Bioveterinary Sciences with Placement Year
Bioveterinary science is the study of the biological sciences as they relate to animals, encompassing how they function, how they become ill, how diseases spread between animals and humans, and how human activity affects animal health and welfare. It is a discipline that sits at the interface of biology, veterinary medicine, and public health, and it provides the scientific foundation for careers in animal research, veterinary diagnostics, conservation, and the development of animal health products. Unlike veterinary medicine itself, which trains clinical practitioners, bioveterinary science develops scientific expertise that supports and underpins the whole ecosystem of animal health.
At the Royal Veterinary College, this four-year full-time degree is uniquely positioned within one of the world's leading specialist institutions for veterinary education and research. You will study animal anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, and the epidemiology of animal diseases, developing a deep understanding of how animal biology relates to health and disease. The programme includes a placement year that provides direct experience in a professional or research environment, and a year abroad is also available, broadening your international perspective and experience.
The RVC's research environment and its connections to clinical veterinary practice mean that you engage with questions and cases that are live and scientifically current.
You will develop rigorous scientific thinking, laboratory skills, and the capacity to evaluate evidence in the context of animal health and disease. These are capacities that are directly applicable in a range of careers.
Graduates work in animal health research, pharmaceutical and veterinary product development, government agencies concerned with animal disease surveillance and control, zoos and conservation organisations, laboratory animal science, and veterinary diagnostics. Postgraduate study in areas such as veterinary pathology, epidemiology, or biomedical research is a common next step for those seeking deeper specialist expertise or research careers.