The University of Edinburgh – College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Advanced Clinical Practice (Online Learning) MVetSci, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev
Online
Master degree
DURATION
6 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
21 Aug 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Apr 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 19,100 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* estimated total fees for advanced clinical practice MVetSci
Key Summary
Veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving discipline, comprising a wide range of specialist areas. Research in veterinary medicine is directly relevant to the improvement of the health and welfare of domestic animal species and the protection of public health.
In response to the increasing requirement for support in developing advanced clinical skills, this distance learning programme is aimed primarily, but not exclusively at veterinarians in practice.
The modular, portfolio approach allows flexibility to meet the needs of the modern practitioner. The goal is to provide the skills and knowledge required to be highly effective practitioners and act as leaders and mentors within the veterinary community.
Our clinical services cover a great range of species - dog, cat, exotics, small mammals, zoo, wildlife, equine and livestock - and are among the most influential centres for clinical care in the UK. The School is the only UK veterinary school to have dedicated exotic animal and wildlife Services, and has an international reputation for providing veterinary education in these fields.
Courses completed from this fully taught portfolio may be used as credit towards the RCVS Certificate in Cattle, Sheep or Production Animal Practice, allowing students to exit with two qualifications. Some courses in small animal medicine may also be used towards the RCVS Certificate with details available on enquiry.
Programme benefits
- Flexible learning throughout the year to match busy working lives
- Complements the timetable of all veterinary postgraduate programmes, which allows students to choose elective courses within this MVetSci
- Courses may be used as credit towards the RCVS Certificate in Cattle, Sheep or Production Animal Practice
- Some courses in small animal medicine may also be used towards the RCVS Certificate, more details are available on enquiry
- Build a personal portfolio of skills and knowledge
- Demonstrate commitment to a chosen clinical specialty or species
- Great mentoring and online discussion
- Access to high-quality interactive online resources/e-journals and online textbooks
- Gain a distinguished postgraduate qualification.
This programme provides graduates with the scientific knowledge and practical skills to carry out the work of advanced veterinary practitioners.
On completion of this programme, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate they have acquired knowledge about advanced veterinary clinical research and developments
- Demonstrate they have acquired specific veterinary skills applicable to an advanced practitioner
- Understand and demonstrate how an evidence-based medicine approach can be applied in a range of practical situations
- Interpret and communicate scientific results and information (in research and other forms of social debate) across other related scientific disciplines and to other stakeholders
This online study portfolio offers an enjoyable and productive way to learn while gaining new, or augmenting existing, clinical skills. Skills and knowledge gained can support business performance, improve promotion prospects and employability.
Some graduates go on to work towards achieving the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Advanced Practitioner Status.
Some examples of graduate career paths include:
- Enhanced promotion within the veterinary clinical practice sector
- Entry point for academic clinical positions coming from the private practice sector
- Veterinary-based industries, particularly feed and pharmaceutical manufacturers
It may also support those intending to progress to European Diploma (veterinary specialist) through the available institutional programmes.
Further study
After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.
The full degree programme is a total of 180 credits, divided into:
- Masters - 180 credits
- Diploma - 120 credits
- Certificate - 60 credits
- Individual courses - up to 50 credits
Courses offer a mix of:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- practicals
- guest speakers
- recommended reading
Time expectation
20 credit courses are delivered in two blocks of five weeks with one week of independent study and reflection time in between.
10 credit courses are delivered over one block of five weeks.
Each 10 credits of study represents 100 hours of study and a time commitment of 20 hours per week.
An academic year consists of three eleven-week terms. This framework is designed to fit in with the part-time nature of the programme, giving you time to reflect on your learning while lessening the impact that studying might place on your working life.
Compulsory courses
Core courses
| Certificate phase | Credits |
|---|---|
| Evidence-based veterinary medicine in clinical practice | 10 |
| Professional and clinical skills for advanced veterinary practice | 10 |
| Standard diagnostic tests, chosen from a range of course options | all 10 |
| Masters phase | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dissertation | 60 - must be written within a 12-month period |
| Or | |
| Fully taught degree | 60 via taught course electives |
Masters phase
You can opt to undertake either a dissertation research project (60 credits), or to complete your degree as fully taught by selecting further elective courses.
To progress to the final level to attain the Master's, students must:
- pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 50% in each of the courses that make up these credits
- attain an average mark of at least 50% for the 120 credits which make up the Certificate and Diploma phases
Option courses
Elective courses
There is a large number of elective course topics to choose from; they have been grouped together by subject, but selections can be made across these groups.
Beyond the three core courses in the Certificate phase, you can select courses that meet your individual interests and professional needs. This may include courses from the selection below, or choices from other programmes within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.
| Companion animals and exotics | Credits |
|---|---|
| Abdominal imaging | 10 |
| Advances in small animal chronic enteropathy | 10 |
| Antimicrobial stewardship in companion animal practice | 10 |
| Approaches to gastrointestinal surgery in cats and dogs | 10 |
| Canine endocrine disorders | 10 |
| Feline medicine 1 | 10 |
| Feline medicine 2 | 10 |
| Feline medicine 3 | 10 |
| Gastroenterology | 10 |
| Hepatology | 10 |
| Neurological emergencies in dogs and cats | 10 |
| Non-surgical musculoskeletal disease | 10 |
| Principles of exotic pet medicine | 10 |
| Rabbit medicine | 20 |
| Recent advances in internal medicine | 10 |
| Renal and urinary | 10 |
| Thoracic imaging | 10 |
| Wound management and reconstructive surgery in dogs and cats | 10 |
| Large animals | Credits |
|---|---|
| Bovine reproduction: beef and dairy | 10 |
| Controlling infectious diseases in beef and dairy cattle | 10 |
| Equine Behavioural Medicine | 20 |
| Equine Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics | 20 |
| Equine Digestion and Nutrition | 20 |
| Equine Exercise Physiology | 20 |
| Equine Orthopaedics | 20 |
| Equine Reproduction | 20 |
| Equitation Science | 20 |
| Ewe survival | 10 |
| Feeding for production | 10 |
| Food production systems | 20 |
| Lamb growth | 10 |
| Lambing percentage | 10 |
| Recent advances in production animal practice | 10 |
| Udder health | 10 |
| General topics | Credits |
|---|---|
| Chronic pain and advanced analgesic techniques | 10 |
| Clinical animal behaviour | 20 |
| Ethics for veterinary clinicians and researchers | 10 |
| Non-technical skills for safer veterinary care | 10 |
| Practical pathology and microbiology | 10 |
| Veterinary ethics | 10 |
Electives may also be taken from across the School’s postgraduate portfolio.
While these courses may not be listed specifically in the programme timetable, you will be able to highlight areas of interest, e.g. One Health, animal welfare, animal behaviour, veterinary anaesthesia, and incorporate these courses into a programme tailored to your interests.
Individual courses
Postgraduate Professional Development (PGProfDev) is the study of individual courses from within a degree programme.
It is aimed at working professionals who want to upskill in a specific area but do not want to commit to a postgraduate qualification.
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within this degree over two years. Credits can also be put towards further study, however, any time spent taking courses will be deducted from the amount of time you have left to complete the higher award.
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
- Borrowing money
- Taking out a loan
- Family support
- Personal savings
- Income from work
- Employer sponsorship
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for online study from one of the UK’s governments.
If you intend to apply for a UK government loan you should apply for the 3-year Masters option.
Study options
- Master's (180 credits): 3-6 years
- Diploma (120 credits): 2-4 years
- Certificate (60 credits): 1-2 years
- Individual courses* (up to a maximum of 50 credits): up to 2 years
The degree programme allows progression from individual courses to Certificate, Diploma and MVetSci phases. Students may also exit the programme on completion of each phase.
The programme is designed to be taken part-time at 20 hours per week, with the flexibility to complete in longer time frames if required.
*Individual courses are also referred to as Postgraduate Professional Development (PGProfDev).
How online learning works
The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online postgraduate programmes since 2005, and is the largest provider of online programmes in the prestigious Russell Group of universities.
Online learning is aimed at people who want to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside personal and professional commitments. Most of our students continue in their employment while they study.
Expert tutors will support you through every stage of the programme and you can engage with fellow students in supportive and constructive online networks.
Courses are taught and completed entirely online. The varied teaching may include:
- online lectures
- tutorials
- specialist external lectures
- scientific group discussions
- case studies
- problem-based learning scenarios
- literature-based research
- computer-assisted learning
- quizzes
Online students not only have access to Edinburgh's excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
Time commitment
This programme is designed to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world.
If there are live online sessions, you can watch a recording later in the virtual learning environment at a time convenient to you.
Typically, you will need to dedicate around 20 hours per week to your programme, although managing this is up to you. This may also vary from course to course, and the time commitment may increase when assignments are due.