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Best Animal science degree..

Hi people!

Upon completing my AS levels im in real doubt whether ill get those grades...
:frown:

So I desperately need your advice on choosing the best Animal science degree which will be better for the vet course and at a good uni ( not like reading or somewhere.. :p: )

Thanks a lot as i dont know much about that and help will be appreciated.:smile:

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Reply 1
At risk of sounding like a broken record...

I think Edinburgh (and possibly other Scottish unis for the same reason) are good places for the Biological Sciences option because they give you the chance to specialise once you get there, ie. once you know what you like etc. Edinburgh do honours (last year total specialisation) in Zoology, Developmental Biology and Reproductive Biology which are very animal based, plus the usual Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, etc. As you go along you narrow off to modules you do, aiming towards the honours course of your choice.

Having said that, as long as you do a certain amount of undergrad physiology, biochemistry, etc, I think the vet schools are happy. RVC asked for the modules I had done (my honours was in Experimental Pathology) and seemed happy enough, even though I by no means specialised in animal stuff.
Reply 2
Thanks a lot!!

Cos i got myself into a bit of a pickle..
Reply 3
ive heard good things about aberystwyth.
if you're wanting to do the grad course after check with the unis which courses would be suitable. or how about trying something like bioveterinary science
Reply 4
I think the honours system works differently in scotland to england, as I will just get an honours if I get a 3rd or above in my degree - so theres no specifc honours subject, but I was going to do forensic Anthropology at Dundee which was 3yrs normal and 4yrs hons degree.

ANYWAY...
Warwick is very biochemical/molecular bio, very little animal involvement at all except for neurobiology practicals where you hook frogs up to electrodes and other such things.
So in that respect I advise you against it, as much as I love it here.

having said that I was looking at the nottingham modules and a lot of what I've done is covered
eg neurobiology, immunology, microbiology, cell biology, pharmacology etc
I am likely to be going to Nottm this year to do my BSc hons in Animal Science. I loved it there and the course is very optional- there are many different modules which you study to choose from.
Reply 6
I don't know much about graduate entry and the vet schools preferences, but I would have thought a Bioveterinary Sciences degree from a Uni which offers VetMed would give you the best chance? No?
I know Glasgow are starting a Veterinary Biosciences degree this year which might be worth a look.

All the best!
So would the best back-up course for my 2nd application would be bioveterinary (or something like biological sciences at Edinburgh for example)? I'm just thinking if I don't get any offers again, I wouldn't want to take a 2nd gap year, and bioveterinary would be my best chance of being offered a place wouldn't it, and then apply for D100 or the accelerated vet med course - what unis do that? I know RVC does, but which others do?
Reply 8
Thanks guys!

I think that ill apply to bioveterinary course( liverpool or glasgow) and the animal science course( notts or edinburgh) so i get a better chance..
Reply 9
Alisa25
Thanks guys!

I think that ill apply to bioveterinary course( liverpool or glasgow) and the animal science course( notts or edinburgh) so i get a better chance..


You should email the admissions folk at each of those unis and ask how graduate entry works for people completing the Vet Science degree that then want to go on and do the Vet degree. Do they let you skip first year etc?
Reply 10
Liverpool does a "2 in 1" course, which involves compacting the first two years of the vet science course into 1 year.
Reply 11
Yeah i can go to a graduate entry degree which is 4 years (at notts and liverpool).
Reply 12
karate kat my fifth choice was bio vet at liv, cuz glasgows wasnt available and I got an offer almost straight away I also got an immediate offer for chem at liv, cuz I only applied to three vet courses. so I wouldnt worry bout whether you'll get offers on you fifth choice you deffo will :smile:
Thanks :smile:
And I should have asked does a course like that (e.g.bioveterinary) offer me the best chance of being offered a place for D100 or the accelerated course afterwards?
Reply 14
x_Bex_x!!

Thats great!! Ill apply to 3 vet courses and 2 biovet and hopefully even if i wouldnt get into vets ill have a safety net guaranteed.. According to your experience.. :smile:
Reply 15
Im doing Bioveterinary Science at UWE, fantastic course plenty of practical work with animals, and loads and loads of opportunities for work experience because on campus we have an equine vets, small animal vets, stud, dairy/sheep/pig units, and exotic animal house. Its brilliant :smile:
Reply 16
I'd say Nottingham but I'm biased :biggrin:

When I was there (94-98) though it was very much large animal based, not much contact with pets but plenty (at least if you did Ani Production and Ani Physiology) of time working with farm animals. I did my dissertation on dairy cow nutrition and spent a couple of hours every morning and lunchtime for 3mths on the farm (before and after lectures!). Might have changed now though. Obviously the physiology and biochem stuff applies to pets too, but the only lecture I can actually remember about small animals was nutrition from someone from Waltham. Great lecturers and lovely friendly SB campus :cool:

Has certainly helped me out with my first year of VetMed now, even though I graduated from SB 10 yrs ago :wink:
Reply 17
Annaconda
ive heard good things about aberystwyth.
if you're wanting to do the grad course after check with the unis which courses would be suitable. or how about trying something like bioveterinary science



You heard right lol
Reply 18
Easton college near Norwich offer a 'pathway to veterinary science' degree through the University of East Anglia. It explains on their website about recent new changes to the routes into veterinary school. It's interesting and perhaps different to what you think you might need. Good luck x
which degree is better to have for getting into vet med: zoology or animal biology?
thanks
:smile:

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