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Veterinary Nursing

BSc (NFQ Level 8)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

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In response to the recognition and registration of veterinary nursing as a profession in Ireland, UCD developed and implemented a full-time, four-year honours BSc Veterinary Nursing degree programme in 2009. The degree provides the graduate with not only a sound academic foundation but also the practical skills and competencies with which to build a solid career as a professional veterinary nurse.

About This Course

In addition to the highly skilled role of veterinary nursing in the practice environment, strong demand exists for qualified veterinary nurses in a number of related fields:

  • Animal Nutrition
  • Pet Insurance
  • Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Practice Management
  • Animal Welfare
  • Charitable Work
  • Education

    You will also have the opportunity to pursue graduate studies, thereby actively contributing to academic and research fields both within your profession and in related sciences.

    • Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

    Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

    Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 VNUR10280 Principles of Veterinary Nursing 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 CHEM00020 Introductory Chemistry Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 VNUR10160 Anatomy & Physiology for Vet Nursing I Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 VNUR10310 Veterinary Nursing Professional Practice Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 VNUR10320 Understanding Infect. Diseases Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 VNUR10330 Pract Animal Husbandry Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20190 Anatomy & Physiology for Vet Nursing II Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20350 Animal Behavior and Welfare Management Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 VNUR10300 VN Clinical Placement S1 Summer  10
    Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    In the Spring trimester, students may choose two general elective modules or select from the modules below. Mindfulness for Health may only be selected in the Spring trimester.
    		 PHTY20260 Mindfulness for Health Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
    Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    In the Spring trimester, students may choose two general elective modules or select from the modules below. Mindfulness for Health may only be selected in the Spring trimester.
    		 GEOL10040 Earth, Environment and Society Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20340 Clinical Placement S2 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20280 Laboratory Work for Veterinary Nurses Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20330 Veterinary Applied Pharmacology Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20360 Veterinary Medical Nursing Autumn  10
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20270 Diagnostic Imaging for Veterinary Nurses Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20320 Veterinary Surgical Nursing Spring  10
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20350 Animal Behavior and Welfare Management Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR30410 Anaesthesia for Vet Nurses Spring  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Option Electives
    		 MIS10040 Web Design and Analytics Spring  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Option Electives
    		 VET20180 Introduction to One Health-Bridging Human & Veterinary Medical Sciences Spring  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 VNUR30580 Veterinary Nursing Professional and Clinical Skills I 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 VNUR30560 Clinical Placement S3 Autumn and Summer (separate)  25
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20240 Animal Intensive Care Spring  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20260 Farm Animal Nursing Spring  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 VNUR30530 Ethics Legislation & Critical Thinking Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Option Electives
    		 GEOG20060 Weather, Climate and Climate Change Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Option Electives
    		 HIS10460 Animal Histories Spring  5
    Stage 4 Core Modules
    		 VNUR30330 VN Project 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
    Stage 4 Core Modules
    		 VNUR30590 Veterinary Nursing Professional and Clinical Skills II 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
    Stage 4 Core Modules
    		 VNUR30600 VN Clinical Placement S4 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  30
    Stage 4 Core Modules
    		 VNUR30610 Applied Veterinary Nursing 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
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    General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Veterinary Nursing:

    ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
    showAudience-audienceInt VTS2
    Veterinary Nursing
    Bachelor of Science    		 Commencing 2024/2025 September Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
    Non EU Undergraduates    		 Apply
    showAudience-audienceEU DN310
    Veterinary Nursing
    Bachelor of Science
    Full-Time
    Commencing 2024/2025 September
    		 Application through CAO Apply via CAO
    * you can change options at the top of the page
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