Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary medicine attracts people from a wide range of backgrounds and involves one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive, admissions process. 

There are currently 10 vet schools in the UK and you can learn about these below:

The Vet Schools Council’s comprehensive guide on admissions processes and entry requirements gives an overview of each school so you can get a flavour of what to expect, and their respective courses.

A love of animals and good grades are a great start, but it takes much more to become a successful veterinary student:

  • Individuals who are interested in veterinary medicine should have an enquiring mind and keen powers of observation. An aptitude for and interest in the sciences are important.
  • As well as a fondness for animals, vets need a life-long interest in scientific learning. Vets should also be able to meet, talk and work with a wide variety of people.
  • Vets may have to euthanase (humanely kill) an animal that is very sick or severely injured and cannot get well. When an animal dies, the vet must deal with the owner's grief and loss and so must have excellent communication skills.

Career Opportunities within Veterinary Science

The veterinary profession has varied and important duties to safeguard the health and welfare of animals and public health. There are career opportunities in a number of areas including:

General Practice

The veterinary surgeon is responsible for the prevention of disease and for the medical and surgical treatment of animals including household pets, zoo animals, farm animals and horses. Opportunities exist in practices that specialise in small animals, food producing animals, equine work or in mixed practices dealing with both small and large animals. Many veterinary surgeons working in practice choose to further their knowledge by studying for additional qualifications, such as the Certificates and Diplomas offered by the RCVS, and it is a requirement of RCVS that all veterinary surgeons keep their skills and knowledge up to date throughout their careers.

Veterinary Teaching and Research

Veterinary researchers play a vital role in advancing our understanding of diseases. Research in veterinary sciences enhances the health, welfare and usefulness of both food producing and companion animals. It safeguards the public from diseases spread from animals in food and by other means. By comparative investigations, it helps us understand and manage human disease, for example in cancer, genetics, reproduction and infections.

Research is undertaken at the university veterinary schools and at research institutes, departments financed by Government, in laboratories and by private enterprise. Many careers in research span the interface between human and veterinary medicine.

Government Service

Many opportunities exist within the public sector. Veterinary surgeons are involved in protecting public health in government departments and agencies such as the State Veterinary Service, the Food Standards Agency, the Meat Hygiene Service, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) employs vets to monitor animal health and to prevent the spread of diseases.

Other Opportunities

Other opportunities exist in commerce and industry such as in pharmaceutical companies, in international and overseas organisations and consultancies and charities such as the RSPCA and PDSA. The veterinarian's broad scientific training is also of value in areas such as wildlife and environmental conservation

It will be essential to use all resources for research and please see below for suggested publications, papers and websites, as wider reading around the subject is essential to keep up to date with recent issues or trends: