PGCert — 2027 entry Veterinary General Practice
Whether your aim is to sit the statutory membership examination for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, return to veterinary practice after a break, or gain new skills, our Veterinary General Practice PGCert provides the foundational knowledge you need to take the next step in your career.
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Why choose
this course?
- Study on a course that has been designed and supported by veterinary educators with a wealth of general practice experience.
- Gain a thorough understanding of the skills and attributes required for veterinary general practice in the UK. This UK Level 7 qualification will help international veterinarians prepare for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) statutory membership examination. We have a successful track record of students completing our course and becoming members of the RCVS.
- Expand your existing professional knowledge and skill set to advance your career or gain the support and guidance necessary to return to veterinary practice in the UK after a career break.
- Benefit from a flexible, online course structure, with access to an extensive virtual library of learning materials.
- Access our state-of-the-art clinical skills laboratories during an on-site visit to our School of Veterinary Medicine at the end of the course, designed to help prepare you for your final examinations.
- We’re preparing you for the future by integrating AI into every course, building digital skills, confidence and creativity that employers value in tomorrow’s workplace.
Please note: you must have a veterinary degree to apply for this course.
Statistics
8th in the UK
And top 100 in the world for veterinary science in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
What you will study
On this course, you will learn about the skills and attributes required in the UK for small animal general practice, equine general practice, production animal general practice, and veterinary public health, pathology and professional skills.
You will be taught the Day One Competencies that are required for new graduate veterinarians, as established by the RCVS.
You will also learn the importance of sustainability, employability, resourcefulness and resilience, digital capabilities, and global and cultural awareness and how they relate to the role of a veterinarian.
Facilities
At the end of the course, you’ll visit our School of Veterinary Medicine for practical teaching and assessments to help you prepare for and sit your final exams. During this time, you’ll have access to our multi-million-pound veterinary clinical skills facilities.
These spaces are fitted with the latest teaching equipment, including electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors and simulators, that you'll use to practise procedures and skills such as surgical procedures, anaesthesia, intravenous and urinary catheterisation, life support and resuscitation, suture placement, venepuncture and more.
This course is delivered over one academic year and is primarily conducted online, giving you flexibility to engage with the programme alongside professional and personal commitments.
Formal teaching through online engagement sessions is concentrated in the earlier part of the course, and you'll be supported throughout the academic year as you progress through the programme content and assessments.
Towards the end of the course, you'll visit our School of Veterinary Medicine to receive clinical skills teaching and undertake assessments of your practical and professional competencies.
Where possible, this course has been structured to align with the dates of the RCVS statutory membership examination. Visit the RCVS website for more information.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Modules are subject to teaching availability, student demand, and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught courses based on a 15-credit tariff, meaning all modules are comprised of multiples of 15 credits.
Please note that modules are listed by the academic calendar and are reflective of a September start date. For students that start a programme in February, please note that the modules listed as semester two will take place in the spring term and modules listed as semester one will take place in the autumn term.
Course options
Year 1
Semester 1 & 2
Compulsory
This module involves the theoretical study of companion animal clinical practice with specific reference to identification of clinical problems, establishment of a list of appropriate differential diagnoses, the logical selection of appropriate laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures (including diagnostic imaging), logical interpretation of results and the formulation of an appropriate treatment (medical and/or surgical) and/or management plan (including nutrition) for the individual small animal patient.
View full module detailsThis module reviews first opinion equine practice with specific reference to clinical problems, differential diagnoses, further investigations (lab tests, diagnostic imaging etc), logical interpretation of results and the formulation of appropriate treatment regimens (including medical, surgical, husbandry plans and nutrition).
View full module detailsThis module is relevant to production animal species and reviews production animal practice in the UK, clinical reasoning shills, husbandry, nutrition, pharmacology, anaesthesia, surgery, theriogenology, disease, population health and management.
View full module detailsThis module addresses Veterinary Public Health with respect to RCVS Day 1 competencies and considers professionalism. It outlines the principles of public health legislation relevant to veterinary surgeons including food safety practices, general epidemiology and certification, ethics and veterinary professionalism. It will introduce students to the performance of a systematic gross post-mortem examination, as well as performance of a PM inspection in the abattoir. This module will prepare students for topics pertinent to professional practice such as communication and lifelong learning. Students will be able to understand the knowledge skills and attributes required for Veterinary Public Health and Professionalism in veterinary practice in the UK.
View full module detailsYear 1
Semester 1 & 2
Compulsory
This module involves the theoretical study of companion animal clinical practice with specific reference to identification of clinical problems, establishment of a list of appropriate differential diagnoses, the logical selection of appropriate laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures (including diagnostic imaging), logical interpretation of results and the formulation of an appropriate treatment (medical and/or surgical) and/or management plan (including nutrition) for the individual small animal patient.
View full module detailsThis module reviews first opinion equine practice with specific reference to clinical problems, differential diagnoses, further investigations (lab tests, diagnostic imaging etc), logical interpretation of results and the formulation of appropriate treatment regimens (including medical, surgical, husbandry plans and nutrition).
View full module detailsThis module is relevant to production animal species and reviews production animal practice in the UK, clinical reasoning shills, husbandry, nutrition, pharmacology, anaesthesia, surgery, theriogenology, disease, population health and management.
View full module detailsModule selection for Part-time (Year 1) - FHEQ Level 7
Students must select 30 credits worth from:
VMSM002
VMSM003
VMSM004
Year 2
Semester 1 & 2
Compulsory
This module addresses Veterinary Public Health with respect to RCVS Day 1 competencies and considers professionalism. It outlines the principles of public health legislation relevant to veterinary surgeons including food safety practices, general epidemiology and certification, ethics and veterinary professionalism. It will introduce students to the performance of a systematic gross post-mortem examination, as well as performance of a PM inspection in the abattoir. This module will prepare students for topics pertinent to professional practice such as communication and lifelong learning. Students will be able to understand the knowledge skills and attributes required for Veterinary Public Health and Professionalism in veterinary practice in the UK.
View full module detailsThis module involves the theoretical study of companion animal clinical practice with specific reference to identification of clinical problems, establishment of a list of appropriate differential diagnoses, the logical selection of appropriate laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures (including diagnostic imaging), logical interpretation of results and the formulation of an appropriate treatment (medical and/or surgical) and/or management plan (including nutrition) for the individual small animal patient.
View full module detailsThis module reviews first opinion equine practice with specific reference to clinical problems, differential diagnoses, further investigations (lab tests, diagnostic imaging etc), logical interpretation of results and the formulation of appropriate treatment regimens (including medical, surgical, husbandry plans and nutrition).
View full module detailsThis module is relevant to production animal species and reviews production animal practice in the UK, clinical reasoning shills, husbandry, nutrition, pharmacology, anaesthesia, surgery, theriogenology, disease, population health and management.
View full module detailsModule selection for Part-time (Year 2) - FHEQ Level 7
Students must select the remaining 15 credits worth from (this module must not have been taken in year 1 previously):
VMSM002
VMSM003
VMSM004
Plus VMSM005
Teaching and learning
This course is primarily delivered through online learning. Module materials are made available through SurreyLearn, our virtual learning platform, and include a range of instructional resources covering core veterinary knowledge, practical skills and professional competencies relevant to veterinary practice in the UK.
You will also have access to live interactive online sessions hosted by academics from the School of Veterinary Medicine during key teaching periods throughout the academic year.
Towards the end of the course, you'll visit our School of Veterinary Medicine to receive clinical skills teaching and undertake assessments of your practical and professional competencies.
Assessment
You'll have opportunities to undertake formative online assessments during the course, with feedback designed to support ongoing learning and help identify areas for further development. These assessments may also be valuable if you're preparing for the theory components of the RCVS statutory membership examination.
The main final examinations required to successfully complete the programme and obtain the PGCert qualification are undertaken in person during your on-site visit to our School of Veterinary Medicine. These include written examinations as well as objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), designed to assess practical, professional and clinical competencies relevant to veterinary practice in the UK.
Assessments are conducted by Surrey academics, including staff with experience as RCVS examiners.
General course information
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Timetable
New students will receive their personalised timetable during Welcome Week. In later semesters, at least one week before the start of the semester.
Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday), with part-time classes normally scheduled for one or two days. Wednesday afternoons tend to be for sports and cultural activities.
View our code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF) for more information.
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
Whether your aim is to register with the RCVS to practise in the UK, gain a PGCert to expand your skill set, or return to the workforce after a career break, this course will provide you with the necessary support and training.
Veterinarians who are not registered with the RCVS must pass the RCVS statutory membership examination to practise in the UK. Completion of this PGCert will provide you with the knowledge and understanding required to prepare for the exam, and we have a successful track record of students completing our course and becoming members of the RCVS.
Pedro
Graduate - Veterinary General Practice PGCert
Briska
Student - Veterinary General Practice PGCert
UK qualifications
A minimum of a 2:2 UK honours veterinary degree, or a recognised equivalent international qualification.
International students travelling to the UK
Due to the module structure of this programme, we are unable to provide sponsorship on the Student Route. International students should make use of the Visitor Visa Route to attend the practical component of the programme. Further details can be found on our apply for a visa page.
Unfortunately, the University cannot guarantee that Visitor Visa applications will be successful, and a refusal may result in students being unable to successfully complete the programme.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall with 7.0 in each element.
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
We recognise that many students enter their course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of ways.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning process may mean you can join a course without the formal entry requirements, or at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions on some courses, and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please contact the Admissions team with any queries.
Scholarships and bursaries
Discover what scholarships and bursaries are available to support your studies.
Fees
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate courses.
Fee options
- UK
- £4,900 per 15 credits
- Overseas
- £6,000 per 15 credits
- UK
- £2,500 per 15 credits
- Overseas
- £3,000 per 15 credits
- The dissertation module is charged as a 15-credit module for fee purposes
- Fees for part-time routes are applicable in each year of the course
- These fees apply to the academic year 2027-28 only. Fees are reviewed annually, and tuition fees may increase for courses running over more than one year.
Read our tuition fees guidance to find out more about payment schedules and how to pay.
Additional costs
You are responsible for the costs associated with travelling to the UK at the end of the course for practical teaching and assessments at our School of Veterinary Medicine. This includes accommodation, travel and other related expenses during the visit.
Find out more about additional costs that may be incurred during your time at Surrey.
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UK applications
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Register your interestOverseas applications
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Register your interestAdmissions information
Once you apply, you can expect to hear back from us within 14 days. This might be with a decision on your application or with a request for further information.
Our code of practice for postgraduate taught admissions explains how the Admissions team considers applications and admits students. Read our postgraduate applicant guidance for more information on applying.
About the University of Surrey
Need more information?
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you will be agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.
We provide these terms and conditions at the offer stage. You will be asked to accept these terms and conditions when you accept the offer made to you. You will be provided with these terms and conditions again at registration by way of reminder.
View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2025/26 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it relates.
We have used our reasonable efforts to ensure this information is accurate at the time of publishing. However, some changes may occur between publishing and the start of the course.
It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. If you apply to the University and it makes you an offer, we recommend you check it again before you accept.