Shannon Bolton

The 22-year-old came to the University through Clearing having missed her offer requirements for vet school.

But, having achieved a First Class degree in Animal Biology, she has now gained a coveted place at Bristol Veterinary School to study Veterinary Science, where she started in September.

“I’m excited to graduate, I’m currently the only one in my new class to not be a graduate yet so I’m looking forward to it,” she said. 

During her studies, Shannon spent one day a week at Lowesmoor House Vets gaining veterinary work experience.  Through this she conducted her final year research project on canine mitral valve disease, looking at whether a particular drug used for managing clinical signs was effective and whether there were mutations along a small section of DNA in dogs with the disease compared to dogs without the disease.  This is an area of research she hopes to continue with in future. 

Shannon, who is currently living in Bristol, was awarded an academic scholarship by the University and the Oxford University Press Prize for best first year student in the biological sciences based on her grades.

“The lecturers at Worcester were fantastic,” she said. “They really get to know their students and support them with their aspirations and are always there when you need them.”

With her degree from Worcester, Shannon was able to take the Accelerated Graduate Entry Programme for Veterinary Science, meaning her studies will take four years instead of the usual five.

“My degree has definitely made some parts of my vet degree easier for me,” she added.  “The four year course is more intense so by completing a degree first it means I already have the skill set required for university level study.  It has also given me good grounding in many areas, such as anatomy, and I’m regularly applying knowledge learnt on my Worcester modules in my current studies.  The confidence I had in my own academic and personal abilities was also significantly greater when applying for vet school this time.” 

Once qualified, Shannon plans to start off in mixed practice before eventually specialising in small animal cardiology.