Veterinary Medicine and Surgery - Wildlife PGCert 2026 entry

PG 糖心原创 > All courses > Veterinary Medicine and Surgery - Wildlife PGCert

2026

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery - Wildlife PGCert

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: Not available
Start date: 1 October 2026
UK fees: 拢4,467
International fees: 拢4,467

Course overview

This postgraduate certificate (PGCert) equips qualified veterinary surgeons with the knowledge and skills needed to treat wildlife animals. The course provides focused training in the candidate's chosen field within a wildlife hospital under the supervision of an EBVS Veterinary Specialist in Avian Medicine and Surgery and an RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. The course comprises two elements:

Clinical research

Exposure to clinical caseload and scholarly activity
Submission of a clinically based research project
Clinical portfolio and clinical case report
Reflective exercises

Clinical training

Diagnosis, treatment and care of patients
Surgery and medicine
Submission of a case report suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal
Develop personal and professional skills associated with clinical practice

Why choose this course?

World top 50

for veterinary science

3rd in the UK

for veterinary medicine

4th in the UK

for veterinary science

Clinical placement

Learn in a real clinical environment with our clinical associate

Teaching experience

The successful applicant will gain experience teaching the 糖心原创 undergraduate vet students on their final-year clinical track rotations based at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital

Modules

Year one

Research plan 10 credits

The purpose of this module is to enable you to:

Clearly outline the background and study design for a research project
Identify the resources and materials required
Demonstrate an ability to develop a timeline appropriate for the course duration.

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

Cope with uncertainty
Adapt to change whilst recognising personal limitations
Demonstrate skills in diagnostic problem solving, and in formulation of treatment strategies appropriate to species or discipline area
Demonstrate knowledge of veterinary medicine (interpreted in its widest context) appropriate to species or discipline area

Research project 20 credits

The purpose of this module is to enable you to demonstrate independent thinking and application by means of a submitted piece of original research.

On completion of this module, you will:

Possess the ability to communicate effectively with clients and with colleagues both in the veterinary profession and in other disciplines.
Be able to cope with uncertainty and be able to adapt to change whilst recognising personal limitations, and sources of advice and support and protocols.
Demonstrate a professional attitude and a high standard of professional behaviour.
Demonstrate skills associated with the production of a clinical research project and be able to communicate this in a manner as would be expected of a submission to a peer-reviewed publication.

Case report 10 credits

Students will produce a written case report documenting a clinical case that they have had extensive involvement with. The case must include some degree of follow-up so that the outcome is known. A deep understanding of the theory of veterinary medicine as well as the student’s own development is required.

The purpose of this module is to enable you to demonstrate an understanding of how diagnostic and therapeutic plans were developed in relation to a clinical case, as well as articulate reflective thinking. Following this module you will:

Be able to recognise, diagnose and offer preventative healthcare advice for the diseases of animals, appropriate to species or discipline area.
Demonstrate skills in diagnostic problem solving, and in formulation of treatment strategies appropriate to species or discipline area.
Demonstrate knowledge of veterinary medicine (interpreted in its widest context) appropriate to species or discipline area.

Research portfolio 20 credits

Students will produce a portfolio which will demonstrate:

learning opportunities through the presentation of a skills diary
documentation of the CPD activities undertaken during the programme
five reflective assets on individual research or clinical experiences

The purpose of this module is to enable you to demonstrate the range of research or clinical skills undertaken during the programme and reflect on your personal development over the study period.

Following this module you will:

Possess the ability to communicate effectively with clients and with colleagues both in the veterinary profession and in other disciplines.
Be able to cope with uncertainty and be able to adapt to change whilst recognising personal limitations, and sources of advice and support and protocols.
Demonstrate appropriate skills, either clinical or research, relating to their wider field of study.
Be able to construct and critique a self-improvement plan for gaining knowledge and understanding.
Demonstrate reflective critical thought processes of their learning pathway.
Demonstrate a professional attitude and a high standard of professional behaviour.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

Clinical caseloads
Case-based learning
Clinical skills sessions

You will be required to complete clinical practice (training and study) under the direct supervision of specialist academic or non-academic staff. Students will spend between 75% and 85% of their time engaged in supervised clinical activities.

Clinical training is through the management of cases under supervision and will provide candidates with experience treating and rehabilitating British wildlife. Students will gain comprehensive experience in all aspects of the diagnosis, treatment and care of wildlife patients, and will be provided with an opportunity to undertake research into their area of interest.

You will be allocated a clinical supervisor or supervisors from the school who oversee the programme. Teaching is undertaken in appropriate clinical settings.

How you will be assessed

Clinical assessment

The course is assessed by three components:

Research project on a clinical subject covering British wildlife (based on clinical training, study and research)
Clinical portfolio to evidence the clinical training with British wildlife.
Clinical case report in the style of a publication for a peer-reviewed journal

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.

Home / UK students

Additional information

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.

Applying

Applicants must hold a veterinary degree and be members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons at the time that they start the course. Prospective graduates will be considered, but all veterinary graduates MUST have their MRCVS number for application. MRCVS registration should be checked on the following website in light of original degree docs no longer being a requirement:

Graduates from the EU or EAA must be graduates from an EAEVE approved or accredited veterinary school to be eligible. refer to the .

Graduates with less than 2 years post-graduate clinical experience must include evidence that, as an undergraduate, they undertook at least 26 weeks of extramural clinical placements (outside the curriculum) or equivalent experience. Graduates from the UK and Ireland do not need to provide this evidence since the degree is evidence of this requirement.

Eligibility

Please note, due to the placement requirements of this course, it is not available to those who require immigration sponsorship from the 糖心原创 to study/work in the UK. If you would like to ask questions about your situation, you can contact the . If you hold immigration permission under the EU Settlement Scheme, you are permitted to study this course. More information about the EU Settlement Scheme is given here:

The successful applicants will receive a scholarship that will fund University post-graduate tuition fees and the stipend. Applicants whose first language is not English must present evidence of having achieved an IELTS score of at least 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each component) at the time of application.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a letter of intent to sv-pg-vet@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk by Monday 20 April 2026.

For any application queries, please address these to sv-pg-vet@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk.

Interviews of shortlisted applicants for 2026 entry are scheduled for week commencing 11 May 2026 and will be online via Teams. As a clinical associate practice of the 糖心原创, Tiggywinkles Veterinary is unable to offer externship placements. However, those successful in the initial interview will be invited to Tiggywinkles for a half day to meet the team and get a greater feel for what the internship training has to offer.

Where you will learn

Real clinical environment

The internship will be based at where you will have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the management and treatment of wildlife cases.

Tiggywinkles ia a registered veterinary practice and a very busy wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre, that provides round the clock care for wild animals of all species and treats around 14,000 wildlife casualties each year. Patients will range from mice to deer and everything in between. They see a high proportion of hedgehogs and other mammals, as well as all types of birds.

Where you will learn

Purpose-built veterinary facilities

You'll also have access to our purpose-built veterinary school at our Sutton Bonington Campus. Our facilities include anatomy and clinical labs, a large surgery and dissection suite, and animal facilities such as kennels, stables, exotic pet rooms and sheep and pig housing.

Other facilities on our 1000-acre Sutton Bonington Campus include the University Farm with demonstration unit and Centre for Dairy Science Innovation.

Fees

Qualification	PGCert
Home / UK	4,467
International	4,467

To be confirmed.

Funding

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or r茅sum茅, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the 糖心原创 include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

Career destinations for our graduates include veterinary clinicians, scientific researchers, university lecturers and university researchers.

Career progression

100% of undergraduates from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2020. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates

Related courses

This content was last updated on Wednesday 25 February 2026. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.

糖心原创