How to apply

Preparing your application
Making your application:
What happens next?
Admissions calendar

Preparing your application

Applying to university can seem daunting, especially if you're the first in your family to go into Higher Education. Before you apply, it is worth reading the information about the Gateway course and studying at the RVC carefully. Here are a few more things to think about:

Consider if veterinary medicine is the right thing for you. The To be a vet website might be useful. It contains information on what sort of skills you will need, some student profiles and information on possible alternative careers.
Trying to get some work experience? Check the advice on the To be a vet website first to get the most out of your placement.
If you're looking for advice you can talk your plans through with teachers at your school/college, staff at your work experience placements and family. Remember though that if you want the most accurate and up-to-date advice about available courses and current admissions requirements and policies, always check our website (and those of other vet schools).
If you have any questions you can always feel free to contact our Admissions Office by email to enquiries@rvc.ac.uk or by phone on 020 7468 5147 and we'll be happy to help.

Making your application

Step 1: Apply through UCAS

You must apply to this programme through the UCAS " Apply" system- go to the UCAS website for further information, including lots of advice about how the UCAS application system works. The deadline is 15th January for entry the following September. The course code for Gateway is D190 and the RVC's institution code is R84. You will not need a campus code.

In your UCAS application you will have to write a personal statement. This is your chance to show how you stand out from all the other applicants. There is advice on the UCAS website about writing a personal statement and also in the further information for undergraduates section of this website.

Step 2: Supplementary Gateway Application Form

The Supplementary Gateway application form (including the work experience section) must be completed and sent to the Admissions Office by the 15th January deadline.

This form requires you to provide a personal statement and financial information. The personal statement should:

explain why you want to become a vet;
describe any relevant work experience you have;
outline any scientific and veterinary issues that are of particular interest to you;
list any useful skills you’ve gained through extra-curricular activities or part-time employment;
if you have any family, education or personal reasons that have prevented you from fulfilling your potential (e.g. you are a carer, or have been in care, or haven't had a Chemistry teacher during your A-levels).

You must also provide financial evidence about your family income level (we require photocopied evidence confirming eligibility for child tax credits showing the household income as being £25,000 or less (gross). This is the only acceptable financial evidence for this section although for students aged 19 or over, the alternative acceptable financial evidence will be confirmation of receipt of the appropriate amount of Adult Learning Grant based on a £25,000 household income. You also need to confirm that you attend a non-selective state school, and that your parents did not attend university. Further information about what is required is given in the form.

When you submit your UCAS application please send your completed supplementary Gateway Application Form with the required documentation to:

Admissions Office (Gateway)
The Royal Veterinary College
Royal College Street
London
NW1 0TU

Please note, without this form and documentation we cannot process your application.

What happens next?

You may have to wait for a while to hear if you have got an interview. Our Admissions calendar can give you an idea of timelines.

If you are invited to interview:

Interviews are normally held between January and March. If you are selected for interview we will send you an invitation by email at least two weeks beforehand. At the RVC we try to make interviews a useful rather than intimidating experience. Interviews are held for selected applicants at our Camden Campus. The interviews will involve different stations and a group exercise. It will be very difficult to re-arrange an interview so you must ensure that you have given us any dates when you would not be available. You are welcome to bring guests with you.

To get a better idea of what to expect, and how to prepare see our Entry Profile for the Gateway course by searching for course code "D190" at "R84 Royal Veterinary College" on the UCAS website.

It takes some time after the interviews to make our decisions (you will not be told on the day). We usually aim to notify everyone by March 31st using the UCAS Track system.

If unsuccessful:

Unfortunately we cannot interview all applicants. If you are not successful in getting an interview then we will send you an 'unsuccessful' decision directly through the UCAS Track system (the online system which allows you to track the progress of your university applications). We are not able to write to everyone individually who is unsuccessful. However, you can request feedback by writing / email and we are happy to provide this to you, but please be aware that there can be delays at busy times.

If you have any questions about applying to Gateway which aren't answered on this website then please feel free to contact the Admissions office at enquiries@rvc.ac.uk or on 020 7468 5147 and we will be happy to help.

2013 Admissions calendar

Date	Comments
Summer Term	Veterinary Gateway programme literature and details of information sessions are sent to all eligible schools in England and careers services.
15th October 2012	Deadline for submitting your application to UCAS if also applying for conventional entry into veterinary medicine degrees (e.g. courses with codes like D100, D101)
15th January 2013	Deadline for otherwise submitting your application to UCAS, but do submit it earlier if you can. Also the deadline for submitting your supplementary Gateway application form and the required documentation to the RVC.
January to Mid March 2013	Interviews held for selected applicants at our Camden Campus. Some unsuccessful applicants will be informed at this stage through UCAS Track. The interviews will involve different stations and a group exercise. It will be very difficult to re-arrange an interview so you must ensure that you have given us any dates when you would not be available.
End of March 2013	All applicants find out whether or not their application has been successful.
To see all the opportunities that are available for you to visit/meet the RVC visit: www.rvc.ac.uk/visitus.

Undergraduate Courses