Overview
Our four-year honours degree offers 1,800 hours on placement. Accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), it will give you expert nursing care skills and experience needed to register as a veterinary nurse when you graduate.
Our course will prepare you for a rewarding career as a veterinary nurse, with options to work in many different places and with a wide range of animals. It’s approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. When you graduate, you’ll have the skills you need to apply to register as a veterinary nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
In class, you’ll get a solid grounding in scientific theory, with a focus on animal behaviour and welfare. Your choice of modules will affect the academic material you cover. By taking certain modules you’ll be on your way towards qualifying for the academic part of the new Pet Behaviour Counselling Award.
Your classes will be split between the College of West Anglia at Milton, near Cambridge, and Anglia Ruskin’s campus in the city centre. You’ll attend around 12 hours of classes per week, across two semesters per year.
You should have a genuine interest in the health and welfare of animals, and be a good communicator who enjoys working as part of a team. You should also have a clear understanding of the range of practical work done in veterinary practices, so it would be helpful if you’ve done some relevant work experience before applying.
Careers
Veterinary nursing is a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to work independently or for specialising. As veterinary nurses continue to take on more responsibilities, they’re becoming more in demand and so employment prospects are very good.
This course gives you the skills you need to register as an RCVS veterinary nurse. It also includes 1800 hours of practice placement in an RCVS-approved veterinary training practice, so you’ll have fantastic experience to show to potential employers.
As a qualified veterinary nurse, you’ll work alongside vets to look after and treat domestic animals. You’ll help provide expert care for sick animals and to prevent diseases and conditions. You’ll be able to carry out diagnostic tests, apply medical treatments and even perform minor surgical procedures under supervision.
You’ll also learn a lot of biology in Anglia Ruskin labs. This means that besides working in a veterinary practice, you could also consider a career in a laboratory, university, research establishment, zoo or wildlife park, pharmaceutical company, charity or kennels.
As you progress in your career, you could take on extra responsibilities like supervising other staff, looking after animal hospital wards, practice management and teaching or training other staff.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us. If you’d like to continue your studies we offer a wide range of full-time and part-timepostgraduate courses.
Modules & Assessment
Year one, core modules
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Principles and Practice of Veterinary Nursing
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Work Based Learning 1: Companion Animal Handling, Husbandry and Welfare for Veterinary Nursing
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Preparing for Practice Placement
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Veterinary Nursing Within the Surgical Environment
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Animal Anatomy and Physiology
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Introduction to Animal Behaviour
Year two, core modules
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Principles and Practice of Diagnostics for Veterinary Nursing
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Biomeasurement
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Principles and Practice of Anaesthesia for Veterinary Nursing
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Animal Health and Nutrition
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Emergency, Critical and Perioperiative Care
Year three, core modules
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Practical Application Module
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Animal Therapy and Rehabilitation
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Preparation for Research in the Animal Sectors
Years 2-3 core modules
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Practice Placement 1
Year four, core modules
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Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare
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Entrepreneurial Enterprises for Veterinary Nurses
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Animal Behaviour Counselling
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Animal Learning and Training
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Preparation for Professional Practice
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Advanced Approaches in Animal Management
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Undergraduate Major Project
Assessment
Throughout the course, we’ll use a range of assessment methods to help you and your tutors measure your progress. Beside exams, you’ll do laboratory skills tests, computer-based exercises and essays, and prepare practical and project reports.
You’ll have a total of 1800 hours of practice placement in an RCVS-approved veterinary training practice. During this time, you’ll be under continuous assessment.
To become an RCVS-registered veterinary nurse, you’ll need to take the RCVS SVN Level II and Level III external exams (in addition to any exams for your course modules). You’ll also build a portfolio of your practical experience.
Where you’ll study
Your faculty
The Faculty of Science & Engineering is one of the largest of the four faculties at Anglia Ruskin University. Whether you choose to study with us full-time or part-time, on campus or at a distance, there’s an option whatever your level – from a foundation degree, BSc, MSc, PhD or professional doctorate.
Whichever course you pick, you’ll gain the theory and practical skills needed to progress with confidence. Join us and you could find yourself learning in the very latest laboratories or on field trips or work placements with well-known and respected companies. You may even have the opportunity to study abroad.
Everything we do in the faculty has a singular purpose: to provide a world-class environment to create, share and advance knowledge in science, technology and engineering fields. This is key to all of our futures.
