Best Veterinary Courses in the UK- Top Universities, Fees, Eligibility, Scholarships, and Career Scope
The UK has one of the best veterinary courses in the world. Prestigious universities like the University of London and Edinburgh provide one of the best veterinary courses in the UK and continuously rank in the top-rated universities list for the subject in the world. Veterinary Medicine provides a fast-paced, varied, and interesting career choice to graduates.
The United Kingdom as a country is known for its medical advancements, research, and education. The medicine studies in the UK are one of the best in the world especially because of the cutting-edge equipment that’s used for teaching and research.
According to HESA, there were about 11,575 students of veterinary science in the UK in 20202-21. Out of these 3,715 were international students. Upon completion of a veterinary medicine degree, graduates can expect an annual salary of USD 51,000 or more.
Overview
| Programs Offered | BSc, BVetMed, MSc |
| Program Duration | 4-5 years Bachelor, 1-2 Years Master |
| Average Annual Tuition Cost | USD 20,000-40,000 |
| Basic Eligibility Criteria | Basic High School Diploma with Biology |
| Entrance Exams | None |
| IELTS/TOEFL Requirement | Required |
Best universities in the UK for Veterinary Medicine
| QS World Ranking by Subject | TCU National Ranking | University |
| 1 | NA | Royal Veterinary College , University of London |
| 6 | The University of Edinburgh | |
| 14 | 3 | University of Cambridge |
| 18 | 12 | University of Glasgow |
| 19 | 14 | University of Bristol |
| 24 | 4 | University of Liverpool |
| 43 | 5 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
| 44 | 7 | University of Nottingham |
| NA | 32 | University of Surrey |
| NA | NA | Harper and Keele Veterinary School |
What does Veterinary Medicine study cover?
Modules in a range of Veterinary Medicine degrees could include:
- Zoological medicine
- Animal physiology and behavior
- Cells and genes in context
- Practical skills for animal behavior
- Population ecology and wildlife management
- General pathology and concepts of infectious disease
- Veterinary research and evidence-based veterinary medicine
- Emerging diseases, public health and sustainability
- Principles of biology
Why study Veterinary Medicine in the UK?
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London continuously ranks number 1 in the world for veterinary studies.
- The best veterinary schools in the UK give their students the opportunities to learn using the latest facilities, tools, and equipment.
- Studying veterinary medicine in the UK is a chance to gain some professional experience while you study.
- The UK comes second (behind only the US) in the world for medical research. This will give a huge opportunity to the students to participate in the latest research in the veterinary world.
Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Veterinary Medicine
- BVMS (hons) Veterinary Medicine
- Vet.M.B (hons) Veterinary Medicine
- BVMS veterinary Medicine & Surgery
- BVSc Veterinary Science
- Animal Behavior BSc
- Veterinary Biosciences BSc
- Veterinary Medicine BVetMed or BVMS
- Veterinary Nursing & Companion Animal Behavior BSc
Admission Requirements for Veterinary Medicine in the UK
Most universities in the UK accept at least a high school diploma for Veterinary medicine programs. Most universities require candidates to have studied English and biology or at least chemistry in high school.
Most universities expect students to take English language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL.
Undergraduate Admission Requirement
- A candidate must have completed high school from a recognized board in their country with at least 50% in Biology.
- They must have taken English in high school if they wish to study medicine in English.
- Most universities have their own entrance test. Candidates need to clear that test to secure admission to that university.
- Most universities also require the candidates to take an English language Proficiency Test like IELTS or TOEFL if they choose to study medicine in English.
Postgraduate Admission Requirement
- Undergraduate in a similar field.
- Certain work experience is required by some universities
- Most universities also require the candidates to take an English language Proficiency Test like IELTS or TOEFL if they choose to study medicine in English.
- Interview
- Personal Statement
Tuition Fees for Veterinary Courses in the UK
Studying Veterinary medicine in the UK starts from USD 20,000 per annum. Most colleges offer Undergraduate programs In the range of USD 20,000 – 40,000 and Postgraduate programs in the fee range of USD 20,000 – 35,000
| Program Name | Offered By | Annual Tuition in USD |
| BVM&S Veterinary Medicine | University of Edinburgh | 11,650 |
| Veterinary Medicine and Surgery including a Gateway Year | University of Nottingham | 11,650 |
| BVSc (hons) Veterinary Science 1+5 year (Foundation route) | University of Liverpool | 47,000 |
| BVMS veterinary Medicine & Surgery | University of Glasgow | 40,897 |
| BVSc Veterinary Science: Accelerated graduate entry | University of Bristol | 42,281 |
| Veterinary Medicine and Science BVMSci (Hons) | University of Surrey | NA |
| BVetMed (hons) Veterinary Medicine | Royal Veterinary College, University of London | 48,572 |
| Veterinary Medicine | University of Cambridge | 76684 |
| Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) | Harper and Keele Veterinary School | 42,681 |
| MSc Veterinary Epidemiology | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine | 33,573 |
* Tuition fees in GBP have been converted to USD at the exchange rate of 1 GBP = 1.26 USD. Exchange rates are subject to periodic change.
The cost of living in the UK is slightly higher. The average cost of living comes to about USD 950 to 1400 per month. The average annual cost of living is about USD 12,000 to 16,000 in the UK.
| Factors | Average Cost Per Month (in GBP) | in USD |
| Accommodation | £500 – £700 | $630-883 |
| Food & Groceries | £100 – £200 | $126-252 |
| Transportation | £30- £40 | $37-50 |
| Household Bills | £40 – £50 | $50-63 |
| Entertainment | £40- £50 | $50-63 |
| Miscellaneous | £200 -£300 | $252-378 |
* Living costs in GBP have been converted to USD at the exchange rate of 1 GBP = 1.26 USD. Exchange rates are subject to periodic change.
Available Scholarships for International Students
The cost of medical studies in the UK is comparatively high. The tuition fees and overall cost of living can be a burden for international students. There are several scholarships available for international students to share the financial burden.
University-based scholarships
Top UK universities for veterinary medicine like Royal Veterinary College, University of London frequently grants considerable financial aid to international students depending on their academic performance or financial need. Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies International Scholarship is another popular scholarship for students. who wish to study in the UK.
Any university’s official website can be used to search for scholarships or financial aid programs. Fees and funding, and scholarship information are frequently found under the headings “Fees and funding,” “Funding,” and “Scholarships.” These scholarships can come to students at the time of their admission or later as they progress academically.
Chevening Scholarships
The UK government awards these scholarships to students who have excelled academically and have shown strong leadership potential. This scholarship is only provided to postgraduate students.
The scholarship recipients are hand-picked by British embassies around the world. Future decision-makers will have the opportunity to advance academically, build professional networks, learn about British culture, and much more.
The scholarship program provides financial assistance for a one-year Master’s degree at any of the UK’s top universities, with over 1,500 Chevening Scholarships available each academic year.
CommonWealth Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the United Kingdom (UK) offers a variety of scholarships and fellowships every year.
Each year, scholarships are awarded to students from Commonwealth nations with low and intermediate incomes who otherwise would not be able to afford to study in the UK. India is a member of the Commonwealth so all students from India are eligible to apply. Candidates are chosen based on their previous academic achievements as well as their ability to contribute to the development of a better living for people in their home countries.
Career Scope
A degree in veterinary medicine not only qualifies you to work as a vet in clinical practice, but also opens doors to careers in areas ranging from government veterinary services, research, and public health to wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and charity work.
The average starting salary for veterinary graduates is about USD 51,000 USD in the UK.
Jobs directly related to Veterinary Medicine degree include:
- Private Practice
- Veterinary hospital manager
- Public health veterinarian
- Consultant
- Animal nutritionist
- Veterinary surgeon
- Higher education lecturer
- Nature conservation officer
- Research scientist (medical)
- Research scientist (life sciences)
- Science writer
- Zoologist
