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UK Veterinary Medicine Courses

Introduction to Veterinary Medicine

A Veterinary Medicine degree in the UK will give students an excellent base to begin their veterinary career, equipping them with the knowledge and ability to help with the surgical treatment and care of animals. Transferable skills will also see graduates move into food safety, research and pharmaceuticals sectors.

A typical Veterinary Medicine undergraduate degree lasts five years, and modules generally cover anatomy and physiology, animal husbandry, microbiology, public health, parasitology and pathology. The program's first two years are classed as the foundation phase, with the third and fourth clinical and fifth professional.

Your Veterinary Medicine Application

SI-UK can help you apply to study Veterinary Medicine in the UK. Arrange your free consultation online or at our London office today.

The number of places available to study Veterinary Medicine each year is limited, and the application procedure is extremely competitive. In 2014, Edinburgh received approximately 2,150 applications for 190 Home/EU places and 500 overseas applications for 17 places, meaning there is about one place for every 14 Home/EU applicants and one place for every 42 overseas applicants.

Careers in Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Medicine graduates are in demand and will move into private animal welfare practices and work at charities, laboratories, abattoirs and within the public health sector. If a student chooses to continue studying at postgraduate level, careers can be forged in more specialist areas of the profession.

  • Average starting professional salary: £28,000

Source: The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.

What are the entry requirements for Veterinary Medicine?

  • Typical International Baccalaureate requirements: 36-38 points.
  • Typical A-levels requirements: AAA including Chemistry, Biology or Physics.
  • Typical IELTS requirements: 7.0 overall, with no lower than 6.5 in any one component.

Please note that entry requirements vary for each UK university.

Where can I study Veterinary Medicine in the UK?

To learn more about the best Veterinary Medicine courses in the UK, find details on the top ranking Veterinary Science universities in the Guardian University Guide 2023 below:

  1. University of Edinburgh
  2. University of Cambridge
  3. University of Nottingham
  4. University of Glasgow
  5. University of Liverpool
  6. University of Bristol
  7. Royal Veterinary College
  8. University of Surrey

Veterinary Medicine FAQ

The average length of a full-time veterinary medicine degree in the UK is five years. However, if you already have an undergraduate degree in a related field, you may be eligible to enrol in a four-year graduate entry veterinary degree program.

The Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh is the top ranked veterinary school in the UK. The most recent Research Excellence Framework also ranked the school first among all UK veterinary schools.

To be eligible for a veterinary medicine degree, you will typically need A-level biology and two other subjects. The range for entry level requirements go from BBC to A*AA, with most universities requesting AAA. Furthermore, you will also need five GCSEs (A-C), including PCB, English, and maths (optional).

Chemistry is an absolute requirement for this degree, Biology is a good choice (and required by some universities), and Maths is good too, but optional. However, if you struggle with Maths, it won’t be a problem for you, as some schools will accept your application.

The average starting salary for a vet in the United Kingdom is £33,838 per year, while the average salary for experienced veterinarians is £63,967 per year. Vets in the UK make an average of £45,000 per year or £23.08 per hour.

Study Veterinary Medicine in the UK

If you are interested in studying Veterinary Medicine in the UK, arrange your free consultation today. Don't forget the Premium Service will guarantee you at least one offer from a UK university.

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Breckett Front  My consultant was very helpful and motivating. She helped me every step of the way, even when the deadline was so close. I feel I could not have done it without her. I'd highly recommend this service to any and all of my many friends interested.  Breckett Front

Brishti Basu Biosciences at Coventry University

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