Veterinary Medicine - Waterford
The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (MVB) programme will provide students with focused scientific, clinical and professional training in the practice of veterinary medicine. Developed in alignment with the Veterinary Council of Ireland’s accreditation standards, the programme is currently undergoing the Council’s formal accreditation process.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | South East Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | South East Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
5 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
Chemistry OR Biology: H4
English OR Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7
Students will be required to complete a total of 60 hours of relevant veterinary or animal handling work experience. Specifically, 30 hours should focus on large animal/equine experience and 30 hours should focus on small animal experience. A portfolio (time log and references) based on this experience will also be required.
Eligible premises include:
• Veterinary practices: small animal, farm animal, equine and mixed or other relevant veterinary practice
• Farm: dairy, beef, poultry, pigs, stud, sheep or other farm animal enterprise. Not tillage
• Riding schools
• Animal sanctuaries/charities
• Zoo
• Or similar veterinary/animal related premises
Note: Looking after your own pets and working with animals on own premises does not meet this requirement.
Work Experience Log
Students will be able to upload their work experience log from 31 January to 1 July through their CAO.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Entry requirements for Honours Bachelor Degrees (Level 8)
This link module can be used in place of a sixth Leaving Certificate subject and will be accepted as meeting the six subject eligibility requirements for entry to honours degree courses.
Entry requirements for Ordinary Bachelor Degree (Level 7) and Higher Certificate (Level 6)
The LCVP link module can also be used in place of a fifth Leaving Certificate subject and will be accepted as meeting the five subject eligibility requirements for entry to ordinary bachelor degree and higher certificate courses
GRADE POINTS
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Students who have completed a full QQI-FET award at Level 5, and achieved at least three distinctions, are eligible to apply through CAO for entry to Year 1 on to Level 6, 7 and 8 courses. Students who have completed a full QQI-FET award at Level 6 may be eligible to enter Year 2.
The maximum possible points awarded through QQI-FET is 390. The scoring system only applies where all of the requirements for the major award are met i.e. where the named component awards specified have been achieved to a minimum of 120 credits.
Progression Scheme
The Progression Scheme is an additional opportunity for students who successfully complete a QQI FET Award in a partner Colleges of Further Education and Training College/Centre to gain entry to SETU programmes. The list of partner Further Education and Training Colleges/Centres, relevant SETU programmes, linked QQI FET Awards and the criteria for the scheme are available at www.setu.ie/progression.
Careers / Further progression
Graduates of Veterinary Medicine have a wide range of career opportunities in animal healthcare, research, and public health. Career paths include:
Clinical veterinary practice – Work as a veterinary surgeon in small animal, equine, or farm animal practice, diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions.
Specialist veterinary fields – Pursue further training in areas such as surgery, dermatology, cardiology, or exotic animal care.
Animal welfare and conservation – Work with animal charities, shelters, or wildlife conservation organisations to promote animal health and well-being.
Public health and food safety – Join government agencies or organisations involved in disease control, food safety, and veterinary public health.
Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research – Contribute to the development of veterinary medicines, vaccines, and treatments in research and pharmaceutical industries.
Education and academia – Teach future veterinary professionals in universities and contribute to veterinary research.
Regulatory and policy roles – Work in national and international organisations setting animal health and welfare policies.
Agri-food industry and livestock management – Support animal health in agriculture and livestock industries, ensuring productivity and sustainability.
Veterinary Medicine graduates are in high demand, and the skills acquired during this degree create global career prospects in both private and public sectors.
Further information
September 2026
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Three phases
This five-year programme will consist of three phases: foundation, clinical and professional. The foundation and clinical phases, will provide students with an in-depth understanding of the relevant, underpinning scientific and clinical concepts and related industry context via a Scaffolded Active Learning style curriculum, to motivate students to learn in an active, collaborative manner. The final professional phase of the MVB programme employs a fully distributed model of clinical education.
Unique feature
The fully distributed model of clinical education is a unique feature of the SETU veterinary programme. This phase consists of entirely workplace-based learning during clinical rotations focused on the core areas of veterinary practice within SETU’s Veterinary Distributed Clinical network. Partner practices within the distributed clinical network are undergoing thorough suitability assessments and training to ensure quality and consistency in the training provided.
Teagasc Kildalton College
Students will have access to a wide range of animal handling and husbandry facilities at Teagasc Kildalton College. Animal biology and anatomy classes will also take place in Kildalton. A free bus service operates between SETU Cork Road Campus and Teagasc Kildalton.
Year 1 Modules
Semester 1
Science of Veterinary Structural and Endocrine Systems
Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Husbandry
Veterinary Professional Skills
Semester 2
Science of Veterinary Alimentary Systems
Science of Veterinary Cardiorespiratory Systems
Animal Husbandry and Nurition
Veterinary Ethics and Teamwork
Year 2
Semester 3
Science of Veterinary Renal Systems
Science of Veterinary Reproduction
Veterinary Research and Clinical Skills
Science of Veterinary Disease - Genetics, Immunology and Pharmacology
Semester 4
Science of Veterinary Nervous Systems
Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Skills
Veterinary Business
Science of Veterinary Disease - Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology
*Pre-Clinical Extra-Mural Studies will take place outside of normal academic time and must be completed by the end of year 2
Year 3
Semester 5
Clinical Veterinary Medicine - Cardiorespiratory
Clinical Veterinary Medicine - Gastroenterology
Veterinary Diagnostics & Therapeutics Veterinary Public Health
Semester 6
Clinical Veterinary Medicine - Orthopaedics
Veterinary Surgery & Anaesthesia
Veterinary Public Health
Year 4
Semester 7
Clinical Veterinary Medicine - Urogental
Clinical Veterinary Medicine - Endocrinology and Dermatology
Herd Health and Population Medicine
Semester 8
Clinical Veterinary Medicine - Neurology
Veterinary Critical Care, Emergency Care and Toxicology
Preparing for the Veterinary Profession
Year 5
Semester 9
Essential Veterinary Skills
Veterinary Elective Rotations
Veterinary Final Year Portfolio
Semester 10
Small Animal Clinical Studies
Farm Animal Clinical Studies
Equine Clinical Studies
Veterinary Pathology and Public Health
*Clinical Extra-Mural Studies will take place outside of normal academic time and must be completed by the end of year 5.