This course is closed to international applicants for 2025 entry.
Veterinary Medicine and Surgery - Wildlife PGCert
- Full-time:
1 year
- Part-time:
Not available
- Start date: 1 October 2025
- UK fees:
To be confirmed
- International fees:
Not applicable
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?
Teaching experience
The successful applicant will gain experience teaching the University of Nottingham undergraduate vet students on their final-year clinical track rotations based at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital.
Modules
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
module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Thursday 16 May 2024.
Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.
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
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 2025 entry.
Additional informationAll candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Applying
Applicants must hold a veterinary degree and be members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. 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: https://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/home/
Graduates from the EU or EAA must be graduates from an EAEVE approved or accredited veterinary school to be eligible. refer to the website.
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 University of Nottingham to study/work in the UK. If you would like to ask questions about your situation, you can contact the Visa and Immigration team. 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: www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
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
Applications are now open.
For further information or any application queries, please address these to: sv-pg-vet@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk
As a clinical associate practice of the University of Nottingham, Tiggywinkles Veterinary cannot offer externship placements.
Where you will learn
Real clinical environment
You'll learn in the clinical setting of Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital.
Tiggywinkles is a charity wildlife hospital, the busiest and most advanced in the world, with a veterinary team led by an EBVS Veterinary Specialist in Avian Medicine and Surgery and an RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.
The hospital has several wards meeting the requirements for many different species, a fully equipped surgical theatre, a dispensary and staged rehabilitation facilities.
Tiggywinkles cares for over 12,000 animals, providing round-the-clock, year-round support for sick, injured, and orphaned British wildlife.
Fees
| Home / UK |
TBC |
| International |
TBC |
Careers
We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.
Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, 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 University of Nottingham 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.
This content was last updated on Thursday 16 May 2024. 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.