Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for the five-year programme.

Academic Achievements

We accept a wide range of qualifications. If your qualification is not listed below, please get in touch via the contact details at the bottom of this page.

Accepted qualifications should be gained at the first attempt and in one set of exams.

Please note that the entry requirements stated below apply for 2026 entry. 

Candidates are required to take a sixth year and undertake Advanced Highers.

STANDARD ENTRY REQUIREMENTSMINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (PLUS FLAG)

Highers: AAAAB by the end of S5 to include:

  • Chemistry
  • Biology or Human Biology
  • Mathematics, Applications of Mathematics, or Physics

Advanced Highers: BB to include:

  • Chemistry
  • Biology, Mathematics or Physics

Advanced Higher Biology is recommended as this would be beneficial for the first year of the course.

If Biology or Human Biology has not been studied in S5, it must be taken in S6 to Higher Level.

National 5s: English at C.

Highers: AABBB by the end of S5 to include:

  • Chemistry
  • Biology or Human Biology
  • Mathematics, Applications of Mathematics, or Physics

Advanced Highers: BB to include:

  • Chemistry
  • Biology, Mathematics or Physics

Advanced Higher Biology is recommended as this would be beneficial for the first year of the course.

If Biology or Human Biology has not been studied in S5, it must be taken in S6 to Higher Level.

National 5s: English at C.

Widening Access

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is committed to widening access and welcomes applications from students with diverse backgrounds. We are keen to consider whether some applicants could benefit from being made an offer of an interview at the minimum entry requirement (the level you need to have achieved to be successful on the programme), or whether you might be eligible for additional credit in the selection process, in support of your application. 

  • Candidates assigned with a PLUS FLAG are normally guaranteed an interview provided they achieve or are predicted to achieve the academic minimum entry requirements and are able to demonstrate an understanding of the profession in their application.
  • Candidates assigned with a FLAG will be considered for an offer at the standard requirement, but will receive additional consideration during the selection process

You can find further information on the University’s Widening Access policy, and use our Widening Access Online Checker to see if you meet the criteria for being either PLUS FLAG or FLAG below.

Graduates applying for our undergraduate veterinary medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.


STANDARD ENTRY REQUIREMENTSMINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (PLUS FLAG)

A Levels: AAA in one sitting to include:

  • Chemistry
  • Biology or Human Biology
  • One other University-approved subject

GCSEs: English at C or 4.

A Levels: AAB in one sitting to include:

  • Chemistry (A)
  • Biology or Human Biology (A)
  • One other University-approved subject

GCSEs: English at C or 4.

A BTEC National Extended Certificate in Applied Human Biology (D) is accepted in lieu of A-level Biology/Human Biology. 

We do not accept General Studies or Critical Thinking as a third A Level subject. 

AS Modules

Resits of AS level modules are acceptable. In order to be considered, candidates must be predicted to gain our minimum entry requirements in A2 subjects. Only candidates who gain or are predicted to gain our minimum entry requirements within the normal 2-year period for A level examinations will be considered.

Widening Access

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is committed to widening access and welcomes applications from students with diverse backgrounds. We are keen to consider whether some applicants could benefit from being made an offer of an interview at the minimum entry requirement (the level you need to have achieved to be successful on the programme), or whether you might be eligible for additional credit in the selection process, in support of your application. 

  • Candidates assigned with a PLUS FLAG are normally guaranteed an interview provided they achieve or are predicted to achieve the academic minimum entry requirements and are able to demonstrate an understanding of the profession in their application.
  • Candidates assigned with a FLAG will be considered for an offer at the standard requirement, but will receive additional consideration during the selection process

You can find further information on the University’s Widening Access policy, and use our Widening Access Online Checker to see if you meet the criteria for being either PLUS FLAG or FLAG below.

Graduates applying for our undergraduate veterinary medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.


STANDARD ENTRY REQUIREMENTSMINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (PLUS FLAG)

A minimum of 38 points overall.

Higher Levels (HL): 666 to include:

  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • One other subject

Standard Levels (SL): English at 5 (or GCSE English at C or 4).

A minimum of 36 points overall.

Higher Levels (HL): 665 to include:

  • Chemistry (6)
  • Biology (6)
  • One other subject

Standard Levels (SL): English at 5 (or GCSE English at C or 4).

Widening Access

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is committed to widening access and welcomes applications from students with diverse backgrounds. We are keen to consider whether some applicants could benefit from being made an offer of an interview at the minimum entry requirement (the level you need to have achieved to be successful on the programme), or whether you might be eligible for additional credit in the selection process, in support of your application. 

  • Candidates assigned with a PLUS FLAG are normally guaranteed an interview provided they achieve or are predicted to achieve the academic minimum entry requirements and are able to demonstrate an understanding of the profession in their application.
  • Candidates assigned with a FLAG (previously Context) will be considered for an offer at the standard requirement, but will receive additional consideration during the selection process

You can find further information on the University’s Widening Access policy, and use our Widening Access Online Checker to see if you meet the criteria for being either PLUS FLAG or FLAG below.

Graduates applying for our undergraduate veterinary medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.


We consider candidates who have successfully completed the Royal Veterinary College Gateway programme.

The RVC Veterinary Gateway course is aimed at those who want to study veterinary medicine but who might not otherwise meet entry requirements. 

It is a one-year programme with the aim of preparing you for a five-year undergraduate degree in Veterinary Medicine on completion.

This course is only open to UK students who come from a 'widening participation' background.


Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) is an alternative route for adult learners and mature students to get into university or college.

SWAP offers an Access to Medical Studies programme which we accept for consideration for entry to year one of Veterinary Medicine from eligible applicants.

We welcome applicants from this route, though it should be noted that undertaking the Access to Medical Studies SWAP course gives no guarantee of an offer to Veterinary Medicine.

Successful applicants to our Veterinary Medicine degree from this route will be asked to achieve AAA in the three graded components of the Access course – Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry.   Applicants will be expected to achieve 80% or more in each subject component, as well as an overall pass of the entire Access programme. 

In order to be eligible to be considered for a place on this SWAP programme, applicants needs to have no previous experience of university-level study (which also includes having started and not completed a degree, unless under exceptional circumstances). Furthermore, potential students need to fulfil either of the additional eligibility criteria below:

  • have been out of full-time education for at least 3 years AND have no qualifications above SCQF level 5 (National 5, Intermediate 2, Standard Grade, GCSE or equivalent);  OR
  • have been out of full-time education for at least 5 years if applicant already has qualifications at SCQF Level 6 or above (Highers, A Levels, HN).

Note that students who have previously undertaken the SWAP Access to Life Sciences course may also be considered for entry into the SWAP Access to Medical Studies programme.

Potential SWAP students need to be able to commit to college on a full-time basis (around 18-20 hours a week). They also need to have evidence of previous study of Biology, Chemistry and Maths at minimum level of National 5, Intermediate 2, Standard Grade, GCSE or equivalent.

For full information about the content and assessment of the SWAP Access to Medical Studies programme and guidance on how to apply please follow the links to the SWAP East and SWAP West below.


D3, D3, D3 (or a combination of D3 and A level grade A) to include:

  • Chemistry
  • Biology or Human Biology
  • One other University-approved subject

Please refer to the the page below which provides specific information and advice for prospective students by country.


The Admissions Committee aims to select mature candidates from a variety of backgrounds to further enhance the diversity of the intake. Although mature applicants receive consideration, there is no relaxation of programme entry requirements. In order to be considered you would, therefore, have to achieve the normal standard entry requirements. Normally candidates must attain these grades in the one sitting and at the first attempt. However, if you are not able to study full time (if, for example, you are continuing to work) you would not necessarily be expected to gain the grades at the one sitting but you would certainly have to attain them at the first attempt.

Mature students are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office (details at bottom of page) providing further information on both school and further education examination results to discuss their qualifications on an individual basis prior to making a formal application.


A 2:1 Honours Degree (or equivalent), in an appropriate science subject. Candidates with a non-science degree will be considered provided they have gained high grades in Chemistry and Biology high school qualifications. 

Please note that all candidates applying for the BVM&S as a second degree (including graduates from the UK, EU, EEA) are considered at the International Fee rate.

The Admissions Committee regrets that it cannot consider ONC, HNC, HND or part- degree qualifications as equivalent to an Upper Second Class Honours degree for entry requirement purposes.

Graduates applying for our undergraduate veterinary medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.


English Language Requirements

You must demonstrate English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

  • SQA National 5 at C
  • GCSE C or 4
  • IB Standard Level 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English Language Tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic module overall 7.0 with 7.0 in each component
  • TOEFL-iBT 100 (including Special Home Edition) or above with 23 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 185 with 185 in each component
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Additional Tests

Please note that the following tests are NOT required for candidates applying to the BVM&S programmes at the University of Edinburgh:

  • BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
  • UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT)
  • Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
  • Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT)

Non-Academic Achievements

Work experience requirements 

We do not ask for specific types or number of days/weeks for work experience as it depends, to some extent, on the opportunities available to individual candidates. The broader the experience, the better, but you should not gain experience to the detriment of your academic studies. You should, however, gain both veterinary practice and animal work experience.

You should gain as much and as varied practical work experience as possible, which could include time spent:

  • Seeing veterinary practice, both large and small animal if possible
  • Livestock farms - dairy and lambing are particularly useful
  • Other animal establishments, such as zoos, kennels, catteries, wildlife centres, pig farms, poultry farms and stables
  • A day at an abattoir is recommended but not demanded
  • We encourage experience gained in veterinary or medical laboratories to help you appreciate the scientific basis of veterinary medicine
  • We will also take into consideration the online courses, examples of which are listed below

Please note: the above are suggestions and ideas for work experience. This is not a checklist and achieving all these placements is not a requirement.

Work experience references are not required.

Applicants should provide detailed information on their practical experience (number of days/week spent and species worked with) in the appropriate section of their UCAS or VMCAS (North American graduates only) application. Candidates should be aware that the selectors can only take into account work already undertaken and not work planned.

Virtual Work Experience

An online course has been collaboratively developed by all veterinary schools in the UK. This MOOC serves as valuable preparation for individuals aspiring to enter the field of veterinary medicine.

At Edinburgh, we will also take other online courses into account. You can find a list of the ones we offer below.

Work Experience Summary (WES) Form - UCAS Candidates Only

All candidates applying via UCAS are required to complete and return a Work Experience Summary (WES) by 22 October. UCAS applications submitted without a WES will be considered incomplete.

Non-academic achievements and interests

Skills, achievements and motivation are important factors in assessing your application. These can be recorded in your application (e.g. in your personal statement or reference), and could feature:

  • Social involvement
  • School responsibilities
  • Leadership
  • Organisational abilities
  • Interests and hobbies
  • Cultural, sporting, musical, vocational and voluntary achievements

Useful Links

Undergraduate Admissions

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

The University of Edinburgh

Contact details

This article was published on