🇬🇧 Public Universities (joint venture) · Staffordshire & Shropshire, England

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) at Harper & Keele Veterinary School

A joint venture between Harper Adams University and Keele University, combining strengths in animal science and human/life sciences ("One Health"). The 5-year BVetMS gained full RCVS accreditation in October 2025 and ranked No.1 in the UK for veterinary student satisfaction (NSS 2025).

🎯 Prepare admission 📋 How to apply
5 years Degree length
£9,790/yr Home fees (2026/27)
Visa restricted International applicants
Station MMI Selection method
RCVS · AVBC Accreditation (full 2025)

About the school

Harper & Keele Veterinary School is a joint venture between Harper Adams University (strong in animal sciences, veterinary nursing and agriculture) and Keele University (strong in life sciences and human medicine), combining their expertise in a "One Health" model. Students study a five-year programme leading to a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS), with practical experience and clinical skills from the outset via a network of veterinary practice partners. Every student is provided with an iPad and Apple Pencil for the duration of the course at no extra cost.

Accreditation: the BVetMS degree received full RCVS accreditation on 2 October 2025 (pending the Privy Council Recognition Order), meaning graduates will be eligible to join the RCVS Register and practise in the UK. Reciprocal arrangements with the AVBC allow practice in Australia and New Zealand. Important: the school is currently unable to sponsor Student visas, so applicants who need a visa cannot be considered at present — check the current position at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.

Verified at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk (BVetMS course and how-to-apply pages), keele.ac.uk and harper-adams.ac.uk, June 2026. Accreditation confirmed 2 October 2025. Visa-sponsorship status and fees subject to change.

Campus & Facilities

Teaching is delivered across two campuses: Keele University (Staffordshire) and Harper Adams University (Edgmond, near Newport, Shropshire). Students are based mainly at a "host" campus and travel to the other for specialist facilities. Both campuses have purpose-built veterinary education buildings. The rural and agricultural setting of Harper Adams is particularly well-suited to farm-animal and equine work.

Academic requirements

  • A-level: Biology and Chemistry are required; exact grade standard is TO VERIFY at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk (foundation/gateway-route applicants need the equivalent of BBB; Scottish: AA in Advanced Higher Biology or Chemistry + AABBB at Higher, suggesting a high standard offer). Contextual and region-based offer schemes are available.
  • A pass in any science practical endorsement is required; a maximum of one resit per A-level subject is permitted.
  • GCSE: a profile including Maths and English Language at the required grades — verify the exact requirements at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.
  • No UCAT/BMAT/ESAT required.

Work experience

A Vocational Experience Form is required — applications are not progressed without it (must be submitted by the October deadline). The school emphasises the quality and reflection of your experience rather than a fixed number of hours, expecting genuine insight from seeing practice with vets and from animal vocational experiences. Some programme documentation references roughly two weeks (≈70 hours) in a veterinary practice plus four weeks (≈140 hours) in other animal environments — verify the current stated requirement at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.

Admission

Station-based MMI at a selection event (November–January), including an animal-handling station. Applications pre-scored on personal statement, reference, work experience and qualifications before invitation.
  1. UCAS application

    Apply via UCAS (institution code H25, course code D100) by 6pm on 15 October.

  2. Vocational Experience Form

    Submit the required Vocational Experience Form by the stated October deadline — applications are not progressed without it.

  3. Scoring & shortlisting

    Personal statement, reference, work experience and qualifications are scored to select candidates for a selection event.

  4. Selection event (MMI)

    Attend the station-based Multiple Mini Interview (November–January), which includes an animal-handling element assessing a range of attributes.

  5. Offer

    Conditional or unconditional offers are made following the selection event. Decisions are typically communicated through UCAS Track.

Biology and Chemistry required at A-level (exact grades TO VERIFY at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk); Vocational Experience Form required; station-based MMI (including animal handling); cannot sponsor Student visas.

Interview & exam format

Station-based Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) at a selection event (November–January), assessing a range of attributes including an animal-handling station. Applications are scored on personal statement, reference, work experience and qualifications before invitation. Verify current selection event dates and format at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.

Tuition fees

Student profile Annual fees 5-year total
🇬🇧 Home (UK) £9.790 £48.950
🌍 International — —

⚠️ The school currently cannot sponsor Student visas — applicants who require a visa cannot be considered. Confirm eligibility before applying. Fees rise annually.

Scholarships & financial aid

UK Tuition Fee & Maintenance Loans

Home (UK) students are eligible for government tuition fee loans (up to £9,790/yr for 2026/27, rising to ~£10,050 for 2027/28) and maintenance loans via Student Finance England. Repayment is income-contingent.

Free iPad + Apple Pencil (in-kind award)

Every BVetMS student receives an iPad and Apple Pencil for the full duration of the course at no cost — an in-kind provision reducing your tech spend over five years.

Harper Adams & Keele Scholarships and Bursaries

Both universities offer merit-based and means-tested scholarships, bursaries and contextual-offer schemes. Eligibility and amounts vary. Verify current BVetMS-specific support at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk, harper-adams.ac.uk/study/student-finance and keele.ac.uk/studyatkeele/fees-and-funding.

Home students access Student Finance England tuition-fee and maintenance loans (up to £9,790/yr for 2026/27; rising to ~£10,050 for 2027/28). Harper Adams and Keele offer various scholarships, bursaries and contextual-offer schemes — verify current BVetMS-specific support at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk, harper-adams.ac.uk and keele.ac.uk.

Cost of living

Keele University halls (on-campus, Staffordshire) £390 –£610 / mo
Harper Adams University halls (on-campus, Shropshire) £360 –£565 / mo
Private room in shared house (north Staffordshire / Shropshire) £400 –£600 / mo
Total estimated monthly budget £900 –£1200 / mo

Application timeline

  1. 15 October 2026 (6pm)
    UCAS veterinary deadline

    All UK veterinary applications must be submitted via UCAS by 6pm UK time on 15 October. Institution code H25, course code D100 for the BVetMS at Harper & Keele.

  2. ~20 October 2026 (est.)
    Vocational Experience Form deadline

    The Vocational Experience Form must be submitted by the stated October deadline (typically around 20 October). Applications are not progressed without it. Verify the exact date at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.

  3. November 2026–January 2027 (est.)
    Selection events (MMI)

    Shortlisted applicants are invited to a selection event featuring a station-based MMI, including an animal-handling station. Exact dates and format: verify at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.

  4. August 2027
    A-level results day

    Conditional offers confirmed or declined. Contact the admissions team promptly if your results differ from your predicted grades. Verify the exact grade requirements at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.

FAQ

Is the Harper & Keele BVetMS fully accredited?
Yes — the BVetMS received full RCVS accreditation on 2 October 2025 (pending the Privy Council Recognition Order). Graduates will be eligible to join the RCVS Register and practise veterinary surgery in the UK. Reciprocal arrangements with the AVBC also allow graduates to practise in Australia and New Zealand.
Can international students apply?
At present, the school cannot sponsor Student visas, so applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK cannot be considered. The school is reviewing this position — check the current situation at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk before applying.
How much work experience do I need?
A Vocational Experience Form is required and must be submitted by the October deadline — applications are not progressed without it. The school emphasises quality and reflection over a fixed number of hours. Some programme documentation references approximately two weeks (≈70 hours) in a veterinary practice plus four weeks (≈140 hours) in other animal environments — verify the current stated requirement at harperkeelevetschool.ac.uk.
Where will I study?
Across two campuses: Keele University (Keele village, north Staffordshire) and Harper Adams University (Edgmond, rural Shropshire). One campus is your "host" and you travel to the other for specialist facilities. Both have purpose-built veterinary buildings. The approximately 30-mile inter-campus journey should be factored into your budget.
What is the "One Health" model at Harper & Keele?
The joint venture combines Harper Adams's strength in animal science, agriculture and veterinary nursing with Keele's strength in life sciences and human medicine. The "One Health" philosophy recognises the interconnection of animal, human and environmental health — relevant to areas like antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic disease, food safety and wildlife medicine. This interdisciplinary approach is built into the BVetMS curriculum from year one.

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