BSAVA PetSavers awards funding for master’s degree by research
6 March 2026
BSAVA PetSavers has announced the recipient of their master’s degree by research grant, jointly funded with the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF).
Keeping non-traditional companion animals (NTCA) such as rabbits, rodents, birds and reptiles is becoming more common, but many experience poor health and welfare. The chosen project will develop consensus and practical guidance to integrate exotic animal medicine into the UK undergraduate veterinary curriculum.
Led by Dr Vicky Strong at the University of Nottingham, the research will help ensure that NTCA medicine is taught to a consistent, appropriate standard, providing clarity to veterinary students and their employers on what knowledge and skills they should demonstrate upon graduation.
The master’s degree will start this autumn, having the ultimate aim of helping new vets to feel more confident and improve care for exotic pets, leading to better animal welfare outcomes.
Lead Researcher, Dr Vicky Strong said: “Vets play a crucial role in improving exotic pet welfare, but many lack confidence in this area. Within an already crowded undergraduate veterinary curriculum, our approach to teaching exotic animal medicine teaching needs to be strategic and focused. This grant will allow us to clearly define “day one readiness” in exotic animal medicine and create guidance that strengthens graduate confidence and ultimately improves the care and welfare of these species.”
Sarah Williams, Grants Awarding and Fundraising Manager for BSAVA PetSavers continued: “This research has the potential to positively shape the future teaching of exotic veterinary medicine, and we’re delighted to support work that will make such a difference to improving the welfare of millions of NTCAs kept as pets.”
Dr Nicola Gladden, chair of the AWF grants committee concluded: “With growing interest in keeping non-traditional companion animals as pets, it is essential that veterinary curricula equip graduates with the skillset to evaluate the welfare of these species. The Animal Welfare Foundation is pleased to support this project, which aims to address an important area for curriculum development, improving veterinary surgeon confidence and advancing the welfare of these species.”
The next grant call for the master’s degree by research opens on 1st August 2026. To find out more about the research that BSAVA PetSavers funds, visit the website here.