Useful links and resources:
- What vet schools wished applicants knew – BVA article with Veterinary School Council guidelines 2021!
- EdVet – educating the veterinary students of tomorrow – a student led organisation that has useful links, blogs and tips on applying to vet school in the UK
- AVS UK and Ireland page on getting into vet school
- BVA article on 2020/2021 Vet School admissions and entrance requirements
- How I got into veterinary school – has really good info on US schools and interviews with current veterinary students
This is a brief summary of the requirements for applying to vet schools in the UK. (The listed vet courses are 5 years long except for Cambridge- 6 years). Please look up the relevant universities’ website for more accurate info, this is just to summarise/ make the info less daunting! I found that so much has changed since I myself applied to vet school, you used to have to do BMAT and UKCAT for some unis, but you don’t anymore!
(Information up to date as of 4/7/2020)
You apply via UCAS (I did 5years ago!) with UCAS code D100 list up to 5 courses on UCAS but only 4 of them can be veterinary medicine programmes. I remember applying for Biological sciences degree in UCL, without changing my personal statement which was focused on my veterinary medicine application.
| University | Entry requirements | Work experience | Extra tests/ interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | A level: A*AA (in Chemistry, one of Biology, Physics or Maths) | no specific requirements, recommended 2 weeks if possible | Natural Sciences pre-interview written test, interview ✓ |
| Bristol | A level: AAC or A*BC (inc. Chemistry, one of Biology, Physics or Maths) | 1 week in veterinary practice, 1 week in animal-related setting* | May or may not have interview |
| Edinburgh | A level: AAA in Chemistry, Biology and one other subject* | no specific requirements, the broader the experience the better (vet practice, farms, zoos, kennels, abattoir…) | Multiple mini interviews ✓ |
| Glasgow | A level: AAA in Chemistry, Biology and 3rd science subject (preferred) | Minimum 1 week at vet practice and some hands on experience with farm animals | Interview ✓ (between Dec- Feb) |
| Liverpool | A level: AAA in Chemistry, Biology and 3rd science subject | Min. 5 days (2 of small, equine or farm animal work experience)* | Interview ✓ (Nov-Dec) |
| Nottingham | A level: AAB (A in Bio and Chem, B in 3rd subject) | Min. 4 weeks animal handling work experience of broad range (vet practice, catteries, farms, kennels…)* | 30 minute interview ✓ |
| Royal Veterinary College | A level: AAA (Bio, Chem and 3rd subject of choice) | Total of 70 hours in vet practice and total of 70 hours in a non-clinical working environment with live animals (total 140 hours)* | Interview ✓ (Nov-Jan) |
| Surrey | A level: AAB (A in Bio and Chem, B in 3rd subject) | Min. 4 weeks animal-related work experience (1 week at vet prac) | Interview ✓ |
English language requirements (if it isn’t your first language, I only listed IELTS and TOEFL because they are one of the more common tests taken in Malaysia)
- Cambridge [link] – IELTS 7.5, TOEFL 110
- Bristol [link] – IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 95
- Edinburgh [link] – IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 100
- Glasgow [link] – IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 90
- Liverpool [link] – IELTS 7.0, SPM 1119 (grade C)
- Nottingham [link] – IELTS 7.5
- RVC [link] – IELTS 7.0, SPM 1119 (grade B)
- Surrey [link] – ILELTS 7.0, TOEFL 95, SPM 1119 (grade C)
Vet school things 