills you’ve developed.

Veterinary biosciences placements

Your placement will give you the opportunity to work alongside veterinary scientists and veterinary surgeons in disciplines such as:

• Animal ecology
• Bacteriology
• Bioinformatics
• Epidemiology
• Pathology
• Risk analysis and parasitology
• Virology.

You can choose to work for a range of employers, including veterinary surgeries, zoological parks, conservation centres and sanctuaries, to practise and enhance your skills. Previous students have gained placements with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and The Pirbright Institute.