Veterinary Medicine · Vet School Profile

Nottingham Vet School

Panel interviewUpdated 26 July 2026

Reviewed by Dr Rebecca Massie, Veterinary Admissions Expert

Trusted UK veterinary medicine admissions specialists since 2012 · 2700+ students taught

At a glance

Location: Nottingham, England
Founded: 2006 (first purpose-built UK veterinary school in over 50 years)
Degree awarded: BVM BVS (with BVMedSci) (UCAS code D100)
Course length: 5 years
Home fee: £9,790/year (2026/27)
International fee: £43,830 / year
Interview format: Panel
Admissions test: None (no UCAT)
Work experience: Required: 5 weeks min (3 animal handling)
Foundation year: Yes (Preliminary Year and Gateway Year entry routes)
Intercalation: Integrated BVMedSci, awarded after Year 3

Overview of Nottingham Vet School

The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs to the elite research intensive Russell Group association.

The Veterinary Medicine course is taught at the Sutton Bonington campus (about 30 mins away from Nottingham city centre by bus) - home to over 2,500 students from the Schools of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, which creates a place where it’s easy to get to know your fellow students and teaching teams, yet part of a wider global community.

The year group size at Nottingham is about 300 students, making it the largest vet school in the UK - this number recently overtook RVC.

Students will get to take advantage of the newly refurbished nottingham vet school accommodation.

What Makes The University Of Nottingham Vet School Unique?

Uniquely, Nottingham’s Veterinary Medicine course has an integrated BVMedSci, saving you a year of study, tuition fees and living costs. This part of the course will help enhance your ability for continual learning and development in veterinary medicine through research.

If a quieter/rural way of life appeals to you, then the Sutton Bonington campus at Nottingham may be ideal, located in peaceful countryside away from (but still accessible to) the city centre. Nottingham is also currently ranked as the best university for student satisfaction in Veterinary Medicine in the UK.

Course Structure

Nottingham’s veterinary medicine course is highly-rated by students. You will get hands-on with animals from day one and can choose when you start (September or April).

You'll learn theory and practical aspects of domestic, wild and exotic species, with clinical experience integrated throughout the course. Practising with Clinical Associates on your placement year ensures you learn a varied case-load of animals and treatments.

Teaching is delivered through body system-based modules, which integrate traditional medical subjects, such as anatomy and physiology. Modules are taught twice - once as a veterinary science subject in year one or two, and again as a clinical subject in year three or four.

Intercalation: All students will receive a BVMedSci degree on completion of their third year of study, without the requirement for an additional year to receive this qualification.

Teaching style

The University of Nottingham Vet School delivers an integrated, spiral curriculum that blends basic science with clinical application from the very beginning. Students engage in hands-on learning and animal handling from day one, working through case-based and systems-oriented scenarios in small groups. Practical skills, live animal experience, placements, and structured self-directed study are built throughout the course, culminating in a lecture-free final year focused on immersive clinical rotations with external partner practices.

How we can help

Expert 1-1 support for your application

1-1 support from our admissions experts across every stage of your vet school application.

Interview Tutoring 10h

1-1 sessions

Buy 10h

Interview Tutoring 20h

1-1 sessions

Buy 20h

Vet Ultimate Package

Full application support

View package

Nottingham Vet School Entry Requirements

A-Levels

AAB including grade A in Chemistry and Biology (or Human Biology) and grade B in a third subject. A pass is required in science practical tests where these are assessed separately.

GCSEs

Five GCSEs at grade 7 (A) including Biology and Chemistry (or Double Science, or Core Science and Additional Science) and either Physics or Maths, with grade 6 (B) in Maths and grade 4 (C) in English Language.

Still sitting your GCSEs? Protect the grades this course screens for with 1-1 GCSE Maths, Biology and Chemistry tutoring from medics.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Minimum total score of 32 overall with grade 6 in Higher Level chemistry and biology and grade 5 in a third subject at Higher Level, with supporting level 2 qualifications.

Scottish Highers

AA in Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry. Minimum of AABBB at Higher Level in any order, to include Biology and Chemistry. Minimum of five grade As at National 5 level to include Chemistry and Biology (or double science). One of Physics or Maths must be passed to grade A, minimum of grade B in Maths and English Language. Grade A at Higher level Physics/Biology/Chemistry/Maths/English can compensate for achieving grade B at National 5 level.

Graduates (degree requirements)

2:1 in any BSc degree, supported by B grades in both Biology and Chemistry at A level.

English language requirements

At this stage your application is reviewed to ensure that you have gained at least four weeks' experience of working with animals. Work experience must have been completed within the three years prior to application. We do not accept submission of references, journals and portfolios associated with work experience.

Online Assessments

The Situational Judgement Test and Personal Qualities Review are only accessible through an online questionnaire, which we will email to you after the 15 October application deadline. You will have two weeks to complete the survey, and a reminder will be sent after one week. If after the two-week period you have not completed the survey, your application will be declined.

Situational Judgement Test

Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs) assess your judgement in situations you will encounter while studying veterinary medicine. It assesses key attributes identified as important for you as a veterinary student. The test will evaluate your interpersonal skills and ethical values rather than knowledge or clinical skills. You will complete a set of hypothetical but relevant scenario-based, multiple choice questions associated with the veterinary profession. Your answers will be evaluated to build a picture of your situational judgement in that context.

The SJT evaluates four attributes:

empathy and building client relationships
professional integrity and trust
resilience
teamwork

A rating is used from a scale of 1 to 4 where you will be asked to either:

rate the appropriateness of a series of options in response to the scenario
rate the importance of a series of options

Your responses will be evaluated against a pre-determined automated scoring system. You must complete the SJT for further review and short listing for interview. It should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete the SJT and it must be completed in one sitting.

Personal Qualities Review

You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire which will provide us with further evidence about your motivation, abilities, and attributes for a career in veterinary medicine. As part of this we consider your other experiences or achievements, for example sports, music, expeditions. Your answers will be marked by veterinary school staff and the questions align to the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct

Minimum age requirements

Compare A-Level requirements across universities →

Most useful

Nottingham Vet School Situational Judgement Test (SJT)

Unlike medicine and dentistry, Nottingham does not use the UCAT or any other written admissions test. Veterinary admissions instead turn on your hands-on animal and clinical work experience, your UCAS application and personal statement, and your interview.

Prepare for the interview with 1-1 vet school interview coaching, and compare entry requirements, fees and competition across every UK vet school in our UK vet schools guide.

Nottingham University Vet School Work Experience Requirements

Your application will be reviewed to ensure that you have gained at least 5 weeks of work experience within the three years prior to application. This can include:

• A minimum of 3 weeks of animal handling

• Up to 2 weeks of either customer facing and/or teamwork experience

• Up to 1 week for the completion of the Virtual Work Experience and Exploring the Veterinary Profession free online course

How Does Nottingham Vet School Use The Personal Statement?

Your personal statement will be taken into account in your application for Nottingham, but they weight their Personal Qualities Review more heavily in assessment of your motivation/character.

Applicants are required to complete two supporting questionnaires.

• Widening Participation (WP) and work experience

• Situational Judgment Test

Does Nottingham have a gateway or foundation year?

Nottingham’s veterinary medicine gateway year helps widen participation in veterinary medicine. You'll learn basic science in animal biology and chemistry, as well as animal behaviour and care. Teaching uses integrated modules that illustrate how these key areas work, giving you the required knowledge for progression.

Nottingham Veterinary Medicine Gateway Coursea

Nottingham Vet School Interviews

The University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science uses a panel interview rather than an MMI. The interview is conducted online via Microsoft Teams and lasts approximately 30 minutes, with a panel typically made up of a staff member plus either a Nottingham alumnus/alumna or an associate vet (usually at least one vet and one academic).

The wider selection process also includes an online Situational Judgement Test (SJT), completed beforehand, assessing empathy, professional integrity, resilience and teamwork, and an observational task in which applicants watch a series of short videos and comment on each. Highest-ranked applicants are invited to the assessment day; no student is admitted without interview and assessment.

Interview dates

Between December and March

Assessment Day

You will be ranked based on your overall score of the online assessments and the highest ranked will be invited to attend an assessment day. No student is admitted without interview and assessment - for international students, the interview may be conducted over Skype. The assessments will identify if you:

Have the ability to cope with the course
Are motivated towards a career in veterinary medicine and surgery
Have insight into the implications of this career choice
Have or appear to have the potential to acquire the personal skills expected of veterinary practitioners
Are suitable for admission to the University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Medicine and Science

Interview

The interview will normally be conducted by a staff member and either Nottingham alumni or an associate vet. Usually, at least one will be a vet and one a member of academic staff. The assessment will involve an interview lasting approximately 30 minutes and will assess your:

Motivation, insight into a veterinary career and interest in veterinary topics
Academic ability, communication skills, animal orientation personal attitudes and attributes, fitness to practice as a veterinary surgeon.

Practical aptitude assessment

You will be expected to deal with animal material and clinical information. Nottingham will assess your enthusiasm and aptitude, including observational and analytical skills and animal-orientation, rather than your knowledge.
Team working activity
Conducted in groups, Nottingham will observe your ability to work with a peer group.

Prepare with 1-1 vet school interview coaching and practise with our vet school interview questions guide.

University of Nottingham Vet Interview Practice Questions

Practise under timed conditions with our free generator. It builds a randomised circuit from real Nottingham interview themes, with reading time, follow-up questions and a notes summary you can keep.

Free practice tool

Mock interview generator

A timed mock interview in your browser, built from this university's real interview themes. Choose MMI, panel or SAMMI, answer out loud, and keep a summary of how it went.

day streak · 0 mocks

Real timings
Reading and answering phases with bells, exactly like the live circuit.
Follow-up questions
Press for more on each station, the way a real interviewer would.
Notes to keep
Rate each answer and save a written summary to review with a tutor.

Free to use. No sign-up needed.

Next step · Veterinary

Boost your vet school application

1-1 mentoring from our vet admissions experts
A strategy built around your target vet schools
Work experience, personal statement and interview coaching in one programme

Vet Ultimate Package Vet Interview Coaching

FAQs

Nottingham veterinary medicine FAQs

What are the A-Level requirements for Veterinary Medicine at Nottingham?

AAB including grade A in Chemistry and Biology (or Human Biology) and grade B in a third subject. A pass is required in science practical tests where these are assessed separately.

What are the GCSE requirements for Veterinary Medicine at Nottingham?

Does Nottingham require the UCAT for Veterinary Medicine?

No, Nottingham does not require the UCAT for entry to Veterinary Medicine.

What type of interview does Nottingham use for Veterinary Medicine?

Nottingham uses a panel interview format for Veterinary Medicine interviews.

What questions are asked in the Veterinary Medicine interview at Nottingham?

The Veterinary Medicine interview at Nottingham covers motivation and course knowledge, work experience and animal orientation, insight into the profession, ethics and professional values and personal attributes and teamwork.

When are the Veterinary Medicine interviews at Nottingham?

Between December and March.

Does Nottingham offer a foundation or gateway year for Veterinary Medicine?

Yes, Nottingham offers a foundation or gateway route into Veterinary Medicine.

Is the personal statement assessed for Veterinary Medicine at Nottingham?

Yes, Nottingham assesses the personal statement as part of the Veterinary Medicine application.