RVC to launch foundation year for international students
Students who pass the foundation year automatically progress to the BVetMed degree.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is to launch a new pathway into its Bachelor of Veterinary Medicines (BVetMed) degree for international students.
Starting from autumn 2027, international students who may face barriers from differing education systems or school structures will have an alternative method of meeting entry requirements. Their national qualifications may not be recognised by the UK ENIC or they may have been unable to study Biology or Chemistry at the required level.
The RVC’s Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine with Integrated Foundation Year has been designed to bridge specific knowledge and language gaps to prepare them for their veterinary studies in the UK.
The academic year is set to cover the foundations of veterinary biosciences, including animal husbandry, behaviour and welfare. It will also teach English for science and academic purposes, as well as detailing the foundations of professionalism, scholarship and research.
As well as classroom work at RVC’s Camden Campus, students will learn on the RVC farm and at its Clinical Skills Centre. There will be small class sizes, and students will be guaranteed accommodation in their first year to live with peers.
It is an integrated course, meaning students who complete the foundation year and meet assessment requirements will automatically progress to RVC’s five-year BVetMed programme.
Prof Stuart Reid CBE, president and principal of RVC, said: “With the changing face of veterinary science and our commitment to diversity through recruiting students from a range of educational backgrounds, we are delighted to be launching this new pathway to a veterinary degree.
“The RVC’s Latin motto, “Venienti Occurrite Morbo”, translates as “fight disease at its origins”, which underlines the need for global citizenship and a cadre of graduates capable of carrying our mission and addressing animal health internationally.”
Hamad Yasir Binsaidan, who joined RVC from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said: “If this pathway had existed when I applied, it would have saved me a lot of extra time and uncertainty. Coming from an education that didn’t support direct entry onto the BVetMed, it would have given me a clear, direct route into veterinary study.”
Applications should be made via UCAS by 15 October 2026 for 2027 entry.
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Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
