I am Dr Rebecca Massie, a practising UK vet and Royal Veterinary College graduate. At Become A Vet I have spent 13 years guiding applicants through every stage of the UK veterinary admissions process, and one of the questions I am asked most often is this: what A levels do you need to be a vet?
Quick Answer: To start UK vet school in 2027, you will usually need Chemistry as a core A Level, with Biology also required or strongly recommended at the majority of schools. Standard offers range from ABB at SRUC, and AAB at Nottingham and UCLan, up to A*AA at Cambridge. Most schools offer at AAA.
In this guide I will break down the exact A Level subject and grade requirements for every UK vet school, based on each university's own published 2027 entry requirements, checked in October 2026. I will also cover whether you need Physics or Maths, what to do if your grades are lower than expected, and how to use your A Level choices strategically.
What A Level Subjects Do You Need to Be a Vet in the UK?
Chemistry is the closest thing to a universal requirement across all UK vet schools. The Veterinary Schools Council confirms that some schools require Chemistry and Biology, while others require Chemistry alongside one or two additional science subjects such as Biology, Maths or Physics. Biology is required or very strongly recommended at the majority of schools, but it is important to check each university individually as requirements do vary.
Your third A Level gives you flexibility at most schools. The majority of vet schools will accept a wide range of third subjects. Non-science choices such as History, Geography, or a Modern Language are accepted at many schools, as long as you meet their grade requirements overall. UK vet schools value well-rounded applicants.
Is Biology Always Required for Veterinary Medicine at A Level?
Biology is required at most UK vet schools, but not universally. Liverpool, for example, requires Biology at A Level but allows Chemistry to be taken at AS Level (grade B minimum) if the second A Level is another academic science such as Physics, Mathematics, Geography, Geology or Psychology. Bristol asks for Chemistry plus one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics, and Cambridge for Chemistry plus at least one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics, so Biology is not compulsory at either. Always check individual school requirements carefully rather than assuming Biology is compulsory everywhere.
Is Chemistry Required for Veterinary Medicine at A Level?
At most schools, yes. Chemistry is the most consistently required A Level subject across UK vet schools, although Harper and Keele (Biology or Chemistry plus a second science), SRUC (at least one science) and UCLan (two or three sciences from set groups) do not insist on Chemistry specifically. It is directly relevant to pharmacology, biochemistry, and the scientific principles underlying veterinary medicine. I always advise applicants to take Chemistry at A Level as their starting point when planning their subject choices.
Do You Need Physics or Maths A Level to Be a Vet?
Neither Physics nor Maths is compulsory at any UK vet school as a standalone requirement. However, at Bristol and Cambridge either can stand in for Biology as the second subject alongside Chemistry, and at Harper and Keele and UCLan they count towards the science subjects required. Elsewhere, Physics and Maths are not required but are accepted as valid third subjects, and Scottish applicants should check each school's Higher and Advanced Higher requirements. Choosing the subject you will achieve the highest grade in is always the right decision.
Key Takeaway: Chemistry is required at most schools, and Biology at many. Harper and Keele, SRUC and UCLan accept other science combinations. Always check each university's individual UCAS entry requirements before finalising your A Level choices.
What A Level Grades Do You Need for Each UK Vet School for 2027 Entry?
Grade requirements vary considerably between schools. The information below reflects each university's published 2027 entry requirements, checked against its own admissions pages in October 2026. Always verify requirements directly on each university's UCAS profile before applying, as requirements can change each admissions cycle.
Royal Veterinary College: AAA including Biology and Chemistry plus a third subject that does not overlap with them (not General Studies). Importantly, A* grades are not required and an A* prediction gives no advantage over an A prediction in the RVC's selection process.
University of Cambridge: A*AA, the highest offer among UK vet schools, including Chemistry plus at least one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics; most applicants offer three science or maths subjects. All applicants must also sit the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT). Cambridge's VetMB currently holds conditional RCVS accreditation, with a decision expected after an RCVS visit in October 2026.
University of Bristol: AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics.
University of Edinburgh (Royal Dick): AAA in one set of exams including Chemistry and Biology at grade A, with all grades achieved at the first attempt. GCSE English at grade 6 (B) is also required.
University of Glasgow: AAA including Chemistry and Biology plus a third academic subject (not General Studies or Critical Thinking). GCSE English at grade B or 5 is also required.
University of Liverpool: AAA including Biology plus either Chemistry at A Level or Chemistry at AS Level (grade B minimum) with a second academic science at A Level.
University of Nottingham: AAB, grade A in Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry, grade B in a third subject. A pass in science practicals is required where separately assessed.
University of Surrey: AAA including Biology and Chemistry.
Harper and Keele Veterinary School: AAA, with an A in Biology or Chemistry, a second science at A (from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Maths, Further Maths or Statistics) and a third subject at A.
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan): AAB including two science subjects plus one other, or ABB including three sciences (or two sciences and Maths), with the sciences drawn from different subject groups. UCLan's BVMS is working towards RCVS accreditation.
Aberystwyth University (BVSc): AAA including Biology and Chemistry plus one other subject, managed through RVC admissions. The third subject should not overlap with Biology or Chemistry. The BVSc is working towards full RCVS accreditation.
SRUC (Scotland's Rural College): ABB including at least one science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths), with a contextual minimum of BBB. Scottish applicants need AABBB at Higher plus BB at Advanced Higher. SRUC's BVSci is working towards RCVS accreditation and is focused on Scottish, Irish and UK-domiciled students.
Always verify these requirements directly on each university's UCAS entry requirements page, as grades and subject requirements are reviewed each admissions cycle. For detailed profiles of every UK vet school, see our full UK vet schools guide.
Key Takeaway: Most UK vet schools offer at AAA. Nottingham and UCLan offer at AAB and SRUC at ABB, making them important options if your predicted grades are slightly lower. Cambridge is the only school asking for an A*, at A*AA.
How to Use Your A Level Choices Strategically for Vet School
When I mentor applicants who are torn between subjects for their third A Level, I always give the same advice: choose the subject you are most likely to excel in. The RVC explicitly states that no third subject gives any advantage over another in their selection process, and science and non-science subjects are treated equally. A high grade in History will serve you far better than a middling grade in Physics.
Your A Level predicted grades feed directly into which schools will shortlist you for interview. Being predicted AAA opens doors to the RVC, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Surrey, Harper and Keele, and Aberystwyth. Being predicted AAB gives you strong options at Nottingham and UCLan, and ABB at SRUC.
What Are Gateway and Widening Participation Routes into Vet School?
If your grades fall below standard entry requirements, several UK vet schools offer Gateway or Widening Participation routes. These have lower grade requirements and are designed for applicants meeting specific contextual criteria, such as attending a state school or coming from a lower-income household. Published contextual offers include ABB at the RVC, Aberystwyth and Bristol, AAB at Edinburgh, BBB at SRUC, and reductions of up to two grades at Liverpool, Nottingham and Harper and Keele, while Surrey and UCLan also offer veterinary routes with a foundation year.
Our dedicated guide to veterinary gateway courses in the UK explains the eligibility criteria and application process in full.
Key Takeaway: Choose your third A Level based on where you will achieve the highest grade. No third subject is preferred over another at most UK vet schools.
What GCSEs Do You Need Alongside Your A Levels for Vet School?
A Levels are not the only academic requirement. Most UK vet schools specify minimum GCSE grades alongside A Level requirements. The RVC, for example, requires a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 7 including Biology and Chemistry, plus grade 6 in English Language and Maths. Liverpool requires at least five GCSEs at grade 7 including two sciences, with English and Mathematics at grade 6.
For a full breakdown of what GCSEs you need to get into vet school, read our dedicated GCSE requirements guide.
Key Takeaway: Your GCSE profile matters alongside your A Levels. Check each school's GCSE requirements individually as they vary significantly.
Does Work Experience Matter as Much as A Level Grades for Vet School?
Yes, and this is something many applicants underestimate when they are focused on their A Level studies. Your academic grades get you shortlisted for interview. Your work experience, personal statement, and interview performance are what secure the offer.
In my 13 years mentoring applicants at Become A Vet, I have seen highly academic students miss out on offers because their work experience was thin or unreflective, and I have seen applicants with AAB grades receive offers from top schools because their application and interview performance were outstanding. Grades are the floor, not the ceiling.
Read our full guide on how to get veterinary work experience in the UK to make sure this part of your application is as strong as your academic profile.
Key Takeaway: A Level grades open the door. Work experience, your personal statement, and your interview performance are what get you through it.
How Become A Vet Can Help You Secure Your Vet School Offer for 2027
When students ask me for the best way to strengthen their vet school application beyond their A Levels, I tell them to look beyond generic online resources. In my professional experience, a single-focus approach to preparation, whether that is obsessing over grades alone or practising interview questions without expert feedback, fails to address the full complexity of veterinary admissions.
This is precisely why we developed Become A Vet tutoring to provide a complete guided solution. You work directly with me, a practising UK vet, and your support is never handed to a student tutor. We support you across your personal statement, interview preparation, and application strategy from the very beginning.
If you are ready to build a complete, competitive application, explore our veterinary application packages to find the right level of support for your needs.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: A Level entry requirements for veterinary medicine are reviewed annually by each university. Always verify requirements directly on the UCAS website and each university's official admissions page before submitting your application. The information above reflects each university's published 2027 entry requirements, checked in October 2026.
Common questions
Can you be a vet without Chemistry A Level?+
At most schools, no. Chemistry is the most consistently required A Level subject across UK vet schools. Liverpool allows Chemistry at AS Level (grade B) if a second academic science is studied at A Level, and Harper and Keele, SRUC and UCLan accept other science combinations, but without Chemistry at A Level your options are limited and I strongly advise taking it.
What are the lowest A Level grades for UK vet school for 2027 entry?+
The lowest standard offer is ABB at SRUC (UCLan also accepts ABB with three sciences), followed by AAB at Nottingham and UCLan. Most other schools require AAA, and Cambridge is the most demanding at A*AA. Gateway and widening participation routes may have lower requirements subject to eligibility criteria.
Does the RVC require A* grades at A Level?+
No. The RVC's standard offer is AAA and they explicitly state that A* grades are not required, and that predictions for A* give no advantage over an A prediction during their selection process. This is an important point that many applicants do not realise.
What A levels do you need to be a vet in Scotland?+
Scottish applicants typically apply via Highers and Advanced Highers rather than A Levels. SRUC, for example, asks for AABBB at Higher including at least two sciences, plus BB at Advanced Higher including one science. Glasgow and Edinburgh set their own Higher and Advanced Higher subject combinations. Always check the individual UCAS entry requirements for each Scottish school as they differ in detail.
What happens if I miss my A Level grades for vet school?+
Missing your A Level grades does not necessarily end your veterinary ambitions. Options include re-sitting A Level exams, applying to schools with lower grade requirements such as Nottingham, UCLan or SRUC, exploring Gateway routes at multiple schools, or taking a gap year to strengthen your work experience and personal statement. Contact us at Become A Vet for personalised guidance if you find yourself in this position.