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How to Apply

The Graduate School will let you know whether or not your application has been successful. Successful applicants will be sent a formal offer of admission. This offer may contain certain conditions, typically, proof of proficiency in English and confirmation of financial undertaking. The offer will be confirmed only when these conditions have been met.

Admission to the College is subject to the requirement that you will comply with our registration procedures, and duly observe the Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the College and the University of London.

How to apply for an MSc, Diploma or Certificate

Applications for taught postgraduate programmes are submitted online via UK Pass (Postgraduate Application Service). If you are having problems submitting your application via UK Pass, please contact the graduateschool@rvc.ac.uk for a postgraduate application form.

Due to the high volume of applications, students must submit COMPLETE applications via UK Pass consisting of the documents below otherwise there is a high chance that your application may not be processed:

  1. Personal statment explaining why you would like to do the course and outlining your relevant skills and experiences
  2. Scanned copies of all your relevant qualification certificates and transcripts. If your award is pending, please upload the transcript of the modules already undertaken.
  3. TWO academic references. Please note that it is your responsibility to contact your referees and arrange for references to be provided. These should be on letter headed paper, contain the signature of the referee and should be scanned and uploaded with your UKPASS application. Alternatively, see the reference section below for details of how references can be sent directly to us.

If you haven’t uploaded ALL the above attachments, your application may not be processed. If you are having problems obtaining the above documents, please contact the graduateschool@rvc.ac.uk before submitting your application.

Apply now with UKPass

There is a full help facility in UKPass but you can also contact graduateschool@rvc.ac.uk if you are experiencing any difficulties.

If it is your first time using UKPass you will need to register before you are able to submit an application. Once you have registered you can select the course you wish to apply for from within the system.

Eligibility

Applicants for Masters programmes must be able to show that they have achieved at least a 2:2 or equivalent in their undergraduate degree (not applicable for veterinary degrees). If you haven't been awarded your degree as yet, please ensure you send trancripts of the modules you have taken along with your UK Pass application form. Please see individual course pages for information on relevant degrees and experience requirements.

Deadline

The application deadline for taught MSc courses varies depending on the MSc course. Please check details on the course site. Late applications may be considered, subject to availability of places. However early application is encouraged for all MSc courses to avoid disappointment.

A non-refundable deposit of £1,000 is required by 1st June preceding the start date of full-time MSc courses.

How to apply for a postgraduate research degree

Applications for Research Degrees are made through UKPASS (Post Graduate Application Service). Applicants should choose 'PhD opportunities at the RVC' as the course option. As we may have more than one project advertised at any time, you will be asked to select the project that you are applying for towards the end of application.

Applicants will need to upload:

  • a CV
  • a personal statement explaining why you would like to undertake this particular project
  • a copy of your degree certificate(s)
  • a transcript of your degree(s) - this must be a certified translation if the original was not issued in English
  • 2 confidential references - these can also be submitted separately, see the reference section below for more information

Overseas students must also provide evidence that they have met the College's English language requirement though this may be submitted later. Please see the language requirement section below for more information.

Apply now with UKPass

If you haven’t uploaded ALL the above attachments, your application may not be processed. If you are having problems obtaining the required documents or submitting your application via UKPASS please email graduateschool@rvc.ac.uk.

MSc by distance learning

Please note on-line applications for the Livestock Health and Production and Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health MSc programmes by Distance Learning, should be made via the University of London The application deadline for these programmes is the 1st November, with the academic year commencing in February of the following year.

Qualification for admission

The normal minimum entrance qualification for registration is one of the following:

  • a second class honours degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a subject appropriate to that of the subject to be followed
  • a registered qualification appropriate to the course of study to be followed, in medicine, dentistry or veterinary studies
  • a masters degree in a subject appropriate to the course of study to be followed
  • a professional qualification obtained by written examination and approved by the University of London as an appropriate entrance qualification for the degree in question.

Individual courses may require additional documents or have additional eligibility requirements, therefore please read carefully the information provided on the course pages.

Evidence of qualification

When you apply, you must provide a copy of your degree certificate(s) and a transcript of each degree, i.e. an authorised statement from the university where the courses were undertaken, including the grades/marks achieved. In the case of recent graduates, an authorised statement from the university indicating the degree result will be accepted until a certificate is available. In addition, EU or overseas applicants must provide a certified translation of any transcripts written in a language other than English. The College reserves the right to request original, official evidence of academic entry qualifications at any time. Should you go on to attend the College, we will request to see the original document at enrolment.

English language proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in spoken and written English, including scientific usage and comprehension. They will be required to achieve an overall score of 7.0 in IELTS with a minimum of 6.5 in each sub-test; or a TOEFL score of at least 93 (internet-based test with no element below 23). Please note, some Clinical Training Scholarship positions will require higher scores so applicants should check the individual scholarship requirements carefully.

UNLESS

They have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree (NQF level 6) or above from a country on the UK Border Agency (UKBA)’s list of majority English-speaking countries within the two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment.

OR

They have relevant work experience (minimum eighteen months) conducted in English in a majority English speaking country/Institute and undertaken no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment.  This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may require an additional English reference.

Majority English speaking Countries as defined by UKBA

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica,New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America.

For more information on the accepted tests please click on the following links:

References

The College requires two recent references in support of your application. Both referees should be familiar with your academic work, preferably at the institution at which you have recently studied/are studying. A reference referring to specific work experience relevant to the course you wish to undertake can be substituted for one of the academic references with the approval of the Course Director and the Graduate School. Both referees should be provided with the guidelines below.

References should be addressed to the Postgraduate Admissions Officer.

If you are applying via UKPASS and already have your references you can upload them to your application on there. Alternatively, they can be emailed directly by your referees to graduateschool@rvc.ac.uk

or sent by post to:

Graduate School
Royal Veterinary College
London
NW1 0TU
UK

Please note that consideration of your application will be delayed if we have not received two references for your application.

Guidelines for referees

Hard copy references should be written on official headed paper and be placed in an envelope. As they are confidential, the envelopes must be sealed and signed across the seal by the appropriate referee before they are returned to the candidate.

Emailed references should come from a professional email address, for example one registered at a place of work or academic institution.

There is no need to both post and email a reference, one option is fine.

References should include the following points:

  1. Full name of applicant
  2. Intellectual qualities (e.g. present performance, future potential, ranking in class, current position). Do you consider the applicant’s degree result a true reflection of his/her abilities?
  3. Suitability of chosen programme
  4. Powers of expression
  5. Interests and future plans
  6. Other relevant information (e.g. the length of time you have known the applicant and in what capacity). If you are an applicant’s present/former employer, please include an outline of responsibilities and an appraisal of their competence
  7. Your signature
  8. Your title, name and position

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

The majority of non-EU applicants to the research programme will require clearance from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) prior to applying for a visa. Further details on how to apply for ATAS clearance will be provided should you be offered a place at the College. There is more information about ATAS on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website
www.fco.gov.uk/atas.

Currently, none of our MSc courses require ATAS clearance; should this change, details will be provided.

Research study

Applications for MRes, MPhil and PhDs are welcomed throughout the year and applications should be made through the Graduate School.

If you are not applying for an advertised project, we ask for a short research proposal outlining the areas you wish to specialise in; this will ensure that your application is directed to appropriate potential supervisors.

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