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Veterinary Medicine in Scotland
Scotland is a great place to study for a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree (BVM&S). There are seven veterinary colleges in the UK, two of which are in Scotland’s largest cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow
The reputations of both courses are high, with competition for places.
The following provides a summary of the facilities and requirements of the Scottish veterinary schools.
Entry Levels
For both universities, you need three A-levels at AAB in Chemistry, Biology and Maths or Physics at one sitting. Chemistry must be at A grade.
If you have studied the International Baccalaureate, you must have an overall grade total of 36 points. You must also have Chemistry and Biology at grade 6.
The universities will also consider applicants from overseas, who have qualifications under different examination boards. Generally speaking, you must have the highest grade possible in Chemistry and Biology plus either Mathematics or Physics.
To check if your qualifications would be suitable for entry, you should contact the admissions officer.
Veterinary medicine is extremely popular. Just gaining the entry requirements is not enough to guarantee you a place at either university. You will be expected to have had work experience on farms and working with a veterinary surgeon.
Course Structure
Edinburgh University's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has a four and five-year course.
The five-year course is aimed at students who enter university from school, science graduates and non-science graduates.
If you have already completed a relevant first degree in biological or animal science, you may join the four-year course (Graduate Entry Programme). You would need to have achieved a 2:1 in your Honours undergraduate degree at the very least, which mainly focussed on biological science.
The admissions officer would be happy to answer any questions about the validity of your degree for entry on to the Graduate Entry Programme.
After completing your first year, you would join the third year of the five-year BVM&S course. Glasgow University also run a five-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) degree. Both universities have a strong focus on clinic work in the final two years of the course.
Facilities
Glasgow's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has a 190 hectare commercial farm and research centre at Cochno. There is also a Small Animal Hospital and an Equine Hospital (Weipers Centre for Equine Welfare).
Pre-clinic training at the University of Edinburgh takes place at the old Summerhall buildings. The Large Animal Hospital and Hospital for Small Animals are situated at the Easter Bush Veterinary Centre.
Students who enter the Dick Vet School in 2011 will experience the newly-transformed Easter Bush Campus. There will be a state-of-the-art teaching building, research institute for 500 scientists and a veterinary cancer centre.
Extramural Studies (EMS)
The governing body of veterinary surgeons in the UK (the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) states that students must should complete 38 weeks of extramural studies. This means taking part in veterinary-related activities at home and/or abroad during the holidays. It's an opportunity to see the wide range of careers open to you.
You are encouraged to follow your interests with your EMS. As an example, students in the past have worked with wildlife conservation in South Africa.
Working as a Vet
When you graduate, you automatically become a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Both universities have accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which means that graduates are licenced to practice worldwide.
Next Steps
For questions about the suitability of the subjects you have studied for Edinburgh University,
contact the Admissions Office
For questions about entry requirements to Glasgow University, there is information on their website relating to specific countries:
www.gla.ac.uk/international/inyourregion/entryrequirementsandapplications. You can also contact:
ug-international@gla.ac.uk.
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