RCVS registration confers MRCVS, the licence to practise as a veterinary surgeon in the UK (titles protected by the VSA 1966). Nine UK schools’ degrees are currently accepted for registration: Bristol BVSc, Cambridge VetMB, Edinburgh BVM&S, Glasgow BVMS, Harper & Keele BVetMS, Liverpool BVSc, Nottingham BVM BVS, RVC London BVetMed and Surrey BVMSci. Three new schools are mid-accreditation: Aberystwyth (BVSc jointly with the RVC — full-accreditation decision due 2026 as the first cohort graduates), SRUC (Aberdeen — the first in Scotland for 150+ years) and UCLan (first cohort September 2023); new schools cannot get full accreditation until the RCVS inspects the complete course. Registration itself processes in about four weeks or less — apply up to six months ahead, with a video ID appointment and a letter of good standing no more than three months old.
Sources & verification
- Nine UK schools' degrees are currently accepted for RCVS registration: Bristol BVSc, Cambridge VetMB, Edinburgh BVM&S, Glasgow BVMS, Harper & Keele BVetMS, Liverpool BVSc, Nottingham BVM BVS, RVC London BVetMed, Surrey BVMSci — source, verified 2026-06-12
- New schools mid-accreditation: Aberystwyth (BVSc jointly with RVC, full-accreditation decision due 2026), SRUC (first in Scotland for 150+ years), UCLan (first cohort Sep 2023); new schools cannot get full accreditation until the RCVS inspects the complete course — source, verified 2026-06-10 🔶
- RCVS registration processes in ≤4 weeks; apply up to 6 months ahead, with a video ID appointment and a letter of good standing no more than 3 months old — source, verified 2026-06-10
Verified reference information — not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.