Equine Veterinary Nursing

Course overview

Qualify as a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Registered Veterinary Nurse. Benefit from outstanding facilities, strong industry partnerships and extra-curricular opportunities to train with horses and over 70 species on campus. 

You’ll benefit from outstanding facilities, including a Veterinary Nursing Clinical Skills Centre, a livery yard that's home to over 230 horses, international equine events each year and a commercial Equine Therapy Centre on site. In your first year, you’ll develop knowledge and skills in essential areas including clinical anatomy, husbandry, pharmacy management and patient care. You'll complete work experience in a veterinary practice, before returning to Hartpury to develop your skills in diagnostics and surgical and anesthesia practice. In your final year, you'll coach student veterinary nurses and pursue your research interests. You may have the opportunity to publish research with lecturers and present at industry conferences.

Industry opportunities

In your second year, you’ll complete a work-based clinical placement (currently 1,800 hours) in an approved RCVS equine veterinary nursing training practice. This will allow you to develop clinical skills ready for qualifying. We have excellent partnerships with local and national veterinary practices.

This course is ideal for those who are passionate about working as a Registered Veterinary Nurse with equine expertise to contribute to knowledge within the industry.

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). This means that, on graduation, you’ll be eligible to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses and practise as a Registered Veterinary Nurse.

Anyone considering a career as a veterinary nurse is recommended to read the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Fitness to Practise guidance which provides useful information about specific characteristics required to be accepted on an accredited course.

What you'll study

This degree includes a combination of compulsory and optional modules. Compulsory modules are designed to develop the skills and competences required for access to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Register of Veterinary Nurses.

Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands - you'll find recent topics studied below. You can attend introductory sessions for optional modules before deciding which ones to study.

Level four (year one)

Your first year will focus on developing underpinning, fundamental knowledge and skills to support you in progressing to your clinical placement year. You’ll receive a minimum of 15 hours scheduled contact per week in lectures, seminars and practical sessions in your first year.

Level five integrated placement year (year two)

This is your opportunity to put your skills and knowledge gained at level four to good use, as an RCVS-enrolled Student Veterinary Nurse. You'll spend a minimum of 1,800 hours (at least 37 hours a week) in an Approved Training Practice in the UK. All placements are approved by Hartpury.

You’ll complete a Nursing Progress Log (NPL), supported by a clinical coach and clinical tutor, developing your clinical practical skills whilst gaining first-hand knowledge of the veterinary industry.

Level five (year three)

You’ll build on existing clinical skills and knowledge, exploring topics such as theatre practice, anaesthesia and diagnostics, as well as expanding your awareness of research and the impact it has on the veterinary industry. You’ll be able to select from optional modules during this year to tailor your studies to meet your interests and career aspirations.

Level six (year four)

Your final year allows you to focus on areas that interest you and that will support your future career. You’ll select from optional modules to gain additional skills to progress your career, as well as undertake your dissertation, a substantial research project that enables you to experience responsibility for planning, implementing and reporting on a veterinary-related research enquiry.

You’ll be given the opportunity to develop clinical coaching skills whilst working with first-year students, a valuable skill that will allow you to progress to clinical coach training after graduation.

This final year equips our graduates with a range of additional, relevant and valuable skills, preparing for a successful and fulfilling future as a veterinary nurse.

Please visit our document library for more module information.

How you'll study

We're committed to supporting you to fulfil your unique potential, which is why you'll receive a minimum of 15 hours of scheduled teaching time per week in your first year - this is 25% above the UK average.

Your support network

You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) centres.

Your learning experiences

You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.

Your career

Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career.

Further details

We’ll support you to secure your placement within a UK-based veterinary nursing training practice – there’s no need to have this in place before starting the course. You’ll also be supported during your placement by a designated clinical coach within the veterinary practice and a Hartpury clinical tutor.

Our international equestrian events centre and Equine Therapy Centre also offer opportunities for students to gain voluntary industry experience ready for their careers.

Volunteering

Our research activities and businesses on campus create opportunities for students to gain valuable experience outside their studies. Students have recently volunteered with our 70-species animal collection (domestic and non-domestic species), in our equine and canine therapy centres, as well as our livestock farm.

Guest lecturers

Recent guests in ectures have included individuals from veterinary pharmaceutical companies and veterinary equipment providers.

Graduate careers

• Equine Veterinary Nurse
• Senior Equine Veterinary Nurse

Tuition fees and financial support

Please visit our student finance page for information on tuition fees and student loans, as well as non-repayable grants, bursaries and scholarships, eligible to different groups, to support with study costs.

Below, you'll find extra costs associated with studying this course.

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). This means that, on graduation, you’ll be eligible to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses and practise as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. On joining the course, you’ll need to enrol as a Student Veterinary Nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). Information on fees is available below.

Clothing and footwear (circa £100)

You’ll need to purchase appropriate clothing and footwear for this course. We’ll let you know exactly what you need to purchase in your enrolment guide. Everything is available from our supplier’s online shop for approximately £100.

Accommodation and living costs

Please visit our student accommodation page for details.