Matt Jones from Harper & Keele (left) with RCVS president, Professor Tim Parkin.

The decision is pending final recognition by the Privy Council. 

Harper & Keele Veterinary School has received full accreditation from RCVS Council for its BVetMS Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Degree.

The decision was reached during a meeting of RCVS Council on Thursday, 2 October, and followed a final accreditation visitation for the degree in May 2025, as the School’s first cohort of students was preparing to graduate. 

It means that, pending its final recognition by the Privy Council, those who complete the degree at Harper & Keele will automatically be eligible to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Surgeons and practise in the UK. 

Professor Tim Parkin FRCVS, RCVS president and chair of the education Committee, said: “We would like to congratulate the staff at Harper & Keele Veterinary School for their hard work in ensuring that the school’s veterinary degree met our stringent accreditation standards, and welcome Harper & Keele graduates to their membership of the Royal College.

“Our accreditation panel found some very commendable aspects to the school, such as a commitment to inclusion and widening participation, how it supports students in finding non-clinical and clinical placements, and its use of innovation to support learning. We look forward to continuing to work with Harper & Keele over the coming months and years to ensure that high standards continue to be met.” 

Professor Matt Jones MRCVS, RCVS council member and head of school at Harper & Keele, said: “We are delighted to receive the accreditation decision, which recognises our innovative approach to veterinary education and the huge commitment from our colleagues and partners that underpins it.  

“I was particularly pleased that the accreditation acknowledged our commitment to widening participation and inclusivity, and our efforts to create the right culture for everyone to thrive. We look forward to seeing the contribution of Harper and Keele Vet School graduates to the profession over the coming years.” 

The veterinary school is a collaboration between Harper Adams University in Shropshire and Keele University in Staffordshire. 

This is the first UK veterinary degree to receive RCVS accreditation since the University of Surrey in 2019, and the first in the West Midlands region.

Image (C) RCVS.