What to expect

Some features of studying on the BVSci programme are different to a typical degree programme:

Fitness to Practise

Professionals hold a position of trust and responsibility. The BVSci degree is delivered under the authority of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and can lead to registration to practice in the UK.

Fitness to Practise is about students demonstrating, in both their professional and private life, that they can practise their profession properly, safely and with respect for the trust and responsibility placed upon them.

Students are subject to upholding a Code of Conduct, which is signed annually, and outlines expectations that cover their studies and their private lives. Breach of the Code of Conduct will precipitate disciplinary and potentially internal Fitness to Practice investigations.

Registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Application to enrol with the RCVS after successful graduation will involve a declaration of any cautions, convictions or adverse findings which may affect registration.

An ‘adverse finding’ includes any finding within veterinary school or university fitness to practise procedures.

To clarify, the RCVS only requires disclosure where a panel finds that the case against the student is proven and their fitness to practise is impaired. They do not need to know about cases that do not reach a fitness to practise panel or those that are dismissed by a panel.

Extra Mural Studies

See our 'Extra mural studies' section for more information.

Applications from individuals with known disabilities

SRUC is committed to designing learning to be inclusive, meeting the needs of our learners, and creating learning environments where all learners feel valued and have an equal opportunity to learn. This includes a commitment to ensuring that it meets its’ legal duty to make reasonable adjustments in line with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

The aim of Reasonable Adjustments is to ensure that all students are able to demonstrate the full extent of their academic abilities, irrespective of a disability or long-term condition.

All SRUC programmes require students to reach specific academic standards in order to be awarded their qualification and some also have particular competency standards associated with professional accreditation e.g., the Veterinary Medicine and Nursing programmes or regulated qualifications. SRUC will not reduce or change those standards, but it is committed to ensuring that the methods of assessing those standards do not put disabled students at a disadvantage.

While SRUC is committed to supporting disabled students in line with its legal duties, those who do not declare a disability on application, which later becomes apparent during their studies may be at risk of not achieving the programme if they cannot meet the required competence standards. Further details are available in SRUC’s Reasonable Adjustments Policy.

Students are encouraged to declare a disability or other long-term medical or mental health condition during the application process so that SRUC can evaluate their ability to meet the required competence standards and start to plan for support as soon as possible. This is particularly important for accredited and/or regulated qualifications. Students who have identified support needs on their applications are added to a spreadsheet collated by the Admissions Team. This is then shared with relevant student support teams.