The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is the governing body of the veterinary profession in the United Kingdom. To become a veterinary surgeon, you need to study at university for at least 5 years in order to gain a veterinary degree which is recognised by the RCVS. Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and London all provide these degrees. Nottingham University started a veterinary degree course in 2006. They are working with the RCVS to get accreditation. There are also some overseas veterinary courses which are approved by the RCVS but you may need to sit a professional exam before being entitled to work as a vet in the UK.
Entry requirements for all veterinary courses are high and getting a place is very competitive. The exact requirements will vary depending on the university, but most require 3As or 2As and a B at A level with Chemistry and at least one other science subject being offered. AAABB will normally be required for Scottish Highers in Chemistry and two of Biology, Physics or Maths. All the universities will require a reasonable amount of work experience with a variety of animals in addition to academic achievement. You will be required to attend an interview at the university. Bristol, the RVC and Cambridge require you to take the BMAT before asking you for an interview.
Applications for places on veterinary courses need to reach UCAS by the 15th October in the year before you are due to start your course. Only 4 of your choices on the UCAS form can be used for veterinary medicine applications. The rest should be used for non-veterinary courses as entry is highly competitive and you should have a backup plan.
The exact nature of the course will vary depending on which university you end up in. However, there are a few standards set down by the RCVS. During the holidays of the first 2 years of the course (or 3 in a 6 year course), you will have to undertake 12 weeks of extra-mural study (EMS) on animal establishments such as farms, stables, kennels, etc. This is not 'seeing practice' but is to learn the basics of caring for different species. In the final 3 years, 26 weeks of clinical EMS is required. This is in vet practices, animal hospitals, abbatoirs, animal laboratories, etc.
Teaching during the course is likely to be largely lecture based, with animal dissections, animal handling practicals and laboratory practicals. There is a lot of contact time and also a large amount of knowledge to be assimilated. It is unlikely that you would be able to have a part time job as well as doing adequately on the course.
If you have any further questions about life as a vet student or entry into university, feel free to e-mail me.
There are many different career opportunities as a practising veterinary surgeon. The majority of graduates enter a general practice which may deal solely with small animals, only large animals or a mixture of the two. There are several small animal hospitals around the country which employ large numbers of veterinary surgeons. There are many certificates and diplomas in particular areas which general practice vets can work towards. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a requirement of the RCVS and there are many different courses every year where vets can further their knowledge and keep up-to-date with new developments.
Teaching and Research are two areas that sit together as many veterinary researchers at universities are called to lecture students. Much research encompasses human and veterinary medicine. It can be a very exciting area of work, researching new pharmaceuticals, disease control or simply furthering our understanding of how the body works.
The government employs vets in a number of capacities, as public health advisors, controlling disease outbreaks and epidemics, and advising on animal research.
Other opportunities involve working in the Army Veterinary Corps, meat inspection and working for charities.
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