Veterinary Biosciences (with integrated year in industry) BSc (Hons)

Aberystwyth University

For students passionate about a career in the animal health field, this course aims to improve your career prospects whilst studying by incorporating a year in veterinary-related industry into your degree programme. This course is engineered to give you a head start in gaining skills, experience and contacts before you enter the job market. Veterinary Biosciences is a course dedicated to the biology underpinning veterinary medicine. On this course, you will explore the biology of farm animals, horses and companion animals.

You will be taught by veterinary surgeons and world-class veterinary scientists. We have a well-established collaboration with the Wales Veterinary Science Centre and other organisations allowing you to understand the wider veterinary field. The department has over 100ha of farmland, including lowland and upland sheep farms, a 500 cow dairy herd, intensive and extensive beef production systems and an equine centre.

Learn and Live in an exceptional environment where you will have marine, moorland, mountain, grassland and coast right on your doorstep. You will be a student in a department that has fantastic modern laboratories, dissection rooms and microscopy suites on campus.

On this course, students will complete practicals involving molecular, cellular, anatomical and behavioural aspects of veterinary health. During the four years of this course, you will study topics such as the anatomy and physiology of domestic animals, animal handling, genetics and related diseases, microbiology, biochemistry of life, domestic animal nutrition, treatment and diseases of cat, dog and exotic pets, animal behaviour and welfare to name a few. We also offer students the option to explore areas such as Equine and large stock animals.

The syllabus of this course with the integrated year in industry is identical to its sister course BSc Veterinary Biosciences (D906). Your work experience must be relevant to this degree as it will be assessed and will count towards your degree grade. You will organise your work experience under the guidance of our Director for Employability. There is no guarantee that the work experience will be paid. If you cannot obtain a placement, you must transfer to the sister course BSc Veterinary Biosciences (D906).

Make no mistake, you will develop confidence and gaining experience in the industry will stimulate your enthusiasm for the subject. Completing a year in industry will allow you to: Apply the learning from your course to the work environment; Make industry contacts; Develop practical skills related to your area of study; Apply your practical skills and technical knowledge after returning to study; Enhance your CV and better prepare yourself for a job after graduating.

This degree programme will also provide a suitable pathway to a veterinary medicine course, with other exciting career options including veterinary laboratory diagnostician, nutritionist or as an animal health researcher.