Regulations for FdSc Veterinary Nursing

APPLICABLE TO ALL STUDENTS STARTING PART ONE OF THEIR DEGREES FROM SEPTEMBER 2024.

Entry

1. To be eligible for admittance to study for a Foundation Degree of the University, a candidate shall have fulfilled any further entry conditions which may be required by the University and/or institution in respect of the scheme in question.

Scheme Structure

2. FdSc Veterinary Nursing shall be offered on the basis of a three year full-time period of study (there is no part-time equivalent).

3. Full-time candidates on FdSc Veterinary Nursing shall be required to pursue the equivalent of at least 120 credits during each academic year. Year 2 and 3 of the FdSc Veterinary Nursing each contain 60 credits at HE level 2 / CQFW Level 5 due to the integrated year in placement.

4. Students on the FdSc Veterinary Nursing scheme must complete an integrated placement (minimum of 1800 hours in no more than 52 weeks, with a minimum of 36.5 and a maximum of 40 hours per week). The placement will commence in semester 2 of year 2 and will continue until the end of semester 1 in year 3.

Credit Transfer

5. Notwithstanding paragraphs 2 and 3 above, the University may, within the overall limits shown below, deem the performance of a student in either study previously pursued and/or any prior experiential learning to count towards the requirements for the award of a Foundation Degree. Such prior study or experiential learning shall be relevant to the scheme to be pursued and shall be credit-rated at the discretion of the admitting institution. The prior study shall have been completed at the University, or at another University or Institution whose schemes have been recognised by the University for the purpose of satisfying its policy on Credit Accumulation and Transfer. Any credits transferred must follow university credit transfer requirements and must be mapped to the RCVS Day One Competences to ensure that all professional requirements are met.

The maximum number of credits which may be accepted to count towards a Foundation Degree of the University shall be not more than 120. Where the maximum transferable credit allowed has been accepted, the remaining credits to be pursued through the admitting institution will normally be at least at HE Level 2/ CQFW Level 5. In the case of the FdSc Veterinary Nursing, any recognition of prior learning must be mapped to the Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements and incoming students must evidence that they have successfully completed assessments mapping to the RCVS Day One Skills in any modules they wish to gain credit in.

Assessment

6. Progress of a candidate will normally be assessed in the period immediately following completion of the unit of study.

7. The pass-mark for units of assessment, modules and awards shall be 40%.

8. Every candidate for a FdSc Veterinary Nursing Degree shall complete all modules within the following period:

i) Full-time mode: not more than five years from the start of the three year scheme

(The above overall time-limit may be extended in exceptional cases.)

Where credit transfer has been approved, under paragraph 5 above, the University may calculate a pro-rata reduction to the overall time-limit for the individual candidate. This time-limit shall be communicated to the candidate at the outset.

Failure

9. At the discretion of the Examining Board, Part One (normally year 1) students may be permitted up to three attempts to redeem a failed module. Students shall be eligible for the minimum pass mark of 40% in Part One resits. Part Two students will be permitted two further attempts to resit a failed module. They shall be eligible only for the award of the minimum pass mark (i.e. 40%) in each such module, irrespective of their actual level of performance.

Award

10. An exit qualification (a Certificate of Higher Education in Animal Health) may be awarded to candidates who have pursued a minimum 120 credits but find themselves unable (or are not permitted) subsequently to complete the scheme. Candidates must pass 100 out of the 120 credits taken at HE Level 1 / CQFW Level 4, with a weighted average of 40% or above.

11. Students who are unable to meet the license to practice requirements of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons may be eligible for an alternative exit award of an FdSc Animal Health if they meet the following requirements:

All year 1 and 2 taught modules (180 credits have been passed)

A minimum of 2 weeks have been spent in a work placement relevant to the industry

The industrial placement module has been passed providing an additional 20 credits for the minimum of 200 credits passed overall.

12. To be eligible for consideration for the award of a Foundation Degree, a candidate shall have:

i. pursued an approved scheme of study for the period prescribed by the University, except as provided by Regulation 5 above;
ii. pursued a minimum of 240 credits, of which at least 120 shall be at HE Level 2/CQFW Level 5, or above;
iii. have fulfilled any further condition(s) required by the University;
iv. candidates must pass all components of all modules that contain reference to the RCVS Day One Competences and must achieve a pass all modules (240 credits) which contribute to the award of the Foundation Degree. Students on FdSc Veterinary Nursing must also successfully complete the integrated placement requirements in the Applied Veterinary Nursing module.

13. In determining whether the award of a Foundation Degree might be made to a candidate, Examining Boards shall follow conventions approved by the University. These conventions may include procedures or mechanisms for the exercise of discretion by the Examining Board. An Examining Board may take account of the candidate's academic development throughout the scheme of study.

14. Foundation degree candidates who have fulfilled the requirements of the scheme shall be awarded the following classes:

• Pass
• Merit
• Distinction