Access to Higher Education Diploma (Veterinary Science)

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Veterinary Science)

This Course at a Glance

• Save the lives of animals through your career
• Learn how to support and maintain the health of different species
• Study a veterinary degree without A Levels
• Learn on your terms
• 100% online course
• No exams

About your Diploma

If you’ve always had an adoration for animals and an urge to help them in your career, you can now get on a fast-track route to becoming a Vet or Vet Nurse through online study.

This course satisfies the entry criteria for many subject-related higher education study programmes, such as the *University of Bristol’s BVSc Veterinary Science degree.

*Please note that our Access to Higher Education Diploma (Veterinary Science) has been accepted for 2023 entry. Students should refer to the University prospectus for 2024 entry requirements.

Hartpury University will also consider applications from students with this qualification, for more information on entry requirements, please visit BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing (2023) | University | Hartpury University and Hartpury College.

Study a Veterinary Degree Without A Levels

A Levels are the traditional post-school qualification and the typical barrier to entry most learners face when contemplating degree-level study. If you too were put off the idea of a veterinary degree because you didn’t hold multiple A Levels, this course provides the perfect alternative.

As a Level 3 equivalent, you can now meet the requirements for a veterinary science or veterinary nursing degree with one course. That’s because this Access to Higher Education Diploma (Veterinary Science) is designed to build your knowledge ahead of degree-level learning of these subjects. What’s more, it takes most of our learners less than a year to complete.

Learn All About Veterinary Practice

Being a vocational course, this veterinary science diploma concentrates your focus on all the elements involved in the roles and responsibilities of a veterinary professional.

During your studies, you will cover topics like:

• Animal Behaviour and Welfare
• Animal Nutrition and Digestive Systems
• Animal Physiology, and more!

You will also complete a number of modules that are designed to build up your study skills ahead of your degree, so you can hit the ground running in the next phase of your veterinary education. For more information on what you’ll learn in this course, view the ‘Modules’ tab.

Getting Started

learndirect is the UK’s leading distance learning provider. This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Veterinary Science) is a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification that is regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

Learn When It Suits

Being online, this veterinary science course can be studied as and when it suits your lifestyle. Should you only be free at night, that’s fine, or if you need to study around your children, simply log on and learn when you’re available. That’s the beauty of having no classes or timetables!

You get up to two years to complete the course but most of our learners have it finished within 9-12 months.

Don’t Lose Track

Once enrolled, you’ll get an Individual Learning Plan that details the submission deadlines for your assignments. This will help you stay on track throughout your studies.

*Please note the entry requirements can be different between universities. It’s always best to check before you enrol that this qualification will be accepted.

Modules

Unit 1: Animal Cells, Locomotion and Senses

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the biology of animal cells.
• Understand locomotion of different non-human animals.
• Understand sensory organs in non-human animals.

Unit 2: Animal Patterns of Behaviour, Communication and Welfare Issues

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand non-human animal behaviour patterns and conditioning.
• Understand non-human animal communication.
• Understand animal welfare needs and issues affecting welfare of animals in specific contexts.
• Understand animal welfare law and groups in the UK.

Unit 3: Major Physiological Processes of Non-Human Animals

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand feeding behaviours of different non-human animals.
• Understand the respiratory and circulatory differences between different animals.
• Understand how a range of different types of animals move.
• Understand reproductive processes and factors of a range of different animals.

Unit 4: The Digestive System and Dietary Needs of Non-Human Animals

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand nutrient requirements and sources for an animal.
• Understand the need for a balanced diet in animals.
• Understand digestive systems of animals and the impact of ruminating.
• Be able to calculate the energy requirements and nutritional values required to keep animals healthy.
• Understand the causes, signs, impact, and treatments for issues arising from nutritional imbalance.

Unit 5: Cell Division and Genetic Variation

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand cell division.
• Understand genetic variation.

Unit 6: Cellular and Subcellular Metabolism

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand cell metabolism including metabolic pathways.
• Understand the process of producing ATP via the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
• Understand the dark reactions phase which occurs during photosynthesis.
• Understand how subcellular organelles generate ATP.

Unit 7: Arrangement and Trends in the Periodic Table

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the arrangement of elements in the periodic table.
• Understand the periodicity of period 3 of the periodic table.
• Understand ionisation energies in relation to period 3.
• Understand the oxidation and reduction effects of reactions.
• Understand reactions of the Group 2 metals.

Unit 8: Atomic Structure, Electronic Structures, and bonds

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand atomic structure and relative atomic mass.
• Be able to write and interpret electronic structures.
• Understand ion formation and ion bonds.
• Understand covalent bonds formation.

Unit 9: Hydrocarbons, Alkanes and Alkenes

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the impact of organic compounds.
• Understand alkane structure and reactions.
• Understand alkene structure and reactions.

Unit 10: Molarity and chemical change

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to calculate solution concentrations.
• Understand enthalpy change.
• Be able to analyse data to determine reaction order.
• Understand chemical equilibrium.

Unit 11: The structure and bonding of molecules

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand electronic configuration.
• Understand different types of chemical bond.
• Understand polarisation and intermolecular forces.
• Understand the structure and properties of different molecules and compounds.
• Be able to apply electron pair repulsion theory.
• Understand the nature of organic chemicals.

Unit 12: Applied Statistical Research

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to devise a statistical investigation.
• Be able to collect and statistically process data.
• Be able to apply data analysis to an investigation aim and hypotheses.
• Be able to critically evaluate an investigation.

Unit 13: Exploring Cellular Structure and Activity

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand cellular structure.
• Understand the processes and products of cellular metabolism.
• Understand cellular growth, division, and the impact of cancer at a cellular level.

Unit 14: Exploring the Structure of the Atom

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the properties of protons, electrons, and neutrons.
• Understand the distribution of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom/isotope.
• Understand s, p, and d orbitals.
• Understand the relationship between ionisation energies and reactivity.
• Understand how ionisation energy data is reflected in the periodic table.

Unit 15: Planning and Writing an Assignment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to select and assess appropriate source information in response to a task.
• Be able to reference sources used in a recognised style.
• Understand different reading strategies.
• Be able to take effective notes.
• Be able to plan, draft and produce a written assignment.

Unit 16: Writing and Studying Academic Texts

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write academically and with relevance.
• Be able to interpret and express ideas in a piece of academic work.
• Be able to analyse and summarise text, and appreciate the problems caused by plagiarism.

Entry Requirements

To study an Access to HE Diploma you must be resident in the UK and have a UK postcode.

You must hold Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths, or be working towards them alongside studying your Access to Higher Education Diploma.

University Entry Criteria

It must be reiterated that each university will set its own admission criteria. So, you must check with your desired institution if your Access to HE Diploma and other qualifications will be accepted. In many cases, to get started at university you will need: - A certain number of credits passed with a merit or a distinction grade - A face-to-face interview at the university - Literacy and numeracy assessments provided by the university - Course-related work placements or work experience - GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills/Key Skills, etc.) It is your responsibility to check that your Access to HE Diploma will be accepted as part of these entry requirements for your chosen degree. learndirect will not be held accountable if completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma doesn’t secure you a position with a higher education institution.

Minimum age restriction

Access to HE Diplomas are designed to support students to progress to university who have substantial experience of life outside of formal education which they have gained since completing compulsory schooling.

Average completion timeframe

The average time it takes our learners to complete the course is 9-12 months.

Assessment requirements

A range of assessment methodologies are used, including: academic report, essay, presentation (video and audio recording), scenario analysis, illustrated report, series of questions, work sheet, academic writing skills tasks

Exams required

There are no exams included in the assessment of the course.

Is Membership Required?

No membership is required to enrol on this course.

Additional requirements

Learners must be actively studying for a minimum of six months before results can be ratified and certificates ordered. The six month period does not start until you have passed unit 2 of your course and you must be submitting assignments regularly (in line with the deadlines in your Individual Learning Plan) to meet this six month requirement. Certificates can only be issued once your course is paid for in full.

Certification Timeframe

You can expect to receive your certificate 12-16 weeks from your final assignment being marked and graded, depending on the time of year. You will be provided with regular updates throughout the certification process so that you are fully informed of your individual timeframes.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

The assessment process of our veterinary science course consists of the following:

Assignments

The assignments for this course aim to prepare you for your next step in higher education while providing the number of credits necessary to achieve your qualification.

At the end of each unit of study, you will need to complete an assignment. Your tutor will then mark this and provide you with feedback and a grade to help you progress.

Credits

To successfully achieve this Access to Higher Education Diploma you will need 60 credits in total. The credits are split into the following two categories:

• Graded – 45 credits come from graded units, which focus on the academic subject
• Ungraded – 15 credits come from ungraded units, such as writing and study skills

As part of this veterinary diploma, UK learners will also receive help as well as guidance with their university application and the research they need to do to get the most out of their diploma.

Skills & Education Group Access

On successful completion of the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Veterinary Science), (QAA ref = 40014757), you will receive a Skills and Education Group Access, QAA recognised, Access to Higher Education Diploma at Level 3. As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

An access validating agency with a strong social purpose to recognise achievement, particularly for those who have benefited least from their previous educational experiences, Skills and Education Group Access supports the needs of learners, providers, businesses and communities by enabling progression into higher education.

Once you successfully complete this Access to Higher Education Diploma (Veterinary Science), you will be perfectly prepared to study a veterinary science or veterinary nursing degree at university. This will depend entirely on which career path you’re most interested in.

Further Qualifications and Prospects

Once you qualify and become a registered Veterinarian or Veterinary Nurse, your registration needs to be maintained through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This includes any form of training and education that adds directly to your skillset but doesn’t fall under your mandatory and statutory training.

CPD training can also provide the perfect opportunity to try out a specialist area you might want to explore, as there are many progression paths for Veterinarians and Vet Nurses once qualified.

As a Vet Nurse, you could develop specialist skills in rehabilitation, focus on the care of exotic pets or step into leadership and management roles as you gain experience.

As a Vet, you could study courses on:

• British Wildlife Rehabilitation
• Herpetology
• Marine Biology
• Wild Animal Behaviour
• Zoology

With additional specialist knowledge and qualifications, you could progress into senior roles like:

• Equine Veterinarian – Work solely with horses
• Official Veterinarian – Help manage animals that cross the border
• Veterinary Specialist – Concentrate on a particular specialism like dentistry, surgery or emergency care
• Zoo Veterinarian – Support the health of exotic animals in zoos

Should you choose to complete the necessary postgraduate qualifications, you could teach future Veterinarians and perform research.

Frequently Asked Questions