BVMS Foundation Phase

My Foundation Assets

Sheep Handling DOPS (1-4, 8, 10, 14, 16)
Literature Review CAT (1,2,5-8,10,13,17)
Lambing EMS (1-5, 8-17)
Key Issues Presentation (1, 6-9, 11, 14, 16)
Formative OSCE (1-5, 8, 10, 13-16)
Animal Sanctuary EMS (1-5, 8-17)

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

1) Communication Skills

Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills including:

Effective communication in a professional context
Production of clear written reports
Taking a general clinical history
Providing verbal or written explanation relating to a simple animal-related topic
Interpretation of written information (e.g. a case record)

2) Independent & Collaborative Learning

To be able to successfully complete basic and more complex supported independent or collaborative learning activities

3) Safety

Demonstrate safe working practices and appropriate behavior in a variety of environments to protect human and animal safety (e.g. laboratory, clinical and field environments, diagnostic imaging, PM room and theatre environments) and recognize the theoretical basis for these protocols.

4) Animal Handling

Demonstrate safe, effective and humane handling and restraint of a range of common domestic animals. Demonstrate a general physical examination of specific domestic species, including the assessment of body condition score.

5) Clinical Skills

Demonstrate competence in specific basic clinical and practical skills (e.g. basic first aid) at a level appropriate to enable the commencement of clinical extramural studies.

6) Scientific Foundation

Recognise the importance of the scientific basis of veterinary practice on a worldwide basis, through the application of scientific principles in investigation and resolution of specific case-focused problems and scenarios.

Related Assets: Key Issues Presentation, Literature Review CAT

7) Research Questions

Understand the scientific principles which form the basis of research questions and be able to formulate research questions, evaluate evidence and integrate information from a range of sources to produce a balanced argument or plan of investigation.

Related Assets: Key Issues Presentation, Literature Review CAT

8) Animal Body Systems

Describe and compare the structure and function of specific body systems in a range of common domestic species in terms of their normal anatomy, and the cellular and systemic mechanisms which maintain homeostasis.

9) Diseases of Body Systems

Be able to discuss key characteristics of specific body systems in other species of international veterinary interest, which relate to common or important clinical conditions.

Related Assets: Lambing EMS, Key Issues Presentation, Animal Sanctuary EMS

10) Ethics & Welfare

Describe the principles of ethics & welfare, nutrition, and husbandry, in relation to how these can impact on animal health and discuss the role of ethics and animal welfare, nutrition and husbandry in specific animal diseases which affect populations and/or individuals at an international level.

11) Pathology

Recognise changes in the structure and function of specific body systems in response to clinical disease and explain how these changes relate to normal anatomy, and to the cellular and systemic mechanisms which maintain homeostasis.

12) Infectious Disease

Explain how infectious agents cause disease in domestic animal species and describe prophylactic measures which can be adopted to prevent disease in individuals and populations.

Related Assets: Lambing EMS, Animal Sanctuary EMS

13) Pharmacology

Explain the mechanisms of action and methods of use of common and important veterinary drugs and relate these to knowledge of the specific causative agents and body systems covered.

14) Professionalism

Describe and be able to discuss the role of the Veterinary Professional in international society, understand how legal and regulatory frameworks underpin veterinary practice and identify/demonstrate appropriate professional conduct in a range of situations.

15) Animal & Human Health

Identify & describe the link between human health and be able to discuss:

processes to ensure the safety of food and food products of animal origin from farm to fork
the importance of appropriate use of medicines
the significance of zoonotic diseases

Related Assets: Lambing EMS, Formative OSCE, Animal Sanctuary EMS

16) Reflection

Reflect on a variety of relevant experiences, plan and evaluate their own learning and professional development.

17) The Veterinary Practice

Describe the organization of a Veterinary practice and explain the responsibilities of the Veterinary practice in ensuring the appropriate dispensing, use and storage of Veterinary medicines.

Related Assets: Lambing EMS, Animal Sanctuary EMS, Literature Review CAT

Updated on May 18, 2026; 190 page visits from 06 November 2017 to 23 May 2026