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Veterinary Nursing

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

Duration:
4 Years
Attendance:
Full Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
8 (240 credits)
Level:
Undergraduate
Award:
Bachelor of Science
Next Intake:
September
General Entry Requirements (A-Level)

AAC / ABBD / ABB

+ D AS Level
General Entry Requirements (IB)

33

Subject Requirements (Mathematics)

GCSE C / A Level E

(or AS Level D)

IB SL 4 / HL 3

Subject Requirements (Laboratory Science)

GCSE C / A Level E

(or AS Level D)

IB SL 4 / HL 3

CAO Points 2025

468

Leaving Cert Subject Entry Requirements

O6/H7 in English, Irish, Mathematics a laboratory science subject and two other recognised subjects.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Apply Now

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 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 course 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.

The course is accredited by the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) and by the European Accreditation body ACOVENE.

The School of Veterinary Medicine at UCD is ranked in the QS Top 50 Veterinary Science Departments globally and is first in Ireland.

First & Second Year

Students receive a high-quality education through lectures, tutorials and practical classes, as well as off-site work experience. The curriculum reflects the demands on the Irish veterinary nurse in practice by incorporating teaching on small animal (including exotics), farm animal and equine nursing.

During the first two years, students spend an average of 30 hours per week attending lectures, tutorials and practicals on all aspects of veterinary nursing, including classes:

Comparative Veterinary Anatomy & Physiology I & II • General Veterinary Nursing & Animal Handling • Veterinary Anaesthesia & Therapeutics • Surgical Nursing • Professionalism & Introductory Chemistry

Third & Fourth Year

During third year, you undertake additional modules and will complete work placements within veterinary practices that are committed to veterinary nurse training.

During the final year, veterinary nursing rotations largely take place in the UCD Veterinary Hospital and can involve early mornings and some late-night work. Students are also expected to undertake independent study.

Assessment is via a combination of end-oftrimester written and practical examinations, along with continuous assessment during trimesters.

All students must pass a veterinary nursing skills exam to graduate and register as a veterinary nurse in Ireland. This Exam is held in the latter part of the 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
    		 VNUR10340 VN Clinical Placement S1 Summer  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.
    		GEOL10040 Earth, Environment and Society Spring  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
    		 VNUR20340 Clinical Placement S2 Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 VNUR20380 Professional Practice II 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  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

    As I approach the end of my 2nd year in Veterinary Nursing, I have been reflecting on how much UCD has helped me thrive. The support for students in need has been amazing, especially from our student advisor. Lecturers are so receptive to ideas for the future of the course, which I really appreciate and value. There is always help available in UCD whether from staff or fellow students. The class sizes are small, which makes it easy to feel at home at college and make friends

    Alice O’Friel Barrie, Student

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    General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Veterinary Nursing:

    ROWCLASS Apply to
    showAudience-audienceInt
    VTS2
    Veterinary Nursing
    Bachelor of Science

    Full-Time
    Commencing September 2026
    Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
    Non EU Undergraduates
    Apply
    showAudience-audienceEU
    DN310
    Veterinary Nursing
    Bachelor of Science

    Full-Time
    Commencing September 2026
    Application through CAO
    Apply via CAO
    * you can change options at the top of the page
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