EVERYTHING you need to get into vet school - the first time.

100% - the only people that will see your veterinary medicine personal statement will be the qualified vet that checks your personal statement and your personal mentor. This is our guarantee.

We are certain that you, like 300 other students, will find the review and edits useful - if you don't we offer a free second review of your personal statement, or your money back.

Remember - most students purchase our unlimited veterinary medicine personal statement editing service. This helps us work together to create the best personal statement possible.

No - all of our personal statements are crafted in a unique and plagiarism free manner. We guarantee this.

Your veterinary medicine personal statement will only be checked by qualified vets who have extensive experience improving personal statements.

Aberystwyth Vet School's jointly hosted Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) degree offers a unique opportunity to train at both the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Aberystwyth University.

This exciting new course combines the scientific and clinical expertise from both organisations to help students gain wide-ranging veterinary training, and it will be especially appealing to those interested in veterinary careers within Wales or in rural mixed practice due to its location.

Teaching is organised in strands. These strands are visited on multiple occasions, initially focusing on the healthy animal, and progressing through diseases of different systems, their investigation and management. There are also non-system strands that focus on the underpinning science and the impact of animal disease on public health.

In the first two years you will be based in the heart of Wales at Aberystwyth University, studying the biology underpinning veterinary sciences, acquiring basic farm animal, horse and companion animal handling and examination skills, developing your communication, problem solving and team working skills. Aberystwyth University has a long history of animal health teaching and research and is committed to educational excellence.

In your third, fourth and fifth years you will be based at the RVC’s Hawkshead Campus in Potters Bar (Hertfordshire) where you will acquire the advanced knowledge and practical skills in the clinical sciences necessary for you to become a registerable veterinarian. During this period your clinical training will be undertaken in a range of the RVC’s clinical facilities and affiliated veterinary practices as well as a specific rotation at Aberystwyth University focused on production animal issues relevant to Wales.

The RVC has three outstanding academic and clinical departments. Lecturers at Aberystwyth University and the RVC in each department are not only world-class researchers and clinicians who are passionate about their field; they are highly qualified teaching professionals. At Aberystwyth University, students will benefit from the extensive university farms, Lluest Equine Centre and other teaching facilities.

The strands making up the basis of teaching are as follows:

From first to the third year:

• Principles of Science

• Locomotor

• Cardiovascular and respiratory

• Urogenital: renal

• Urogenital: reproduction

• Alimentary system

• Neurology and special senses

• Lymphoreticular and haematopoietic

• Skin

• Population medicine and veterinary public health (PMVPH)

• Scholarship evidence-based medicine.

During the fourth and fifth years:

The majority of teaching during the fourth and fifth years of the programme is in the form of clinical rotations, where you will work in small groups in a variety of clinical environments.

Students participate in both intramural rotations and ClinEMS placements across species and disciplines. They will also undertake a research project of their choice.

As Aberystwyth Vet School has been very recently established (2021), you would benefit from state of the art facilities and a newly designed course. The rural setting would make this particularly appealing to students interested in farm/mixed practice, and having this alongside the final three years of study being undertaken at the Royal Veterinary College (ranked as the world’s number one veterinary school in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2019) means that you can get the best of both worlds.

A Levels: AAA (Biology at grade A, Chemistry at grade A and a third subject of your choice which should not overlap with Biology or Chemistry also at grade A).

GCSEs: At least five GCSEs at grade A (7) including AA in Science (Double Award) / 7-7 in Combined Science or Biology and Chemistry or Science and Additional Science with at least a grade 6 (B) in English Language or Welsh Language, Mathematics and Physics (if taken as a separate GCSE).

Welsh Baccalaureate: Welsh Baccalaureate Applicants who achieve the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate with grade A will be accepted with two A Levels (Biology at grade A and Chemistry at grade A).

Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers: Advanced Highers at grades AA in Biology & Chemistry in addition to 5 Highers at AAAAB grades including Biology & Chemistry and at least National 5 grade B in Physics, English & Mathematics. If you have bypassed Physics, English or Mathematics at National 5, you will need this subject/grade at Highers level.

Irish Leaving Certificate: H1,H1,H2,H2,H2,H2 including Biology and Chemistry. H1 required in one of these sciences. Minimum O3 is required in Physics, English & Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate: 766 at Higher Level including Biology, Chemistry and a third subject of your choice.

Cambridge Pre-U: Distinctions (D3 or higher) in Biology, Chemistry and a third subject of your choice.

Offers of ABB at A Level (with an A in Biology or Chemistry) will be made to those meeting certain Widening Participation (WP) criteria - see the Aberysytwth Vet School website for details of these criteria and the equivalent grades in different examinations.

They have several requirements:

• 35 hours of work experience in one or more veterinary practices

• 35 hours of work experience outside of a veterinary practice (excluding the home environment/family business/pet ownership) with at least half of this time to be spent working with large animals (excluding horse riding and horse ownership/family farm)

As Aberystwyth use an SAQ in their application process, it is likely that this would be weighted more heavily than your personal statement in assessing your attributes and suitability for the course.

All applicants to this course must attend an interview if invited and cannot receive an offer without attending an interview. Interviews will be held at Aberystwyth University at a time to be confirmed.

The Aberystwyth Vet School interview structure/style for this year is yet to be confirmed.

RCVS: No (full accreditation will be granted in 2026 when the first cohort of students graduate if the RCVS deems their standards to be fulfilled)

AVMA: No

Aberystwyth University are currently hosting online open days - see link attached https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/undergrad/open-days/online-open-day/. In-person events have not yet been confirmed, so we recommend keeping an eye on their website over the coming months.

Work experience can be difficult to arrange, but perseverance is key!

Please see our blog article here on ways to increase your chances of success here: Blog

There are various different interview styles depending on the university that you apply to - at Become A Vet, we are familiar with the interview process for each university so can offer you the best advice and guidance specific to your application.

Prospective vet students in the UK should utilise university open days effectively - you will be able to find their dates and booking procedures on each university's website. Prior research on the course, faculty, and school reputation is crucial. Prepare specific questions for lecturers and students to understand course structure, teaching methods, and resources. Speak with current students for honest perspectives. This can be really helpful when trying to decide which universities you would like to apply to.

It is fair that rich people can afford to buy better medical treatment than poor people; after all, they have worked harder to earn that money.

• Explain the argument behind this statement.

• What assumptions does it make?

• Argue, if possible, to the contrary.

If NHS treatment is free for all UK residents, it should also be free for animals in NHS veterinary care.

• To what extent is this statement true?

• Argue to the contrary

• Conclude on whether NHS veterinary care should be free at the point of access or not.

When a patient has given their consent for treatment, it means the doctor is completely relieved of any possible blame should the treatment go wrong.

• Explain the argument underlying this statement.

• Argue to the contrary.

• Outline the conventional benefits of gaining a patient’s consent and highlight whether there are any situations in which not gaining consent would be deemed appropriate.

“A good physician treats the disease; a great physician treats the patient who has the disease”.

• Explain the reasoning behind this argument

• Is it more important for the doctor to know who the patient is, rather than the disease they are dealing with?

• How can each patient respond differently to treatment?

• lso, present the contrary viewpoint.

In this day and age, where we know so much about the harmful effects of smoking, those who choose to smoke should not receive free medical healthcare.

• To what extent, if any, can this statement be justified?

• Present the opposing viewpoint.

• Can the same argument be made for any person who uses a substance of any description?

The BMAT is a necessary part of the application for many Medical Schools. Prior to sitting your BMAT, we highly recommend you investigate whether your Medical School choices require the BMAT or not - you can find this information in our ‘Universities’ Section of our website.

The BMAT assesses a combination of aptitude and knowledge - quite the opposite to the UCAT! It is expected that students will generally have acquired the necessary knowledge prior to the test throughout academic work, so theoretically, not much revision is necessary. However, we always recommend hard work, which starts here in our BMAT Guide.

The test is a pen-and-paper test, completed in a 2-hour sitting. You are not permitted the use of a calculator, dictionary or any other aid.

See above for sections of the BMAT

Those who purchase the Complete Package can now get any of their BMAT essays marked by a BMAT expert. Simply upload your essay to the portal and it will be returned by email within 3 days.

Ultimate Package 2023/24

This includes:

1. Initial Consultation - 1h with your expert vet mentor to answer all of your questions.

2. Tutoring - Tutoring (5, 10 or 25 hours), including mock interviews - free to use however you wish during the entire programme.

3. Revision Plan - your own personalised development programme, containing a timeline of all key dates, work and resources to excel in the programme - developed with your Educational Consultant.

4. Work Experience - your educational consultant will support you looking for adequate work experience in small animal practices, zoos, abattoirs & virtual work experience. This includes an online workshop where videos & documents detail how you can go about obtaining work experience

5. Personal Statement - Access to our personal statement writing guide & unlimited edits of your personal statement until it is ready to submit

6. SAQ - Access to our SAQ writing guide & unlimited edits of your personal statement until it is ready to submit

7. University Guide - Access to our unique university information guide, containing information on all Veterinary UK Universities & past interview questions, your guide will help you choose the correct universities to suit you

8. Interview Guide - Access to our online interview guide with 200+ questions with model answers, written by Vets

9. 24/7 Support - Have access to your Educational Consultant (a qualified vet), 24/7 from the moment you join our programme, to the moment you receive your final offer.

To find out more or enquire as to the suitability of this programme, please feel free to give us a call on 02034885468.

Become A Vet has successfully managed to secure the following amazing package for a limited number of applicants:

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This includes:

1. Work Experience - your educational consultant will support you looking for adequate work experience in small animal practices, zoos, abattoirs & virtual work experience. This includes an online workshop where videos & documents detail how you can go about obtaining work experience

2. Personal Statement - Access to our personal statement writing guide & unlimited edits of your personal statement until it is ready to submit

3. SAQ - Access to our SAQ writing guide & unlimited edits of your personal statement until it is ready to submit

4. University Guide - Access to our unique university information guide, containing information on all Veterinary UK Universities & past interview questions, your guide will help you choose the correct universities to suit you

5. Interview Guide - Access to our online interview guide with 200+ questions with model answers, written by Vets

The following services are only available through the Ultimate Package, and not through the complete package:

1. Tutoring - 5 hours of tutoring including mock interviews - free to use however you wish during the entire programme. Extra hours are also available to purchase.

2. Revision Plan - your own personalised development programme, containing a timeline of all key dates, work and resources to excel in the programme - developed with your Educational Consultant.

3. 24/7 Support - Have access to your Educational Consultant (a qualified vet), 24/7 from the moment you join our programme, to the moment you receive your final offer.

To find out more or enquire as to the suitability of this programme, please feel free to give us a call on 02034885468.

Package 1: £149 Service

TWO drafts of your personal statement will be thoroughly deciphered, critiqued and corrected by our expert team of assessors. They will provide you with constructive feedback, suggestions and corrections of your statement, including grammar and spelling. The assessor assigned to your personal statement will guide you in constructing a Personal Statement that will be warmly received by all universities and their Veterinary Schools.

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Package 2: £299 Unlimited Service

UNLIMITED drafts of your personal statement will be thoroughly deciphered, critiqued and corrected by our expert team of assessors. Our assessors will be available for your assistance 7 days a week and will offer their tailored experience to assist you in writing your statement. They will provide you with constructive feedback, suggestions and corrections of your statement, including content, grammar, spelling and writing style. The assessor assigned to your personal statement will take into full consideration your entire application and the universities you wish to apply to; in this way, you will be guided to tailor your Personal Statement to meet the exact specifications and requirements of your chosen universities, thus dramatically boosting your prospects of a successful application.

Unlimited edits of your short answer question (SAQ) applications for all of your chosen vet schools. Do not neglect this!

GUIDANCE ON ALL UK Veterinary Universities: £299

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This section provides critical information about each university that offers a place for Veterinary Medicine in the UK. Each university and its respective city has crucial factors that you should consider prior to application, and this section offers the most exclusive content regarding each Medical School, including even the specific interview techniques & QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO EACH UNIVERSITY THAT THEY ASK.

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This section offers invaluable knowledge on the following categories for each university:

• Important facts, information and guidance about the university and city

• Insight into makes the university and Veterinary school unique

• Information on The Course at each VeterinarySchool and what you will study

• Entry requirements (including minimum requirements of GSCEs, A-levels, work experience and what to include in the personal statement)

• Interview techniques and questions for each university

150 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND THE THEORY BEHIND THEM: £499

This is undoubtedly the most valuable section of services that we offer; you are given exclusive and complete access to the entire library of hundreds of past, and most importantly, CURRENT interview questions.

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Each question is thoroughly discussed, the background content and knowledge examined, and then model answers provided for applicants. It is critical that you have a firm understanding of different aspects of Veterinary Medicine in order for you to answer your questions correctly without sounding like a rehearsed answer. Medical Schools are searching for students who understand the Veterinary theory and will probe you if you only have a pre-rehearsed answer with no knowledge.

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Research has shown that less than 15% of all applicants to Veterinary Medicine are invited to an interview, and following this, only 5% of all applicants are actually offered a place at Veterinary School. However, 98% of candidates who are able to perform at the interview process, answer all questions to an excellent standard and therefore impress the Admissions Team to successfully receive an offer, subsequently meet all following requirements to successfully secure a place at their chosen Veterinary School.

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You will learn from the UK’s most comprehensive source at Become A Vet, where you will hone your knowledge, understand how to perfect your interview answers and also investigate model answers for all the topics that come up at Interview.

The following services are only available through the Ultimate Package, and not through the Complete Package:

1. Revision Plan - your own personalised development programme, containing a timeline of all key dates, work and resources to excel in the programme - developed with your Educational Consultant.

2. Tutoring - 5 hours tutoring including 2 full mock interviews run by our most experienced interview consultants, with verbal feedback, tailored to your specific universities. Feel free to use these hours in any way that you would like.

3. 24/7 Support - Have access to your Educational Consultant (a qualified doctor), 24/7 from the moment you join our programme, to the moment you receive your final offer.

Speak to one of our Educational Support Consultants on 02034885468 for more information

The personal statement is one of the most crucial aspects of your Veterinary Medicine application; it provides each candidate with the opportunity to impress and intrigue the university interview panel and stand out as a unique individual. Whilst some universities now place a greater weighting on their SAQs (supplementary assessment questionnaires) as a means of assessing the character of their applicants - see our SAQ package for help with this - many universities do still use the Personal Statement as their primary/secondary means of deciding who to call for interview. Whilst each statement must be personal, as the name suggests, we have dedicated this section to decoding what universities are impressed and unimpressed by, how to stand out amongst thousands of applicants, and how to have the best chance of securing an interview.

Remember, we are here to help! Our Full Comprehensive Package offers you unlimited reviews and edits of your Personal Statement.

• You are limited to 4000 characters and 47 lines of writing. This means your statement needs to be sharp, concise and engaging from the start.

• Do NOT copy, steal or plagiarise any other statement in any shape or form! This will likely result in an immediate rejection from the UCAS application.

• Try to avoid opening your personal statement with cliché quotes or funny comments – you must bear in mind that the university board reading the statement may have a different taste or humour to you and may disapprove of your opening.

• There is no set structure to the statement. Each individual should write in a style that is comfortable and familiar to them. However, we will cover the most common topics in further detail below. There is no particular order in which you need to include the content within your statement, write your paragraphs in a flow that suits your style of writing. You may wish to base your structure loosely on the following:

  • Introduction: Why you want to study Veterinary Medicine

  • Middle bulk: Academics, extra-curricular, charity and volunteer work, work experience, wider reading and research (read on below for further elaboration on these topics)

  • Conclusion: Summary of what makes you a good candidate to study medicine - be honest here, remember that you will likely be asked to expand on parts of your personal statement at interview

• The statement will require multiple drafts, revisions and edits. Do not be disheartened by changing your statement. The more people you show it to, the better: show your family, teachers, tutors and even us here! All the different views and opinions will only serve to strengthen your statement, whether you choose to follow them or not.

• Try to avoid vague statements that could apply to all courses – this does not show your passion for Veterinary Medicine and would deter universities from selecting you. From years of experience, our recommendation is that you choose one course and apply specifically for that – if it ends up being Veterinary Medicine, then that’s fantastic!

We recommend sticking to the following structure:

• Introduction

• Work Experience

• Supra-curricular

• Extra-curricular

• Conclusion

This keeps it simple with five paragraphs that are logical and flow in a nice order.

Talk About Yourself

This is your opportunity to highlight your strengths and how you can apply them to Veterinary Medicine. You should demonstrate your academic prowess, your extra-curricular activities and involvements, as well as any further research, reading and studying you have completed in your own time. Above all, your overriding message should be what you have learnt from your experiences, the skills that you have developed and how you can apply these to the veterinary world.

Your Academic Strengths

Bear in mind that your academics will be covered thoroughly by your references, and the universities will receive your predicted grades. Therefore, there is no need to cover these again. However, you may wish to discuss your A-level subjects and how they have helped you along the path towards becoming a vet. If you have been involved in organising or running any lunchtime or after school clubs or activities, elaborate on these. The key thing is to highlight what you have learnt from theses subjects or clubs, rather than just stating you participated. Having said that, your subjects and A-level choices are not the most important factor in your personal statement, so do not be afraid of eliminating this section should you be over the character limit.

Extra-Curricular Activities

In the same context, you may wish to write about your extra-curricular activities, such as any sports or instruments that you play, any groups, charities or societies you participate in and part-time jobs or even interesting past-times which you may have. Try to avoid listing this and merely stating what they are. Again, reiterate how they have helped shape you as an individual, what it has taught you and how it is relevant to a career as a vet. Veterinary Medicine is a profession in which we are able to help those who need it; we are able to provide care to improve the health of many animals and you should show empathy in your personal statement reflecting this. Try to reflect your compassion and caring nature in any charity or volunteer work you have participated in, but take care not to come across as fake or insincere.

Work Experience

One essential topic that must be discussed is work experience and your research into Veterinary Medicine. Ideally, work experience should be carried out in a variety of environments - such as veterinary practices, farms, kennels and laboratories. There is no use in just stating the places you have carried out work experience; you must outline what you have learnt about the veterinary profession. Discuss the value of communication, teamwork, manual dexterity and the understanding of different principles that have interested you. You should also do further research and reading around these topics and incorporate this into your statement. In preparing yourself for the interview, you should research and find out about different veterinary treatments, upcoming technology and recent advances. You definitely do not need to understand the ins and outs of everything entirely - a broad understanding will be more than sufficient to impress. You can find more information about these suggested topics in our documents and on our website here. These topics may be explored further during the interview, so do your preparation!

Key Themes

You should try to pick one or two key themes to discuss throughout the statement. For example, you may decide that communication and manual dexterity are important factors in becoming a successful vet. Therefore, there should be constant references to examples of these key features, how they impact the vet and patient, and how you have been developing these skills prior to the UCAS application.

We highly recommend that you start thinking about your statement well in advance of writing it. The easiest and most valuable thing to do is to create a list of all your achievements, involvements and points of discussion that you may wish to include in your Personal Statement.

You may wish to think about the following topics as guidelines:

• Sports

• Music

• Art

• Hobbies

• Academics

• Volunteering

• Family History in Veterinary Medicine (or similar)

• School Achievements (non-academic successes such as headboy/girl, prefect, etc.)

• University Degrees

• Employment (Part-Time and/or Full-Time)

• Travel

• Charitable Work

• Work Experience

• Your own past personal experiences at the vet (e.g. pets that have been unwell and how they were treated)

You should then couple this list with key attributes that vets should possess:

• Compassion / empathy / emotional Intelligence

• Good communication skills

• Professionalism

• Self-confidence

• Self-critical

• Team player

• Leader

• Good manual dexterity

• Honesty / approachability

• Interpersonal skills

• Problem solver

• Desire to learn

• Good business sense

• Ethical

As you will see, the true success behind an excellent Personal Statement is the ability to combine your skills and achievements with the key characteristics and traits you believe a vet should possess. For example:

• By playing a sport, you can demonstrate that you are a team player, are dedicated and committed to something. If you are the captain of your team you are also demonstrating leadership qualities.

• If you have a part time job, you are demonstrating good time-management and organisation skills as well as business sense, professionalism and maturity.

• If you are a volunteer at any sort of charity, you are showing empathy and a good sense of community spirit (social responsibility is important as a vet).

• If you paint, play guitar, sew/knit or play Warhammer for example you are demonstrating fine motor skills. Manual dexterity is hugely important for a vet.

The Introduction

• Start with an engaging first sentence and catch the eye of your Admissions tutor. Make it unique; the most overused phrases range from “From a young age I have always been interested in” to “I’ve always wanted to study…” so please avoid these. You should find your unique reason as to how you became involved with medicine and what made you consider it as a subject to study at university. Why do you want to do the course? Talk about what made you want to apply for the course. Show that you have researched what the course involves. What motivates you to study a subject in-depth for the next 5 years?

• Be Reflective: Personal statements are often very descriptive or simply list candidates’ experience. The selectors aren’t just interested in what you’ve seen. They want to know what you learned.

• What did you learn about good patient care? How did your experiences challenge your views of the profession? What does this mean for you as a prospective professional?

• Convey passion without being cliched: Be specific. Talking clearly and simply about your experiences should convey your enthusiasm. If you don’t know how to express why you want to be a vet, sometimes it can help to ask ‘Why not?’ Why a vet and not a nurse practitioner? What is the difference between the roles? What does the first role provide that the second doesn’t?

Commitment to Veterinary Medicine

When considering a career in veterinary medicine, you should:

• Research to confirm your ideas

• Discuss your options with career advisors

• Get a feel for life as a vet

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A good personal statement will demonstrate:

• Attempts to experience the work of a vet (the day to day involvement)

• Attempts to research the training involved for a career in veterinary medicine (both at university and after qualifying)

• Understanding of the level of commitment required (the 'highs' and 'lows' of being a doctor)

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This can be achieved by:

• Job shadowing (observing vets and/or vets at work)

• Talking with vets (and vet students) about their lives, careers, future plans etc.

• Reading literature regarding recent veterinary breakthroughs, newspaper articles etc.

• Choose your schools for positive reasons, having found out as much about different schools' curricula, facilities, clinical attachments, location etc. as possible. You may be asked to justify your choice at interview. Your research should include use of university websites, prospectuses and leaflets; discussions with vet students and vets

• Contact Veterinary Admissions departments, as criteria for admission may vary between schools, as might individual admissions processes

• Visit the veterinary school to ensure you are making a suitable choice. The appeal of chosen institutions may well be confirmed or dismissed by the student who has spent some time exploring the veterinary school site and facilities, and questioning staff and undergraduate students

• Attend Veterinary School Open Days, which may tell you a lot about the ethos of that particular school

Skills, Achievements, Your Experiences

• When you start each paragraph, highlight a new skill, achievement or experience that either relates to your course or shows how you are able to meet the demands of it. Try not to start each paragraph with ‘I’. Keep the relevant points first. Think about how your experience relates to the course you want to apply for, what is most interesting? Point, Evidence, Explain. Make your point, provide the evidence behind it and explain. An example, if you wanted to study Journalism and wrote for a local newsletter, explain how this experience is relevant to the course you are applying for.

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Core Qualities of Vets

Some examples of core qualities that a good vet might have include:

• Good communication skills

• Evidence of concern for the welfare of others

• Demonstration of being trustworthy and honest

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A good Personal Statement will demonstrate:

What you think a vets core qualities are and how you display these?

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This can be achieved by:

• Gain an appreciation of the concerns of pets and their owners.

• Undertaking (paid/unpaid) work of a caring nature

• Undertaking work which benefits school colleagues

• Be involved in caring/charity groups at school

• Personal experience of using "people skills" in social/work situations

• Develop your sense of social awareness and demonstrate you can shoulder responsibilities:

• Continue to be involved with school life: clubs, mentoring, buddy and anti-bullying campaigns etc.

• Undertake paid part-time work with the public

Teamwork

• Work hard at school

• Enjoy your free time to the full

• Show you are an all-rounder: vets lives are busy and challenging and time management is very important:

Demonstrate you are able to work in teams, and are able to assume different roles within the team:

• Undertake leisure, sporting, creative activities

• Activities at school

• Activities outside school

• Attitude to colleagues

• Ability to participate fully in school life and help others to do so

• School honours and prizes.

Conclusion

• Ensure that you conclude by summarising everything that you have mentioned. Finish on a high note reiterating your commitment to study the course you’re applying for.

Most Veterinary School admissions teams are extremely keen on interviewing only the strongest candidates, and one of their criteria lies in the personal statement. The admission team are looking for well-rounded individuals, with an ability to reflect, self-critique and improve on a regular basis. Therefore, it is crucial that you are able to portray an objective self-analysis of your skills, strengths and weaknesses in your statement. The university want to see that, although you may not be perfect, you are willing to constantly improve, give your all and do everything you can to help other individuals. We encourage you not only to outline what you have accomplished and experienced, but critically, what you have learnt from the event, how it has helped you develop as an individual, and how you can use this to benefit the lives of others (i.e. as a vet). In summary, universities want to see the following in the Personal Statement:

• Why you want to study Veterinary Medicine; what significant event or experience made you decide to pursue a career as a vet? Interest, motivation and commitment to the profession must be shown.

• What social, extra-curricular or community involvement do you have? How can you show you are an all-rounded individual that will commit to the university experience and impact the veterinary school in some way? Extracurricular interests should include sporting, musical and other personal achievements.

• Evidence of teamwork and leadership.

• Demonstration of voluntary, charitable and/or mentoring activities.

• Paid or unpaid work.

• Work experience: discuss the amount and variety of veterinary work experience you have undertaken; what did you see and learn from your work experience? How did this shape your decision to study Veterinary Medicine? Did you see any skills or attributes on work experience that you believe are crucial for vets to have? Do you have any of these skills? Have you tried to develop any of these skills in your free time or at school?

• What unique insights and understandings do you have into veterinary medicine? Are there any topics that you have researched into and learnt more about?

• Emphasise your passion, commitment and motivation for studying Veterinary Medicine. You must ensure that the veterinary school understands you appreciate the difficulties, stresses and problems that studying Veterinary Medicine at university and then pursuing a career in the subject can possess, but how you think you can tackle these and succeed (e.g. stress management, communication, teamwork etc.)

• Consider at least one UNIQUE point or topic of discussion that very few other candidates will have to offer; you will have to think deeply and carefully as to what aspect of your life, experiences, extracurricular or community involvement will stand out amongst thousands of applicants. Many universities now wish to discuss this at the interview stage: commonly, candidates are being asked “Tell me about one unique point that you’ve mentioned in your Personal Statement that no one else would have mentioned” – if you are prepared for this question by inserting it into your Personal Statement with purpose, you will be well set to succeed.

Below, we have outlined a few mistakes we see time and time again - if you're aware of these and therefore avoid them, your personal statement will be much stronger as a result:

• Too descriptive - don’t just focus on what you saw, or enjoyed, also say what you learned.

• Too general - don’t just say that the vet's empathy skills calmed the client down. What did they do specifically? How did they deliver bad news? Was it their tone of voice or body language?

• Too romantic - the selector will want to know that you understand the realities of Veterinary Medicine. Words like ‘enlightened’, ‘privileged’ and ‘longed’ are all a bit too romantic for a Personal Statement.

• Lack of structure - your statement should follow a logical structure. It should explain why you want to pursue this career, how you have prepared with work experience and end by explaining your other skills/hobbies/interests.

• Name-dropping - you don’t need to give the names of specific practitioners, vets, practices or procedures. The selector will be more interested in knowing what you learned about the profession and quality patient care.

Choosing to study Veterinary Medicine is not a decision I have taken lightly. It isn't a career I have wanted to do since a particularly young age, nor did a life changing event prompt my choice. I have thought very long and hard before deciding to apply.

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Admissions tutors may be sceptical of exaggerated descriptions of a revelatory moment or lifelong desire to become a doctor. At first glance, this might seem like a down-beat opening paragraph. Although you may think that an arresting opening statement will impress, admissions tutors may be sceptical of exaggerated descriptions of a revelatory moment or lifelong desire to become a vet. This introduction shows honesty and a degree of introspection. Throughout the statement, the applicant works hard to show that they have a realistic view of Veterinary Medicine. You won't prove that you have the motivation for Veterinary Medicine by simply saying that you do: it is what you have done to inform yourself about the career - and the views that you have formed - that will convince us that you really know what being a vet is like and that this is what you want to do.

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Various periods of work experience have taught me much about the career. A local small animal veterinary practice gave me the opportunity to spend time observing consultations, ward rounds, in-house laboratory diagnostics, imaging and surgery.

You won't prove that you have the motivation for Veterinary Medicine by simply saying that you do. Spending time at this veterinary practice has highlighted the variety and diversity of life as a vet in general practice.

Spending time on this placement shadowing the vets during consultations in particular was hugely informative regarding daily life as a vet. During the day I sat in on consultations ranging from routine vaccination check-ups to serious conditions such as pyometra and blocked bladders. This made me realise how varied life as a vet can be - you never know what's going to come through the door, and vets in general practice have to be always prepared to deal with emergency situations as well as 'routine' visits.

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You won't be judged on what you've done: we want to know what you learned from doing it. This student describes their experiences of consultations in general practice that have helped them decide that they want to study and practise Veterinary Medicine. We understand that opportunities to obtain experience vary, so will be judged more on what you learned from you have learned from your placements than how many you have done. The description of the placement here isn't over-exaggerated, and the applicant takes care to explain what they have seen and done and the insight each opportunity afforded them.

Throughout my time there, the vet's genuine interest in his cases and unfaltering motivation highlighted to me the privilege of having such a stimulating profession. This, together with the ever-advancing nature of a career in Veterinary Medicine, was brought to the fore by a young dog that presented for lethargy. The vet noticed the dog had pale gums and petechia, so immediately became concerned about the dog's blood clotting ability. He ran bloods in-house and did a blood smear with a manual platelet count to confirm, which confirmed that the dog had dangerously low platelet numbers. His in-depth knowledge and experience was evident here, but I also really admired his communication skills in this situation.The ease with which the vet broached and dealt with the sensitive subject matter also emphasised the importance of a warm, approachable manner and an ability to communicate to a client on their level of understanding. I believe I have honed these skills and gained invaluable experience of the eccentricities of the general public myself in my job as a salesperson.

The relatively detailed account conveys the impression of engagement during the placement and suggests an intellectual curiosity to understand the animal's condition and its treatment. The applicant also takes care to point out an example of the importance of good communication skills and argues how their sales position has helped them develop such skills. It is important to convey an impression of engagement and intellectual curiosity when talking about any work experience/placement/voluntary work.

Since February of this year, I have volunteered in an animal shelter for a couple of hours each week. I assist with feeding the dogs and cats, cleaning the kennels/catteries and walking the dogs. As many of the animals at the shelter were abandoned/abused, my time there has brought to my attention the importance of raising awareness of animal welfare. Education of the general pubic is key to reducing the number of animals that are abandoned, and neutering programmes can make a huge difference in reducing the stray population. Some of the animals at the shelter are very nervous around humans, so I have also learned a lot about behaviour and handling animals in a gentle and safe way - it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to gradually gain their trust through positive interactions.

The applicant presents evidence that they have become well-informed about animal health and welfare on their placement the realities of healthcare. This paragraph reaffirms the applicant's motivation for Veterinary Medicine. They discuss the difficulties of working with abused/abandoned animals, but also how rewarding it has been and how it contributed to their learning experience. There is evidence of analytical skills here and there is no doubt that the applicant has become well-informed about the realities of animal healthcare. Empathy comes across as well, with the applicant recognising that handling nervous animals with care and respect can have such a positive effect.

Outside of my lessons, I enjoy orienteering with a local club. As part of an expedition I took part in, we walked 80km over 4 days in torrential rain. The challenging conditions demanded teamwork and trust to maintain morale and perform effectively as a group; as well as calm rational thought in stressful situations. Also, through this activity and the people I met, I have become a member of the SJA which has enabled me to gain first aid qualifications and go out on duties. Other activities I enjoy include drama (I was a member of a local group for 6 years), cycling and playing the guitar and piano which allows me to relax.

Although the bulk of a personal statement should be academic-related, it is important to show a life outside of studying. The involvement in a club or association demonstrates wider spare time interests, and the description of the challenging walking expedition provides evidence that the student can work with others and can cope in an arduous situation, obliquely suggesting that they might have the capacity for sustained and intense work. The student also shows that they understand that taking time out to relax and manage any stress is important and conveys the impression of good time management. The passing reference to the drama group reinforces the impression that this applicant is a team-player. It is useful to describe sporting or musical interests although, as, this applicant shows, these non-academic interests don't need to be particularly high-powered ones.

I know that Veterinary Medicine is not a "9 to 5" job and is by no means the glamorous source of easy money it is often perceived to be. I understand the hours are long and potentially antisocial and that the career can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. It is apparent that becoming a vet will involve inherent sacrifice. However, Veterinary Medicine is also a deeply gratifying and fascinating career path. I want to be a vet because my passion and aptitude is foremost scientific and to me 5 or 6 years more of formal education followed by a lifetime of further learning sounds like a stimulating career option and, thankfully, a far cry from the monotony some jobs pose. Nevertheless, as an intrinsically social person, I would relish a career requiring the development of strong empathic relationships with clients and their animals too. Crucially, I know I have the enthusiasm, capacity for hard work and the open and enquiring mind needed to succeed in such a fulfilling vocation.

In the concluding paragraphs, the statement is emphasising that, although aware of the negatives associated with the practice of Veterinary Medicine, fact-finding placements have given the applicant the insight and motivation to be certain that it is the right career for them. The applicant ends by summarising the key personal attributes that they believe make them well-suited to Veterinary Medicine.

You and your parents will meet your allocated Veterinary Educational Consultant who will act as your vet school tutor, they will explain our process and answer any questions that you have. You will leave with a better understanding of what the programme entails, with a clear plan for how we are going to maximise your chances of receiving an offer to join a Veterinary Medicine Degree Course. They will provide all of the vet school application help that you need.

With your vet school tutor, you will develop a personalised vet revision timetable for the entire process. Using our formula, we will take you through each and every stage of your process. It will cover all of the aspects below including your Animal Work Experience, Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement development and Vet School Interview Questions. After developing your plan, you will have an outline and better understanding of how to tackle the admissions process. Your Vet School Tutor will guide you throughout this process until you begin studying for your vet degree.

Your Mentor will show you how to get vet work experience in veterinary practices, farms, stables, kennels, zoos, virtual settings and more. Sometimes farm work experience is hard to come by for those who live in cities, but your vet school tutor will provide plenty of animal work experience ideas whatever your circumstance. Many students do struggle to get veterinary experience, but your tutor will provide you with vet work experience ideas and the best email template that you can use to arrange the experience.

Arranging work exprience for Veterinary Medicine can be difficult, but you will have the best support here at Become A Vet where we can take you through our tried and tested methods for success. This will help ensure you have enough work experience for Veterinary Medicine, confirming your desire to pursue a veterinary career to the veterinary admissions teams.

By working through our Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement Guide you will develop an initial draft of your veterinary personal statement. Your mentor will then review & edit your vet school personal statement an unlimited number of times to help develop the perfect veterinary personal statement. We have a number of veterinary personal statement examples that we use to help frame and guide your own vet personal statement.

Do not underestimate the importance and benefits of unlimited edits of your Veterinary Personal Statement from a qualified vet who is best placed to give veterinary personal statement advice.

By working through our Veterinary SAQ Guide you will develop better answers to your vet short answer questions - these are now forming a key part of many veterinary school applications.

Full Unlimited Vet SAQ Writing Service

Your mentor will then review & edit your Vet School SAQ an unlimited number of times to help develop the perfect Vet SAQ that is ready to submit. They have previously helped review SAQs for universities and so know exactly what is required to help stand out and excel.

Struggling to decide which are the best veterinary universities in the UK to apply for? We have a veterinary university guide that covers every UK Vet School and Vet Hospital, with access to vet school grade requirements, vet student information, and most importantly, vet school interview style. Your mentor will help with your decision making process to help you gain a place to study Veterinary Medicine in the UK.

You will have full access to our 150 question vet interview questions and answers, updated for 2024 entry. You will then have the opportunity to have veterinary interview practice & vet mock interviews with our expert vet interviewers.

Remember that we help with both MMI interview questions for vet school as well as panel interviews. We will help guide how to prepare for the vet school interview questions and provide mock vet school interview questions.

Your Vet School Tutor is always a qualified vet who has been supporting applications for over 10 years. They will act as your veterinary school university tutor & veterinary support coach. They will be on hand 24/7 via Whatsapp to provide veterinary guidance, support & answer any of your (or your parents') questions.

This guide has been created specifically for veterinary applicants by a group of experienced veterinary admissions consultants. Please read it carefully, and remember to ask us for help should you need anything!

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SAQs have become an increasingly popular way for Veterinary Schools to assess students’ personal attributes, motivation and professional awareness in recent years - they act as an adjunct and sometimes even a replacement for the Personal Statement.

When you apply to universities that include an SAQ as part of their application process, it is absolutely vital that you perform well in this to secure an interview - or, in Bristol’s case, a direct offer (they no longer interview, now using a detailed SAQ in its place).

Each university has a slightly different style of SAQ - this is detailed in our Universities Guide - so preparation and approach will vary slightly between universities, but the key point that you must remember is that they are assessing your personality, integrity and suitability for Veterinary Medicine so your answers must always be written with this in mind.

Many students find SAQs challenging to answer, which is why we are now providing an SAQ portal where your answers can be reviewed and edited by one of our professional tutors who are qualified veterinary professionals.

For 2023 entry, the following universities are anticipated to use SAQs as part of their admissions process:

• Cambridge

• Glasgow

• Nottingham

• RVC

• Surrey

• Bristol

• Personal attributes - skills and characteristics that demonstrate suitability for the course

• Motivation for studying Veterinary Medicine

• Awareness of and insight into the profession

• Interest in the profession and further reading

• Awareness of recent developments in Veterinary Medicine and current affairs

• Work experience

• Extra-curricular experiences and achievements

• Standard of written communication

SAQs do vary slightly year upon year, but there are many overarching questions and themes that come up time and time again.

We have provided a comprehensive list of questions for you to consider in advance of receiving your SAQs - the more thought and time you have to put into your answers, the better they will be - and we have also provided some example ‘model answers’.

These of course are to be used as a guide for your own ideas, rather than a substitute! Your character/word allowance for answering these questions will be generous in some cases, and much less so in others - Nottingham, for example, has been known to have a ~200 character limit - so you must make sure your answers are strong and succinct for these SAQs in particular.

• If you had to identify one reason that you believe would make you a great veterinary student in comparison/contrast to the hundreds of applicants we have for this course, what would it be?

• List three attributes that you have and discuss how these would make you a good vet

• What is the most positive/negative aspect of a veterinary career that you have discovered?

• What do you consider to be your greatest weakness, and what have you done to overcome this?

• What do you understand to be the role of the vet within society?

• Describe where you have seen veterinary surgeons in a working environment

• What do you regard as an important issue in Veterinary Medicine today?

Please provide an example to show that you have the following:

• Good communication skills (listening and speaking)

• Good communication skills (writing)

• Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity

• Good animal handling skills

• The necessary motivation to pursue a veterinary career

• A caring disposition

• A sense of social responsibility

• Confidence

• Good organisational skills

• Initiative

• Good teamworking skills

• The ability to work independently

Tell us about a time when you have:

• Responded positively to particular change or circumstance

• Coped with uncertainty and change

• Understood your own limitations

• Empathised with other peoples’ point of view

You will note that many of these questions require you to give an example or describe a situation - for this, remember the SPARR technique:

• Situation (i.e. a brief explanation of what was happening)

• Problem you had to solve (e.g. you had to demonstrate leadership because you were the captain of that particular team that was losing)

• Actions (what you did)

• Result of your actions with Reflection on how it went.

“I was captain of the netball team this year at my school. I had to focus a lot of my energy and efforts into building the team initially, as there were some unreliable players who impacted our performance and numbers at matches. However, I found that these efforts paid off - by spending time with the team and making sure that each member felt valued and appreciated, motivation really increased and we performed very well in the league.”

This is a very strong answer that demonstrates excellent use of the SPARR technique (see above). The student comes across very well here as she describes how she contributed positively to her netball team through good teamwork and leadership skills, and took a caring approach towards her team members.

“Sometimes I find that I am focused on a given task so much that I sometimes forget to check in on those around me. I’ve been working on this and setting myself daily reminders to check how my friends and family are doing, which has helped.”

It’s important to show recognition of your weaknesses in answering this question, but ideally the weakness you describe should be one that has a positive aspect too (the example above demonstrates good work ethic). The answer above shows self-awareness and willingness to improve, as well as a genuine interest for the well-being of those around you, answering the second part of the answer “what have you done to overcome this”.

“I understand that vets have a number of roles outside ‘general practice’ - they possess a very strong set of transferable skills and in-depth knowledge which makes them valuable to a number of careers. Vets have roles in government, public health & awareness, pharmaceuticals, research, teaching and conservation to name just a few.”

This answer demonstrates that you have thought widely about the different roles a vet can have in society - the question trying to determine how broad your understanding of the profession is.

Glasgow University uses an Ethical Reasoning Test as a screening process for their applications at present. The scenarios they provide are based on situations you are likely to come across, either in practice or your daily life, and you are asked to state what you would need to consider if you are faced with these circumstances. The test should take about 45 minutes to complete. In answering your Ethical Reasoning Test, remembering the Four Pillars of Ethics and the SEARCH technique will serve you well:

• Autonomy - Does it show respect for the client and their right to make decisions for their pet?

• Non-maleficence - Does it harm the patient?

• Justice - Are there consequences to the wider community?

• Beneficence - Does it benefit the patient?

Make sure that you consider these in turn, and try to think of examples of how this might apply to different client consultations with their pets. This will help you become more familiar with the pillars and be able to integrate them into answers in both the SAQ and your Interview.

Seek information: Often, we do not have all of the information and tend to assume what has happened. By asking questions and allowing the other party to explain the situation, you will avoid making incorrect assumptions.

Empathy: Showing empathy is the most successful way of getting another party to trust, like and listen to you. They will feel that you are on their side and want to help them.

Action: You should decide what action is needed to help? What does the other party need, what do they want from you, and what would be expected of you?

Response: You must respond to the chosen action the other party wishes to take. For example, if they are drunk in clinics, and their action is to continue working that day, you must respond accordingly and take a new action.

Consequences: Is the other party aware of the possible consequences of their actions? How could it affect others around them, such as friends, family, colleagues and patients?

Harm: You must assess the situation and make sure no harm comes to any patient.

This forms part of both Nottingham and Surrey’s SAQs, and assesses your judgement in situations you will encounter in the veterinary profession. This is an evaluation of your key attributes, interpersonal skills and ethical values rather than knowledge or clinical skills. You will complete a set of hypothetical but relevant scenario-based, multiple choice questions associated with the veterinary profession. Your answers will be evaluated to build a picture of your situational judgement in that context and marked against other applicants. SJTs generally evaluate four attributes: empathy and building client relationships; professional integrity and trust; resilience; and teamwork. You will likely be asked to review a series of judgement tests and rank in order the statements based on how you would react to the situation. These SJTs are often timed (taking 30-45 minutes to complete) and cannot be re-visited once the assessment has been started.

Rate the appropriateness of a series of options in response to a scenario:

• An option is very appropriate if it is a very good thing to do and will address at least one aspect (not necessarily all aspects) of the situation

• An option is appropriate, but not ideal, if this is something that could be done but is not necessarily the best thing to do in the scenario

• An option is inappropriate, but not awful, if it is something that should not really be done but would not be a terrible thing to do in response to the scenario

• An option is very inappropriate if it is something that should definitely not be done in response to the scenario, and might make it worse

At your briefing for Clinical Rotations in your final year, you are informed that all staff (including students) must roll their sleeves up when they have any clinical interaction with patients. During your shift you notice that one of your fellow students always has her sleeves down.

1. Tell the Head of Rotations that this student is not complying with their policy

2. Speak directly to the student about your observation

3. Do not say anything immediately but monitor the situation over the course of the next few days

4. Discuss the situation with your clinical tutor

Answer: 2431

2 = Very Appropriate → You have a duty to raise concerns when you feel that patient safety is compromised, but this situation may have arisen out of some misunderstanding or the student may be concerned about exposing their forearms, so speaking to the student should be your first approach.

4 = Appropriate → Your tutor may be able to help to address the situation, but this is less likely to explain the reason why the student has kept her sleeves down in the first place.

3 = Inappropriate → This is a passive approach and doesn’t take any steps to address the problem, perpetuating potential hygiene issues.

1 = Very Inappropriate → Escalating this situation immediately risks damaging your personal relationship with the student and doesn’t explore the problem.

You’re in your final year on Clinical Rotations, but unfortunately you have found that the ward you are currently working in (neurology) has been incredibly quiet. You have lots of free time available but are concerned that you’re not being exposed to as many learning opportunities.

A. Ask the Head of Rotations if you can cancel your neurology rotation

B. Ask your the neurology resident if you can be scheduled for outpatient clinics and theatre sessions

C. Offer to assist on other busier wards

D. Take on a position of responsibility in the Students’ Union to fill your time

Answer: BCDA

B = Very Appropriate → Asking to be scheduled for outpatient clinics and theatre sessions is an active approach to learning which also enables you to contribute and may improve the value of the post for future vet students if that activity becomes part of the culture of the team

C = Appropriate → Whilst offering to assist colleagues on other wards enables you to contribute actively to the teaching hospital and demonstrates good team working, it doesn’t necessarily contribute to the team to which you have been assigned

D = Inappropriate → Taking on additional positions of responsibility, whilst admirable, is something that you should do because you want to, and not simply because you have more free time (also remember that rotations are constantly changing, so you may have less time for this when you move departments)

A = Very Inappropriate → This is not a very constructive approach, as you made no effort to change the situation at hand

You are reviewing one of your patients, Felix (a 10 year old cat), who is in the orthopaedics wards following surgery to repair a tibial fracture. You notice that on Felix’s drug chart, written by an intern, he has been prescribed meloxicam (an NSAID) and the administration is due in 45 minutes’ time - it hasn’t yet been given thankfully. You remember that in rounds earlier, one of the residents mentioned that Felix has reacted very badly to NSAIDs in the past and so these are not to be given.

A. Contact the Head of Orthopaedics to inform them of the intern’s error immediately

B. Cross out the prescription on Felix’s drug chart, dating and initialling the amendment

C. Tell the client that an incorrect prescription has been written for her cat

D. Review Felix’s notes to try and clarify whether he he does in fact have an NSAID sensitivity

Answer: DBAC

D = Very Appropriate —> This is a constructive first step - if Felix does have an NSAID sensitivity, it should be in his medical history so this would be the ideal first step in clarifying the situation and you can decide what to do next accordingly

B = Appropriate —> Crossing out the note ensures that no harm will come to Felix so is an appropriate action to take, but ideally you should clarify the situation first

A= Inappropriate —> This is not a constructive approach to resolving the situation as it does not address the patient’s situation or prevent him potentially being administered a harmful drug, as well as demanding time from senior clinicians without immediate necessity

C= Very Inappropriate __> As an error has not been made yet, this will cause unnecessary distress to the client and does not resolve or prevent errors like this occurring in the future

Work experience is a vital component of your application to Veterinary Medicine - we recommend that you gain as much as possible in a variety of settings to maximise your chances of success. Having a strong work experience portfolio can really make your application stand out above other Veterinary Medicine applicants, and is something that can be largely in your control (as opposed to examinations etc, where an element of luck / performance on the day can come into play), so you must endeavour to make the most of this.

Gaining first-hand experience is also the best way to understand what being a vet entails and whether it would suit you as a career, so you can proceed with your application in the knowledge that becoming a vet is truly the right path for you. This helps not only with your own personal motivation in reaching your goal, but also demonstrates to the admissions teams at your chosen universities that you are a student who has a depth of knowledge and understanding of the career. Different universities have different minimum requirements for the amount of work experience to undertake (we will go into more detail on this in the next section and our Universities Guide), but one thing is universal: work experience can only ever strengthen your application and you must endeavour not just to meet these requirements, but to exceed them. That is not to say, however, that work experience should be at the expense of your studies - this is why forward planning and getting started early is key to success.

Your work experience forms an important part of your personal statement - here you must make sure that you not only specify where you have done work experience and for how long, but also discuss what you learned from it and reference interesting cases/scenarios. This will also be explored in your SAQs (supplementary assessment questionnaires). Universities are commonly using personal statements / SAQs / a combination of the two to determine which candidates they invite for interviews, so you can increase your odds of getting to this point through your work experience portfolio. Universities will also almost invariably ask you to further discuss your work experience at interviews, so it is a factor that can help you through all stages of your application.

Here at Become A Vet, we understand that getting work experience placements as a student can be easier said than done - there are potential barriers such as age/location to contend with - but we can equip you with all the tools to give you the highest chance of getting those seemingly elusive placements. With the right technique and attitude, which we will discuss in the next few sections of our Work Experience Package, you’ll find that placements are much easier to acquire than you might have previously thought!

This is probably the most directly relevant work experience you can undertake, so we recommend you prioritise this most highly. When you’re seeing veterinary practice, you may choose to work at a small animal / equine / farm practice or - even better - a combination of all three! Work experience can be easier to find in small animal practices (mainly for insurance reasons), but that shouldn’t stop you getting in touch with farm / equine practices as often they do still have a provision for work experience students and may be able to help. It’s particularly important whilst doing work experience at vet practices that you really pay attention and take note of their day-to-day activities as well as note down some interesting cases that you saw so you can discuss this in your personal statement / SAQ / interview.

Farms are a fantastic place to gain work experience as you can get really hands-on with the animals and get a better understanding of the farming industry as a whole - this knowledge is essential as a prospective vet. Farmers are often also really grateful to have an extra pair of hands, so if you make yourself useful you’ll find they’ll be very happy to have you back! Generally, they are also quite open to having younger students visit so if you’re still at an early stage in your application then this would be a good starting point. If you don’t live in a rural area and/or daily transport to a farm would be difficult, you can look into farms that provide accommodation (this is quite common) and/or consider staying nearby for the week. There are also some agricultural colleges such as Reeseheath and Harper Adams who offer farming placements with accommodation.

Dairy: When seeking experience with cows, we tend to recommend dairy farms over beef farms as you’ll get a lot more hands-on experience (beef cows spend most of their days out in the fields and are less used to human contact as a general rule, so there’s less for you to do). Most dairy farms milk their cows twice daily - exact timing varies between farms, but the morning milking session tends to be around 5-6am so prepare yourself for some very early starts!

Lambing: Of all the farm placements, this is one that students often find most enjoyable and rewarding. Indoor lambing units generally are best for hands-on experience and participating in the delivery of lambs, so we’d recommend that you ask about this when you apply. Lambing season is generally in the spring, but may be early/late in the season depending on the farm.

Pigs: When arranging your pig placement, consider whether you would prefer an indoor or outdoor unit - bear in mind that indoor units tend to be slightly more intensive.

Rescue centres and boarding kennels/catteries are good places to visit to gain more experience around small animals. As with farms, these places often really appreciate the help - especially the charities. If you’re wanting to go into small animal practice, this is a useful experience to have, especially if you haven’t grown up around animals. Some vet schools have an animal handling station as part of their interview process, so it's really important to make sure you're comfortable around all speccies.

Stables and livery yards are arguably one of the easiest places to get work experience, as the yards are often well-accustomed to having young horse riders around - and, again, the extra pair of hands is really appreciated! If you already ride, you may consider making a weekly volunteering commitment to your stables that you can count towards your work experience requirements (e.g. helping out every Sunday morning). If you don’t ride, just get in touch with the local yards. You’ll often find they’ll give you some free riding lessons too for your efforts, if you’re interested in that!

Laboratories: Showing an interest in research always goes down really well with admissions teams - remember, most of them will actually have a research background themselves. Working in a laboratory shows a wider appreciation of the roles a vet may have outside clinical practice.

Zoos: This is a competitive one, so if you’re interested in zoo/exotic animals, then get your applications in quickly! Zoos often have a long waiting list but many of them do accept students for work experience so get ahead of the game here.

Abattoirs: This may be a difficult experience for many of you, particularly those who are vegetarian or vegan, but universities do regard students who have undertaken work experience in an abattoir highly. Vets have an essential role to play in animal welfare and disease identification/control in abattoirs, and a general acceptance of the farming industry is important as a veterinary student. We do not recommend that you spend a whole week at an abattoir (unless you wish to do so) - a day or two is enough.

Volunteering Abroad: If you are fortunate to be able to travel abroad and attain further work experience, then we recommend you do so! This could also give you an opportunity to work with exotic species that are hard to find in the UK outside of zoos. It certainly makes your application interesting. That said, don’t place too much weight on placements abroad - obviously travelling is a relatively financially exclusive opportunity, and universities are careful not to allow economic factors to influence the success of applications where possible.

Virtual Work Experience: Coronavirus obviously made it incredibly difficult to gain work experience, and so provisions were made to account for this in the application cycle for 2021 entry. One such development was that of virtual work experience, which is likely here to stay - courses such as Future Learn (run by the University of Nottingham) are free of charge and accessible to all.

As previously mentioned, the more work experience the better! We have detailed the minimum guidelines below (specifics are discussed in further detail in our Universities Guide) but we encourage you to exceed the minimum requirements if possible to really do your application justice. Universities do take individual circumstances into account, such as location / economic factors / coronavirus, so if you have experienced difficulties meeting their minimum requirements then you may be able to discuss this with their admissions team. Some universities are more lenient about minimum work experience requirements than others, but applying to a university for which you have not reached the minimum requirement puts your application in potential jeopardy so we would only recommend doing this if you have already spoken to the university admissions team about your circumstances.

University Requirements:

Our Recommendation:

From our experience, we would recommend the following as a minimum baseline (obviously having taken into account the table above and university-specific requirements):

Four weeks in veterinary practices (ideally split between small animal, farm and equine)

Four weeks in animal husbandry (ideally including a dairy/lambing farm, kennels and stables)

This can be challenging as a young student, but thankfully, this is where we can help you! Speaking from both personal success organising work experience from our own Veterinary Medicine applications and helping current prospective students, these are our top tips for success:

Apply Widely: If you only apply to one placement at a time, you may end up wasting significant amounts of valuable time waiting for responses and end up with nothing. For any given time period where you’re planning to undertake work experience, we recommend you apply to as many places as you can find - if you end up with multiple offers (which you should be very pleased about!), you can simply suggest alternative dates for the others.

Introduce Yourself: Make a phone call (or, even better, visit in person) and introduce yourself as a prospective vet. Ask whether they are able to offer work experience placements to students and, if so, politely request the contact details of the staff member in charge of organising work experience to ensure you’re directing your application to the correct place. Too many emails are left unread simply because they didn’t reach the correct person, so make sure this isn’t a trap that you fall into. Making an in-person introduction also makes you more much memorable, so instantly you’re no longer just another message in their inbox.

Sell Yourself: Once you have made the initial contact, you will often then be required to send an email. You must make this convincing and personable - explain your motivation, what you are hoping to learn and what you can contribute. To make this easier for you, we have provided a template below which has been used by our students (and founders) with great success.

Follow Up: If you haven’t heard back (this is common when places are very busy), send a second email or give them a quick phone call to ask if they’ve received your message. Although this may feel like a daunting prospect and you might think that they simply don’t want you, we can promise you this is often not the case! A friendly reminder is absolutely fine.

Dear Dr Smith,

My name is X, and I am writing to find out whether I could visit your practice for a work experience placement, in order to gain more practical experience in the veterinary profession.

I am a X year old student at X and currently do voluntary work at X. I am hoping to gain some experience in a small animal veterinary clinic, so the opportunity to observe your work would be greatly appreciated.

My predicted GCSE grades are as follows: X. Next year, I plan to take X at A Level. I am very hard working, sociable, quick to learn and love the ‘hands on’ approach that practical experience entails. I would be happy to help you in any way possible, and am used to the practical side of animal management.

I would like to arrange a placement for the dates X to X if you have any availability. Please let me know if this would be possible, or if you have any alternative date suggestions over the summer.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter - I hope to hear from you soon!

Best wishes,

X

Keep a work experience record: This is essential for keeping track of your dates in one place - trust us when we say it will make your application much easier having it all listed when you’re filling in work experience questionnaires.

Be helpful, enthusiastic and engaged: Offer to lend a hand whenever you can and show interest - don’t be afraid to ask questions! Vets love to see that you’re eager to learn and generally enjoy answering any questions you may have (just make sure you do this at appropriate times - i.e. not during consultations with a client or when the vet is trying to concentrate on something). Being a helpful and cheerful presence means that you are likely to receive good references (many vet schools will request this) and they will be happy to have you back for another placement.

Take notes: Vet schools are most interested in what you have learned from these placements, rather than the fact that you have simply attended - this is key to your application. Write down any interesting cases you see and research them further, so you have examples to discuss in your personal statement / SAQs / interviews. Also take note of your day to day activities on placement so you can discuss them if called upon in an interview - knowing the core vaccinations, for example, shows that you have paid attention in the clinic.

Book a return: If you have enjoyed your experience, think about discussing a second placement - generally the longer you spend at any given place, the more responsibility they will atrust to you and the more you will gain from it.

Tell Me About Your Greatest Achievement

It is worthwhile using this opportunity to demonstrate what you have accomplished and how you have learnt from the experience. Consider a hobby or interest that uses one or more of the following specific skills, and consider how it links back to medicine in your answer:

• Leadership

• Teamwork and being a team player

• Dealing and coping with pressure

• Organisation

• Multi-tasking

• Academic achievement

With your answer, you should convey your commitment, dedication and willpower required to accomplish such a great feat. For example:

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“I see my greatest achievement in the rugby tournament we played in last year. It’s one of our greatest achievements because of the enormous amount of effort and passion each individual put in. For this tournament, I was the vice-captain and I took my role to be one of motivating and igniting passion in the rest of the team. It required leadership, teamwork and a kind of mental strength that I did not know I could unlock until that point. The tournament began in a “group stage” before a knock-out phase. We lost our first game because we were not prepared mentally and showed poor focus. It took a lot of resilience to bounce back from our first defeat.

The team captain and I held a meeting after the first game to refocus everyone and put the previous game behind us. We decided to briefly discuss the mistakes we made in the first game, and then put our focus onto moving on from our previous mistakes and building with a win in the next. As a team, we vowed to commit 100% of our efforts and fight for each team member. There was a unity and togetherness that is very rare in sports; each player was willing to sacrifice themselves for the team.

The team implemented a strategy that played to the strengths of each individual, and we were all happy to execute it. We managed to go on an undefeated winning streak and won the tournament. The leadership and teamwork we required remind me of a medical team as I look back in hindsight; sometimes, things don’t go to plan, but you have to pull together as a team to do what is best for everyone (including any patient within the hospital).”

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This is a fantastic answer because it clearly begins with what their greatest achievement was. It then goes on to qualify why they believed this was their greatest achievement. Throughout they have reflected on the small changes that were made and how this led to the overall result. It then ends with the implication that this will have in medicine, which helps link the answer back to selling yourself as someone that will make a great medical student in the future.

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What Surprised You About Medicine During Your Work Experience?

This is a question that often throws interviewees by surprise, and therefore usually elicits a poor range of responses. A good answer to this question will highlight how you did not just 'attend' your work experience, but were inquisitive, asked questions and processed your thoughts and emotions during this time. The key to answering this well is good preparation and thinking about your experiences, and what it was that struck you from them. Your answer should highlight any surprising fact that you may have picked up throughout your work experience.

An excellent answer will then go on to explain how this may alter your view or perception of Medicine in the workplace. There are a range of different topics that are commonplace in answering this question. Some of these topics include, witnessing the importance of a particular trait within medicine, others could be the resilience of patients, the techniques used by doctors to consult patients or even attitudes of health care professionals within the workplace.

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Here is an example of a model answer:

“I realised that medicine is far more diverse and complicated than I previously imagined. Before I began my work experience, I had little understanding or appreciation of the necessity of exceptional communication and teamwork between allied health care professionals to achieve optimal patient care. During the ward rounds, I witnessed how the consultant relied on information given to her by the physiotherapist, occupational therapist, junior doctors and the sister of the ward. This allowed each patient to be considered in a holistic manner, and all of their social and medical issues looked at as one. I witnessed the benefit that this input had first hand when there was an elderly patient who was considered medically fit for discharge, but due to input from the occupational therapists, it was realised that his house was unsafe for his return. Their house was then reviewed by the local rapid response team who were able to clean it, and install safety frames and bannisters to help the patient walk around the house safely, improving their quality of life whilst minimising their chance of a return to the hospital with a similar complaint. From this, I learnt the importance of the wider team in managing patients in an effective and safe manner. I will always do my best to consider the social status of patient's that I encounter in the future, as these have such a tremendous bearing on the well-being of a patient.”

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This answer clearly states what the interviewee learnt from their work experience and why it surprised them. They then went onto explain the implications of this, and how it will impact their future perceptions and interactions with patients.

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What are the Likely Long Term Implications of COVID-19 on the NHS?

This is an extremely open-ended question, and you have the opportunity to pursue many avenues of answer. As a general guide, we have outlined the likely long-term implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the NHS. Again, you should try to avoid discussing financial implications in great detail, as assessors want to see your understanding of the NHS system in relation to healthcare and patient well-being.

The first long-term complication is in regards to the virus itself. At the current moment of writing, no successful vaccine exists for the virus; thus, it is likely that hospitals will have to employ long-term measures for continual treatment of patients with COVID-19. This may include dedicated wards for COVID-19 patients only, or entire isolated sections of the hospital building. In turn, this will continue the stress and strain on the NHS as discussed above. Logically, it is likely that much NHS funding will be directed towards research and experimentation for a potential vaccine, which could redirect funding from elsewhere in the NHS - this would have its own complications, but as it is a matter of financial and political discussion, focus should not be spent there in great depth. Should a vaccine be found and successfully approved, the following long-term implication is that the NHS will have to redirect efforts to distributing the vaccine to as much of the population as physically possible; this means that hospitals, GPs and other health professionals will be focused on administering the vaccine, beginning with high risk groups, to allow normality in society once more.

There is also a likely long-term implication on routine and other urgent care within the NHS outside of COVID-19. First and foremost, all ‘routine’ appointments and operations were cancelled for the foreseeable future; this means many patients are left in the middle of treatment or in pain as a result of treatment being cancelled. The doctors and nurses on these wards and clinics have been redeployed into Intensive Care Units (ICU) and COVID-19 wards, with their sole focus on helping deal with the demand on the NHS that COVID-19 has brought about. Once these clinics and operations are allowed to resume, these doctors and nurses are likely to still be required on the COVID-19 wards, meaning that there will be staff shortages on other wards. In addition, there is likely to be an extremely long waiting list and backlog of patients that will need to be attended to. There will be implications as to how patients will be seen - will it be “first come first serve” or will there be a system required for fairly organising patients to return?

Regardless of this, the face of routine medicine will most definitely change in the long-term too; there are likely to be far fewer face-to-face consultations, and any that do take place will be carried out under heavy PPE to avoid risks of transmission. This will raise long-term implications within the NHS that doctors and healthcare professionals may not be able to build the trust and rapport through normal communication, and may need to resort to other measures, such as videos, pictures and other diagrams - it will result in a big shift in the way medicine was traditionally undertaken.

On a wider view, the NHS will likely reduce their focus on “fringe” healthcare such as domiciliary visits to carehomes and those unable to leave their houses. This will result in this portion of the population having longer waiting times to be seen by a medical professional, which could in turn lead to further health complications for them. Again, on a wider viewpoint, the NHS may choose to nationalise the COVID-19 response in the long-term; sites such as The Nightingale Hospital, for example, may become the central COVID-19 hub for all of South-East England. The NHS may choose to refer all COVID-19 cases to one specific site in order to allow normal function of other hospitals to resume. This will undoubtedly have a financial impact, but it will also stretch the thin NHS staff across multiple sites, making their jobs harder and more stressful.

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If you had “£1,000,000 to spend on the NHS, how would you spend it?

A good answer here will focus on something that can be improved in the NHS, and explain in detail why you have picked it, and how £1m will make a difference to this sector. Common topics that can be considered here are: improving the IT system, research, social care, community care, disease prevention, making more hospital beds or employing more doctors & nurses. £1m within each of these different areas will contribute different relative amounts. However, this question isn’t really asking where it will make the difference. The interviewer is really testing whether you have an appreciation for where the NHS could have more funding, or what problems could be solved with more investment in general.

The best answers will revolve around something that the applicant may have seen themselves, for example:

“I spent one week working at a GP practice in London. During this, I spent some time shadowing a GP during their consultations and other times working with the receptionists in the reception. It was here that I realised that there was a lack of clear communication between hospitals and GP practices with regards to discharge summaries and patient problems. Often the surgery would receive telephone calls asking about what medications a patient was taking. The GP surgery would often receive discharge summaries 3-4 days after a patient was discharged from the hospital. This meant that GPs who were seeing patients soon after discharge from hospital, would not have information from their recent stay. I noted that this was particularly a problem in some conditions and A&E visits that needed a rapid follow up in the community, such as in asthma attacks and a recheck of bloods in acute kidney injury. This could potentially have detrimental effects on patient care. While I recognise that £1m will be nowhere enough to having a fully fledged IT system, I would hope that it would be the start to something that I believe will soon be a fundamental necessity in the NHS. I also recognise that it will be fraught with potential problems such as confidentiality and training that needs to happen. However, a unified IT system would allow the transfer of information in real-time, saving time taken to make calls between the practices, and improving the efficiency and safety of patient care.”

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This model answer clearly describes something that the interviewee recognised was a problem during their work experience. This immediately highlights to the interviewer that they were engaged and inquisitive during their work experience - rather than being a fly on the wall. They then go on to explain in more detail why this is a big problem - this demonstrates how they have clearly spent time reflecting on this. The ending emphasises the benefits that would come from this. While it is clear that £1m will never be enough to solve it - this is not what the question is asking or what the interviewer is looking for.

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Your friendʼs mum has asked you to talk to him as his progress and grades are dropping in university. Talk to him and find out what is going on.

This can be an extremely difficult scenario because you must be acutely aware that you are having a conversation with a friend who is also likely the same age as you. You must use appropriate language, tone of voice and empathy to connect with the individual.

Your friend will likely be shy, embarrassed or closed-off when you attempt to discuss the matter, and you should not be surprised if you are unable to get any information from him/her initially. Start the conversation by being honest and explaining that his mum is worried regarding the progress and university grades. She asked you to talk about this but that you had noticed the recent drop in grades, too, and wanted to discuss it. Let him know that you are only there to support him and help him, not to judge or alert anyone else. As much as possible, this conversation will remain between the two of you unless you desperately need to ask for help from someone else.

The actor will likely remain closed off and saying “nothing’s wrong” until you probe further – let him know you have noticed he hasn’t attended lectures, has seemed down lately and as a friend, you are concerned and worried. You want to help. Eventually, the friend will open up and explain his situation – it may be a very valid situation such as feeling homesick, or in trouble with the use of drugs. Whatever the situation, you must acknowledge it and empathise with the difficult situation he is going through. Use phrases such as “I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you…”, or “this must be very hard for you, what can I do to help?” or “tell me what I can do to help you..”. Let him know that you will support him through it, and if he wants, all of his other friends can be of support, too. Gently remind him that the university and Medical School also offer support (where appropriate) and will be on hand to guide students through the difficult course.

Finally, if it is an issue which risks patient safety (such as alcoholism that means he is attending clinics drunk, for example), then you must remind him of his duty as a medical student and future clinician, and that if he doesn’t alert the Medical School himself, this would be one of those situations where you would be forced to inform them because it involves the safety of others.

Agree a plan of action together; will you arrange daily or weekly catch-ups to see how your friend is doing? Will you arrange an appointment with a senior member of the Medical School? The examiners want to see a proactive approach to dealing with a problem and like to see a plan of action to help your friend.

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SAQs have become an increasingly popular way for Veterinary Schools to assess students’ personal attributes, motivation and professional awareness in recent years - they act as an adjunct and sometimes even a replacement for the Personal Statement.

This guide has been created specifically for veterinary applicants by a group of experienced veterinary admissions consultants. Please read it carefully, and remember to ask us for help should you need anything!

When you apply to universities that include an SAQ as part of their application process, it is absolutely vital that you perform well in this to secure an interview - or, in Bristol’s case, a direct offer (they no longer interview, now using a detailed SAQ in its place).

Each university has a slightly different style of SAQ - this is detailed in our Universities Guide - so preparation and approach will vary slightly between universities, but the key point that you must remember is that they are assessing your personality, integrity and suitability for Veterinary Medicine so your answers must always be written with this in mind.

Many students find SAQs challenging to answer, which is why we are now providing an SAQ portal where your answers can be reviewed and edited by one of our professional tutors who are qualified veterinary professionals.

For 2021 entry, the following universities used SAQs as part of their admissions process:

• Bristol

• Cambridge

• Glasgow

• Nottingham

• RVC

• Surrey

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please join our Ultimate Application Programme or purchase our Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

Please purchase our Ultimate Package or Ultimate SAQ Guide to gain access to this section.

The University of Edinburgh mixes the best of tradition with award-winning, progressive teaching - the veterinary faculty is referred to independently as The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. The School’s outstanding hospital and teaching facilities provide an excellent environment for developing practical and clinical skills. They offer many opportunities to get involved in biological research as part of the vibrant research community. You will also learn valuable communication, team-building and business management skills and keep a personal and professional development portfolio throughout the BVM&S programme to record elements of study in the professional and clinical skills course. The School is accredited by both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) allowing graduates to practise veterinary medicine throughout the UK, Europe, North America and Australasia. The year group size at Edinburgh is about 110 students.

The course structure is designed in a way that the vast majority of subjects are re-visited and built on as the course progresses (for example, the professional and clinical skills module starts in Year 1 and has its final module in Year 4) - this is known as a spiral curriculum. In your final year of study, you will undertake clinical rotations and research.

Intercalation: BVetSci programmes are available to students who have successfully completed their second year of their Veterinary Medicine/Science degree. Options include: biochemistry, biomedical sciences, immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, reproductive Biology and zoology.

At Edinburgh you will benefit from a very close-knit community of students and a dedicated student support team that take a personal interest in your well-being and success. You will be assigned a school house and a personal tutor who will support you throughout your studies, providing academic advice and a route to pastoral care. First year students also benefit from peer assisted learning models with more senior students facilitating discussions with junior students. With over 260 student societies to take part in, nightlife, countryside and festivals, Edinburgh is a big city with a small-town feel, which has something for everyone. You will live in one of the safest cities in Europe and one that is regularly voted as one of the most desirable places to live in the world. Edinburgh offers you an incredible opportunity to experience an exceptional education in a thriving and multicultural environment. If you have a particular interest in Animal Welfare, the Jeanne Marchig Centre is dedicated to this - one of very few centres of its kind.

A Level: AAA in Chemistry, Biology and one other subject approved for entry to the veterinary degree programme. If Physics has not been studied to A level, a good pass at GCSE is required.

GCSE: GCSE Physics & English Grade 4 (C).

IB: 38 points. This must include a minimum of 666 in Higher level Chemistry, Biology and one other subject. If Physics is not taken at Standard or Higher level then competency in this subject must be demonstrated at a lower level (GCSE or equivalent).

Scottish Advanced Highers: Candidates are required to take a sixth year and undertake Advanced Highers. AAAAB Five Highers including Chemistry (A), Biology (A) and either Mathematics or Physics to be achieved by the end of S5. If Biology has not been studied in S5, it should be taken in S6 to Higher level. BB at Advanced Higher in Chemistry and another science subject. If possible Advanced Higher Biology, as this will be beneficial for the first year of the course. If Physics has not previously been studied to Higher level, it should be studied in sixth year to National 5 level.

Pre-U: D3, D3, D3 (or a combination of D3 and A level grade A) in Chemistry, Biology and one other University-approved subject.

Minimum requirement: 0

Specifics: Edinburgh does not ask for specific types or the number of days/weeks required for work experience as it depends, to some extent, on the opportunities available to individual candidates. The broader the experience, the better, but you should not gain experience to the detriment of your academic studies. You should, however, gain both veterinary practice and animal work experience - as much and varied as possible.

Not required.

The Admissions Committee looks for evidence of career exploration prior to application (through work experience gained) and evidence of non-academic achievements and interests which could involve social involvement, school responsibilities, leadership, cultural, sporting, musical, vocational and voluntary achievements and interests and hobbies. This should be reflected and discussed in your Personal Statement.

The Edinburgh BVM&S interview format is a form of multiple mini interview. The interview will be a series of seven 10 minute stations with an interviewer at five of the seven stations. Two of the stations will be unstaffed. A welcome talk, tour and an opportunity to chat informally with current students is also included during the afternoon. Candidates will be asked to arrive at Easter Bush Campus at around 12.30pm and will be finished by 5pm. Make sure you allow plenty of time to get to and from the Campus.

For international multiple mini interviews, the format will be similar apart from a tour of the campus and rather than current students, there will be alumni of the School available to chat to. Candidates are welcome to contact the Admissions Team if they would prefer to be interviewed in Edinburgh or would like to organise an individual tour of the campus for them at a later date.

There are seven MMI stations:

• Work Experience

• Career Exploration and Awareness of being a Professional

• Scientific Data Interpretation

• Awareness of Animal Welfare

• Moral and Ethical Dilemma

• Practical Manual Task

• Numeracy (pen/paper only - no calculators or electronic devices permitted)

Following interview, 100% of your offer is weighed on interview scoring, so a strong performance is essential.

RCVS: Yes

AVMA: Yes

This is an extremely difficult question to answer because you must highlight your strengths in a humble and modest manner, and without arrogance, but you must not be too damaging in your critiquing of your weaknesses. If you are too destructive in highlighting your weaknesses, the Veterinary School may well opt to reject your application as a result!

We recommend, of course, focusing mainly on your strengths and highlighting these, whilst also having one or two weaknesses ready to discuss. Do not claim to have no weaknesses, as this comes across extremely arrogant, and may equally be tantamount to a rejection from Veterinary School. Remember, questions that are worded differently may still be attempting to discover your strengths and weaknesses. For example, “If you could change two things about yourself, what would they be?” is directed at analysing two of your weaknesses and why you think they need to be changed. Also, “Why should we give you a place at our veterinary school rather than someone else?” is an attempt to find out your strengths and what you would bring to the veterinary school, but also wants to see your self-awareness that you have weaknesses which you are willing to improve and grow as an individual. The Veterinary School does not expect you to be a perfect candidate, but rather, a candidate who is motivated, passionate and willing to learn.

For examples of strengths, please review our material on ‘What makes a good leader?’ and ‘What makes a good team player?’ for guidance. You should then interweave these characteristics with examples from your own past including academic achievements, sporting involvements, extra-curricular activities, charity and voluntary/paid work, and even assistance and involvement in your household.

Examples of weaknesses:

You should select a perceived weakness that can be remedied and corrected. A weakness such as “I don’t care about other people” shows no compassion, care or empathy for others and ultimately undermines one of the crucial pillars of being a vet. However, explaining that “Sometimes I find that I am focused on a given task so much that I sometimes forget to check in on those around me. I’ve been working on this and setting myself daily reminders to check how my friends and family are doing, which has helped.”, shows self-awareness and willingness to improve, as well as a genuine interest for the well-being of those around you.

Other examples could include:

• “I am always very punctual, so I sometimes find myself irritated with those who are late. I am trying to improve myself though because I understand that sometimes there are factors outside our control that make us run a little late. It’s something very common in veterinary medicine and so if I want to be a good clinician for my owners, I need to accept that sometimes things don’t go to plan and people cannot always be punctual.”
  

• “I sometimes get too emotionally attached to animals whose paths cross mine. For example, I am currently volunteering at a rescue centre, and one of my favourite dogs passed away. I was of course deeply upset. I ended up discussing this with the owner of the rescue centre and we discussed how it is very common to grieve the loss of an animal we develop a relationship with, but that the dog had appreciated the time I spent with them. I realised that whilst I may end up upsetting myself by getting emotionally attached, the bond we formed would have provided comfort and companionship to the dog in the later stages of his life.”
  

• “Sometimes I find that I take on too much responsibility. I always like a challenge, especially new and interesting tasks that I’ve never encountered before, but I have a tendency to always say “yes” to every opportunity. This means that sometimes, some projects or some friends or family may be neglected for a little while as I complete the task at hand. I am now appreciating the importance of balancing everything in life, and how to delegate tasks amongst a team. It also made me realise the importance of a life-work balance, because friends and family are a crucial aspect of happiness in life, and cannot be neglected.”
  

• – “I used to take criticism “to heart” and far too personally. I now understand that criticism is a positive way in which I can make myself better, and improve my contribution to society by first improving myself.

It is also fitting to link these weaknesses back to the veterinary course if possible. You should acknowledge that studying Veterinary Medicine will tend to place pressure on some of the weaknesses and that it is important to use the help of peers and colleagues, as well as the support system of the university and veterinary school in order to succeed throughout the course and as a future vet.

Each applicant will have a different expectation for veterinary school. You should draw information from everything you have read, what you have seen on Open Days, and what you have read from current students at the university. You can find testimonials from current students on the veterinary school website of each university you have applied to.

You can expect the veterinary school to be very demanding: you should demonstrate your understanding of how the course works, what you will study in each of the various years, and how you will be assessed (practical exams, written exams, multiple-choice tests and continuous clinical assessment through the year). The course is long and demanding, both physically and mentally.

You will be challenged both academically and at a personal level. Aside from your demanding exams, you will be challenged to develop your personal skills, communication, teamwork and leadership, to name a few. These will test and challenge your personality and put you out of your comfort zone. Most veterinary school’s student societies are extremely popular and you will be encouraged to participate in all aspects. This will be both exciting and intimidating, especially for first-year students. You should make it clear to the assessors that although it may be a little daunting meeting and interacting with so many new individuals, it is an exciting prospect that you choose to embrace to the fullest.

In addition to this, as a new student to the university, you will need to familiarise yourself with the city, the university campus and integrate yourself within all of these. There are many different avenues to help manage these new aspects of veterinary school. You should look for role models, tutors, older students and even the university’s support scheme where you require. When discussing the realities of veterinary medicine and veterinary school, you should portray your knowledge of veterinary medicine through the phrases you use: for example, you may wish to say “I was able to get a good idea of what is expected of me in veterinary school. From attending open days, reading through the prospectus and talking to current students, I understand….” You should also draw on your learning from work experience, and what you gained from talking to current vets in the field.

Finally, you should always link your understanding of veterinary school back to your own personal experiences and what you have learnt, and how it has shaped you to become an excellent vet. For example, you may direct back to your own skills by highlighting: “I know that you are expected to be able to multi-task and deal with the stresses of multiple deadlines, projects and tasks at veterinary school. One of the things I learned throughout my time during A-Levels was how to multitask; I was a school prefect, part of the football and basketball teams and also played the piano at a Grade 7 level. All of this was whilst I managed to achieve top marks in my exams. This was obviously stressful at the time, but I think I am well-positioned to cope with the difficulties that veterinary school offers.”

The Five Freedoms essentially outline five aspects of animal welfare that are under human control, developed in 1965 to a UK Government report on livestock husbandry. They have since been adopted worldwide as a “minimum standard” for animal welfare. We recommend that you do take time to memorise these, as reciting the Five Freedoms is a relatively common question asked at vet school interviews and it can also serve as a useful guide if you are being asked to assess whether animal welfare standards are appropriate - are the Five Freedoms fulfilled? If not, then you have valid reason to question animal welfare in any given scenario.

Five Freedoms

1. Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour

2. Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area

3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment

4. Freedom to express (most) normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind

5. Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering

The vet school interview ethical questions in our guide has recently been updated to include questions commonly asked in 2021 online interviews - as ever they have always been written by qualified vets.

Your work experience will be of great interest to the universities which you have applied to. The interview is an opportunity for you to describe not only the facts and details of your experiences but also your reactions to them and what you have learned and gained from them. This question is broad, so use it to your advantage and highlight the most interesting parts of your work experience before rounding off your answer to summarise what you learned about Veterinary Medicine as a whole.

This question gives you the opportunity to discuss and elaborate on as many different situations or scenarios that you witness. The most important question in this station is actually what did you learn from it? – you should always aim to have a learning point that you have taken from each situation you encountered. If there were issues you did not understand at work experience, do not be afraid to communicate this to your examiner; use phrases such as “One really interesting experience that I saw was…. The only thing I didn’t understand at the time was why …was done instead of …?” and then attempt to use your logic, reasoning and further research around a topic to discuss it further. For example, you may have seen a vet give one medication instead of another, and researched it further in your own time to find out why that was the most appropriate drug. This will come across well in interview.

Ideally, most universities would like to see a few weeks of work experience in a variety of clinical scenarios (individual minimum requirements for specific universities are detailed on our University Guide). If you have been able to do work experience in a number of different settings, make sure you demonstrate this in your answer in relatively equal detail and highlight what you learnt from them.

If you have completed any other work experience outside of veterinary medicine, be sure to mention this too. You should be keen to impress that whilst the other work experience you did was interesting or a potential career path that you considered, veterinary medicine is definitely the profession that appeals to you more. Be sure to provide reasons why.

There are so many different qualities that you can pick to answer this. A good practice is to pick three of them, before expanding on them and explaining why you have them. Pick any three of the following examples, before explaining why each is necessary for being a good team player. Then try to draw on examples or positions that you have that show you have those three qualities that make you a good team player. End by explaining how this links towards veterinary medicine or being a good vet.

• Adaptable

• Creative

• Enthusiastic

• Good listener

• Hard-working

• Integrity and honesty

• Punctual

• Reliable

• Responsible

• Self-disciplined and self-aware of one’s own abilities and limitations

• Communicates constructively and keeps the team informed about updates and progress

• Shares ideas and contributes to the team

• Takes responsibility and ownership for their role

• Accepts and learns from constructive criticism

• Gives positive and constructive feedback to others

• Knows when to seek help

• Welcomes help from others when needed

• Committed to the team

• Promotes a positive attitude within the team

• Rises above any differences or disagreements with other team members to ensure the best outcome for the entire team

We would recommend picking a few of the examples above and using some of the suggested frame works to help mould your vet interview question and answer practice and preparation material.

Our vets have developed a section in our guide that cater only for multiple mini interview questions for vet school. They have model answers and show what is expected from a star student that is interviewing. These are all updated for the latest veterinary medicine MMI interview questions asked at vet school.

Using our 150 vet school interview questions guide, you will be able to carry out practice mocks with anyone that can help. We recommend arranging a mock vet school interview with one of our vet school tutors. This will help you prepare for the vet school interview, through detailed and careful preparation. Remember our vet school interview questions and answers guide contains some of the most recent questions asked at vet school interviews - available to anyone who purchases our Ultimate Package or Ultimate Interview Guide.

Enter your answer here

The University of Liverpool is a public university based in the city of Liverpool, England. Founded as a college in 1881, it gained its Royal Charter in 1903 with the ability to award degrees and is also known to be one of the six original 'red brick' civic universities.

Liverpool is a great city to live in, with fantastic surrounding countryside and national parks, an internationally recognised institute with a fantastic range of on-campus facilities and the opportunity to take full advantage of all the student experience has to offer. Years 1-3 are based at the Liverpool Campus in the city centre, and years 4-5 are at Leahurst campus on the Wirral Peninsula. The year group size at Liverpool Vet School is approximately 165 students.

Liverpool’s course is designed to create practical, compassionate and resilient veterinary surgeons and to equip graduates with the skills and qualities required to practice in the 21st century. The integrated spiral curriculum offers an innovative approach to teaching and learning, where subjects are revisited year on year with an increasing focus on clinical application as the course progresses. Professional and clinical skills are introduced from day one, encouraging students to engage with all aspects of veterinary science from the moment they begin the course. The curriculum provides opportunities to get involved with veterinary research, and to intercalate or study abroad. Completion of the course enables registration as a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons upon graduation.

Intercalation

Liverpool offer intercalation, and run a particularly innovative Veterinary Conservation Medicine BSc.

The equine department is particularly strong at Liverpool Vet School, so may have a certain appeal to those wishing to become an equine vet. Liverpool has been referred to as ‘the friendliest city in the UK’, and there are a huge number of student societies under the umbrella of the Guild of Students - from drum and bass to quidditch, astronomy to potholing, there is something for everyone! At Liverpool vet school leahurst you will have access to a wide range of facilities for you to enjoy.

We would highly recommend going to the Liverpool Vet School open day to get a feel for how welcoming the city and university can be. There are also the Liverpool University Veterinary Society, Veterinary Zoological Society and others for those interested in different clinical areas.

A Level: AAA in three A Level subjects - Biology or Human Biology at grade A, Chemistry, or another academic science-related subject (Physics, Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Psychology) at grade A and a third subject of your choice* at grade A. If Chemistry is not offered at A-level, it must be offered at AS-level (at grade B or above).

GCSE: Minimum 7x GCSEs at Grades AAABBBB or above, including Maths, English & Physics (either as a separate subject or as Dual Science).

IB: 35 Points to include grade 6 in higher level Biology, Chemistry and one other subject.

Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades BB in Biology and Chemistry Advanced Highers, in addition to five Highers at AAAAB grades including grades AA in Biology and Chemistry. AAABBB required in National 5 to include a minimum of grade B in English, Mathematics and two science subjects.

The University of Liverpool, in collaboration with local FE partners, has developed a Year Zero foundation programme for Home/EU students that leads to access onto a variety of vocational Health Studies programmes, including Veterinary Medicine.

Minimum requirement: 6 weeks (2 small animal, 2 farm, 2 equine)

Specifics: “We do however recognise that not all candidates have equal opportunities for access to work experience.”

No additional examinations currently required aside from the Liverpool Vet School Work Experience form.

Liverpool do not use personal statements as part of their application process.

To be shortlisted for a liverpool vet school interview, applicants must meet Liverpool’s academic criteria and have declared their work experience on the online questionnaire. Interviews are staggered over November – December. Further details concerning the nature and timing of interviews will be provided in October, but Liverpool has typically favoured MMI style interviews in the past.

RCVS: Yes

AVMA: No

You can sign up using this link to register for updates for the Liverpool Vet School open day: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/open-days-and-visits/register/.

They also offer a virtual open days: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/virtual-open-day/welcome/.

The University of Edinburgh mixes the best of tradition with award-winning, progressive teaching - the veterinary faculty is referred to independently as The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. The vet school’s outstanding hospital and teaching facilities provide an excellent environment for developing practical and clinical skills.

They offer many opportunities to get involved in biological research as part of the vibrant research community. You will also learn valuable communication, team-building and business management skills and keep a personal and professional development portfolio throughout the BVM&S programme to record elements of study in the professional and clinical skills course.

The Edinburgh Vet School is accredited by both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) allowing graduates to practise veterinary medicine throughout the UK, Europe, North America and Australasia. The year group size at Dicks Edinburgh is about 110 students.

Edinburgh Vet School has a spiral curriculum, meaning that subjects are re-visited and continually built on as the course progresses. course structure is designed in a way that the vast majority of subjects are re-visited and built on as the course progresses (for example, the professional and clinical skills module spans over four years in total). In your final year of study, as is standard for many vet schools, you undertake clinical rotations and research. Throughout this time you will spend time at Dicks Edinburgh & the Edinburgh Vet School Hospital.

Intercalation

BVetSci programmes are available to students who have successfully completed their second year of their Veterinary Medicine/Science degree. Options include: biochemistry, biomedical sciences, immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, reproductive biology and zoology.

At Edinburgh you will benefit from a very close-knit community of students and a dedicated student support team that take a personal interest in your well-being and success. You will be assigned a school house and a personal tutor who will support you throughout your studies, providing academic advice and a route to pastoral care.

First year students also benefit from peer assisted learning models with more senior students facilitating discussions with junior students. With over 260 student societies to take part in, nightlife, countryside and festivals, Edinburgh is a big city with a small-town feel, which has something for everyone. Gaining a place to study at vet school Edinburgh will provide a solid foundation for the rest of your career.

You will live in one of the safest cities in Europe and one that is regularly voted as one of the most desirable places to live in the world. Edinburgh offers you an incredible opportunity to experience an exceptional education in a thriving and multicultural environment. If you have a particular interest in Animal Welfare, the Jeanne Marchig Centre is dedicated to this - one of very few centres of its kind.

A Level: AAA in Chemistry, Biology and one other subject approved for entry to the veterinary degree programme. If Physics has not been studied to A level, a good pass at GCSE is required.

GCSE: GCSE Physics & English Grade 4 (C)

IB: 38 points. This must include a minimum of 666 in Higher level Chemistry, Biology and one other subject. If Physics is not taken at Standard or Higher level then competency in this subject must be demonstrated at a lower level (GCSE or equivalent).

Scottish Advanced Highers: Candidates are required to take a sixth year and undertake Advanced Highers. AAAAB Five Highers including Chemistry (A), Biology (A) and either Mathematics or Physics to be achieved by the end of S5. If Biology has not been studied in S5, it should be taken in S6 to Higher level. BB at Advanced Higher in Chemistry and another science subject. If possible Advanced Higher Biology, as this will be beneficial for the first year of the course. If Physics has not previously been studied to Higher level, it should be studied in sixth year to National 5 level.

Pre-U: D3, D3, D3 (or a combination of D3 and A level grade A) in Chemistry, Biology and one other University-approved subject.

Minimum requirement: 0

Specifics: Dicks Edinburgh does not ask for specific types or the number of days/weeks required for work experience as it depends, to some extent, on the opportunities available to individual candidates. The broader the experience, the better, but you should not gain experience to the detriment of your academic studies. You should, however, gain both veterinary practice and animal work experience - as much and varied as possible.

No additional examinations required.

The Admissions Committee looks for evidence of career exploration prior to application (through work experience gained) and evidence of non-academic achievements and interests which could involve social involvement, school responsibilities, leadership, cultural, sporting, musical, vocational and voluntary achievements and interests and hobbies. This should be reflected and discussed in your Personal Statement.

The Edinburgh BVM&S interview format is a form of multiple mini interview (MMI). The interview will be a series of seven 10 minute stations with an interviewer at five of the seven stations. Two of the stations will be unstaffed. A welcome talk, tour and an opportunity to chat informally with current students is also included during the afternoon. Candidates will be asked to arrive at Easter Bush Campus at around 12.30pm and will be finished by 5pm. Make sure you allow plenty of time to get to and from the Campus as it is a short journey away from the city centre.

For international multiple mini interviews, the format will be similar apart from a tour of the campus and rather than current students, there will be alumni of the School available to chat to. Candidates are welcome to contact the Admissions Team if they would prefer to be interviewed in Edinburgh or would like to organise an individual tour of the campus for them at a later date.

There are seven MMI stations:

• Work Experience

• Career Exploration and Awareness of being a Professional

• Scientific Data Interpretation

• Awareness of Animal Welfare

• Moral and Ethical Dilemma

• Practical Manual Task

• Numeracy (pen/paper only - no calculators or electronic devices permitted)

Following interview, 100% of your offer is weighed on interview scoring, so a strong performance is essential to gain a place to study on the Edinburgh Veterinary Medicine course.

RCVS: Yes

AVMA: Yes

Details of Edinburgh Vet School's 2021 open day are yet to be confirmed, so we recommend you join their mailing list to keep up to date: https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/studying/undergraduate/campus-visits/our-open-days.

You can also do a virtual tour in the meantime: https://virtualvisits.ed.ac.uk/ug.

Bristol is a highly regarded red-brick university, ranked amongst the top 10 in the UK. The year group size is anticipated to be 150 students for the 2021 intake for Veterinary Medicine. Bristol has also recently gained AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) accreditation. The first three years studying Veterinary Medicine at Bristol are based at the main university campus in Clifton, a beautiful leafy quarter of the city centre, with at least one day per week spent at the clinical campus in Langford. The final two years of study are taught at the Langford campus, a more rural area about 14 miles south of Bristol. Langord possesses its own small animal hospital, farm animal / small animal / equine practices, diagnostic laboratories, dairy farm and commercial abattoir. The year group size at Bristol Vet School is roughly 150 students.

The course at Bristol comprises a combination of lectures, seminars, independent learning and placements (the proportions of which vary from year to year, depending on stage in the course). Practical sessions begin in the first year at their renowned clinical skills laboratory, so you'll soon be getting hands-on. In the preclinical years, anatomy and physiology are taught with emphasis on their practical relevance, often at the Clifton campus, followed by clinical years covering surgery and medicine. The final year at Bristol is primarily placements and independent study.

Intercalation

Intercalation is encouraged and up to 20% of students at Bristol choose to do this during their veterinary degree.

Dual campus teaching means that students can experience both city and rural life during their time at university. Bristol University is also known for being a particularly tight-knit community, and they run a ‘family system’ which pairs new students with ‘parents’ to help them settle into their first year at university.

The City of Bristol is also well known for being quite alternative/hipster, with lots of vibrant bars/clubs and vegan restaurants. It’s also a beautiful city, with some great architecture and lovely views around the suspension bridge. Bath is also very easily accessible by train, and a lovely place to visit on days off. The langford vet school has its own campus where you can enjoy vet school within the confines of excellent and newly refurbished settings.

A Level: AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics or A*AB including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics

GCSE: GCSE English Language & Maths Grade 4 (C)

IB: 36 points overall with 18 at Higher level, including 6, 6 at Higher level in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics

Scottish Advanced Highers: AA in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics and Standard Higher: AAAA

Pre-U: Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/ D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/ M2 is B, M3 is C

Post-Graduates: 2:1 in their degree and BBB at A-level including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics

Bristol’s combined Health Sciences Gateway programme has five veterinary places (146 applicants for 2019 entry). Successful completion of this gateway year allows automatic progression onto the five-year BVSc programme. For Gateway applicants, interviews consisted of Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI’s). In 2018 Bristol interviewed 49 Gateway applicants for five places. Gateway offers were made based entirely on interview score.

Minimum requirement: 70 hours (35 hours in a veterinary practice + 30 hours in an animal related setting).

Specifics: Work experience must be undertaken within a three year period prior to the date of application.

Applicants who meet the minimum grade entry requirements will be sent an SAQ (Veterinary Supplementary Assessment Questionnaire) to complete - this assesses personal attributes, awareness of the profession and work experience.

If minimum grade and work experience requirements are met, then applicants are ranked based on the strength of their answers in the questionnaire and offers made accordingly.

The SAQ is the Supplementary Assessment Questionnaire.

This is not available prior to you applying.

What is the SAQ?

This is an additional set of questions that are emailed by the University of Bristol and replaces the traditional interview. It is used by the University of Bristol to help understand you better.

What is included by Bristol Vet School in the SAQ?

It is split into two main sections - A & B.

Section A - Work Experience

Here you must declare all work experience that has been completed, if the student has not completed enough they might be asked to complete some extra work - usually a MOOC or a reflective piece of work.

Section B - Personal Qualities

This section is designed to assess the awareness of the qualities of a good vet student and ability to reflect on work experience.

Bristol do not generally place a lot of weight on the UCAS Personal Statement to assess applications, as their SAQ serves to assess applicants in a personal/professional capacity. However, they do state that they will occasionally use the Personal Statement to differentiate between applicants with similar academic and personal profiles, using the following criteria:

• Evidence of interest in, and motivation and commitment to, the study of Veterinary Science

• Attitude to studies

• Wider interests and contribution to the community

• Standard of written English

Make sure you look at the bristol veterinary school entry requirements to see and learn more about what is needed to excel in this application.

Bristol does not currently interview applicants - their selection process is now based on responses to the SAQ (providing grade and work experience requirements are met), which makes strong answers here absolutely essential. As a result - there is no bristol veterinary interview.

RCVS: Yes

AVMA: Yes

The dates for the Bristol Vet School Open Day have not yet been confirmed - we recommend checking their website over the coming months for updates.

Cambridge has a reputation that speaks for itself, as one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. The University is a confederation of Schools, Faculties, Departments and 31 Colleges. Each College is governed by their own unique statutes and regulations.

As well as being a member of the University and of an academic Faculty/Department, students also belong to a College community, an arrangement that offers pastoral and academic support for each individual. Your choice of college does not affect your chances of getting a place on the Cambridge vet course. The colleges each have a nominal ‘quota’ of applicants, but they often take more. Also, colleges with larger quotas tend to get correspondingly more applicants, so you should not worry about quota sizes when picking your college. The year group size for Cambridge Veterinary Medicine is about 70 students. These students will all carry out work at Cambridge Vet School Hospital.

At Cambridge, you study the basic veterinary sciences first before learning to apply that knowledge to veterinary practice as a clinical student within the cambridge veterinary medicine course.

During your pre-clinical studies (Years 1-3), you are taught through lectures and practical classes (including 120 hours of dissection across the three years) in the central science departments, and College supervisions – you can typically expect 20-25 timetabled teaching hours each week. The clinical studies teaching is a mixture of lectures (in Years 4 and 5), practicals, tutorials, supervisions and clinical classes, with a lecture-free final year. Placements take place across East Anglia with some placements at the Cambridge Vet School Hospital. Your progress is continually reviewed by your supervisors and your Director of Studies. Formal assessment, which determines your progression through the course, takes a variety of forms including written essays, short answer questions and practical examinations.

Intercalation

All non-graduate-entry students complete a full Cambridge BA science degree in their third year in a subject of their choice (for example in animal disease, conservation biology, management studies).

The Department of Veterinary Medicine has an international reputation as a centre of excellence, and is performing world class veterinary research. The Cambridge collegiate system really does make the experience quite unique as a student - the college often becomes your main social hub, and you will find that you spend time with students from a large variety of courses as a result. At Cambridge you are very much treated as an individual, with year group sizes of approximately 70 students (the smallest of all the Veterinary Schools). You receive continual individualised support and advice, including Cambridge’s unique provision of weekly small-group (two–four students) teaching. This is an involving and rewarding opportunity to pursue your interests, and is also beneficial when it comes to clinical rotations as the small rotation group sizes ensure more experience and confidence by the time you qualify.

A Level: A*AA.

GCSE: GCSEs (or their equivalent) are not as important to Cambridge as A-levels (or their equivalent), but it is encouraging if you have at least a few A*/8/9’s at GCSE, especially in science/maths subjects. As data are analysed for the newer, more finely-subdivided '7/8/9' grading system, it is possible that Cambridge will use GCSE grades more than previously.

IB: The typical offer is a total of 40-42 and 776 in higher-level or science/maths subjects; applicants are encouraged to take Chemistry and two other science/maths subjects, with at least two at higher level.

Scottish Advanced Highers: The typical offer is currently AAA; similar subject choices recommended as for A-level applicants.

Pre-U: The typical offer is D2, D3, D3.

Minimum requirement: 0

Specifics: Cambridge does not have an absolute requirement for work experience, but a total of 2 weeks 'seeing practice' with vets in a clinical setting is recommended. What is most important is that you have done enough to (1) be able to discuss and analyse your experiences at interview and (2) have a realistic idea of what a veterinary/scientific career entails. Prolonged, varied and ‘impressive’ work experience will confer no additional advantage.

Veterinary Medicine applicants are asked to take the University’s pre-interview ‘Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment’ - this replaced the BMAT in 2017.

Applicants will also be asked to complete the university’s online Supplementary Application Questionnaire, although this asks for fairly generic (not veterinary-specific) information, such as more details about the courses you are studying at school, and whether you were able to take all the options you wished. Some parts of this SAQ are optional - however we recommend that you fill it in as best as you can.

Although you may be asked about things you have written in your UCAS personal statement, your vet school statement will not usually be assessed, graded, ranked or used to decide whether you are interviewed or offered a place. This is because Cambridge is aware of the variation in the amount and quality of advice applicants receive in the preparation of their personal statements.

Interviews are an important part of the applications process, so Cambridge call more than 70% of their applicants for interview (this is significantly higher than some of the other veterinary schools). Cambridge look for candidates with:

• Commitment to a veterinary or veterinary-related career

• Good problem solving skills

• An aptitude for discussing scientific and mathematical concepts

• Enthusiasm for discussing veterinary cases they have seen (see below)

• Keenness to discuss veterinary/scientific issues, especially those encountered from wider reading or research

• Evidence of an ability to balance work and leisure activities.

Although you may be asked some difficult questions, do not worry – this is how Cambridge ascertain how far you can take new ideas and concepts. The Cambridge Veterinary Medicine Interviews are notoriously difficult and assess the way that you think. They will be welcoming and do our best to help you perform to the best of your ability. Because applicants are often understandably nervous, Cambridge try to make the interviews as informal as possible. So do not feel you have to dress smartly! Many applicants find their interviews enjoyable (yes - really!) and some of our students even tell us that their interview was what made them realise Cambridge was the best vet school for them.

Applicants for all subjects at Cambridge are encouraged to undertake some preparatory supercurricular activities: going beyond their school curriculum, usually by reading about scientific/clinical topics which interest them. It is important to emphasise that (1) this can be in any biological science, physical science, mathematical or clinical topics; (2) Cambridge do not recommend what to study, but prefer applicants to be guided entirely by what interests them; (3) it can take any form, including printed books and magazines, online resources and courses, and the University's own veterinary and non-veterinary HE+ pages; (4) your supercurricular studies may or may not be discussed at interview.

RCVS: Yes

AVMA: No

Cambridge University are offering VetCam (their annual residential course) online for free this year, running from Monday 29th - Tuesday 30th March. Their in-person open day is currently scheduled for Friday 8th - 9th July 2021 provisionally. See their website for further updates and information: https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/study/vet/vetcam.

The University of Glasgow Vet School has been renowned worldwide for the last 560 years, shaping the world of education by being at the forefront of teaching and research. The University has students from over 140 different countries, spread across two main campuses in the city. The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451, and is ranked as one of the top universities in the world. It is a member of the prestigious Russell Group.

The 2019 League Ranking Table placed the University of Glasgow 24th. Each year, 25,000 new students enroll into the university – around 140 of these are veterinary students! The Veterinary School is well-known in the UK and provides state-of-the-art facilities for students and patients alike. Located in the largest city in Scotland, the University of Glasgow’s main campus is located in the fantastic West End of the city. This vibrant area of the city is well-known for its lively entertainment; cinemas, bars, restaurants, pubs and theatre opportunities are endless. The year group size at Glasgow is about 140 students.

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The Glasgow Vet School programme is based on integration of clinical and science subject areas and is delivered using a range of teaching methods including centred active learning approaches. The spiral course structure means that you will revisit topics as you progress through the programme, each time with increasing clinical focus. In conjunction, there is a vertical theme of professional and clinical skills development to help you acquire the personal qualities and skills you will need in professional environments. Through individual, team-working and student-centred active learning approaches, you will develop the skills required for lifelong independent learning. Students will spend time at the glasgow vet school small animal hospital to aid learning.

Intercalation: Most students choose to take a one-year intercalating programme after the third year of the Glasgow Veterinary Medicine curriculum, leading to the award of BSc (VetSci). A few students also choose to take a two-year intercalating programme, which allows for more in-depth study and leads to the award of BSc (Honours).

The 2019 TimeOut survey rated Glasgow as one of the top ten cities in the world, and was ranked number one for friendliness and affordability. Within touching distance of the city, Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch Lomond and trails through mountains and hill climbs offer unique experiences unavailable anywhere else in the world. All students have an academic mentor as well as a student buddy. Glasgow has also pioneered a ‘peer support’ network, where students are trained to support each other through any difficult times.

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A Level: AAA - this must include Chemistry and Biology. The third A Level is preferred to be science, but other academic subjects are acceptable.

GCSE: GCSE English Language at Grade 5 (B)

IB: 38 Points including three HL subjects at 666. Applicants must have Chemistry AND Biology HL6, Mathematics or Physics SL6 and English SL6.

Scottish Advanced Highers: Minimum AAAAB at S5 and Advanced Highers (S6) at BB. Higher Chemistry at Grade A AND Higher Biology AND either Higher Mathematics or Higher Physics. Advanced Highers in Chemistry AND Biology at Grade A or B.

Minimum requirement: A few days.

Specifics: Glasgow encourages applicants to have at least a few days experience with a veterinary surgeon and have had hands on experience with farm animals.

All information included in your application form is very important towards considering whether Glasgow Vet School will make you an offer. The information you provide in your personal statement will definitely be considered in applications for your university of glasgow vet school admissions application, as it is a highly competitive course.

A long list of extracurricular activities will not advantage your application. Although it is good if you can show that you can do well in science/maths, while still maintaining a good balance between work and recreational activities, it does not actually matter what those activities are - or if you are any good at them! This is important to note for all glasgow university vet school admissions.

Candidates seriously considered for admission to the BVMS programme will normally have an interview before a final decision is reached. Members of the Admissions Committee conduct these interviews between December and February each year.

During your glasgow vet school interview you will be asked questions about your work experience, either undertaken in person, or virtual, your hobbies and interests and how you plan and cope with your schoolwork. There are a number of common themes every eyar, and the most common glasgow vet school interview questions rely on you having a good knowledge of the profession as a whole and what would be expected of you as a veterinary surgeon. Glasgow not only assesses the breadth of candidates' knowledge of what working with livestock and companion animals and their owners entails, but also examines personal attributes which demonstrate responsibility, self-motivation, a caring ethos and resilience. They are interested to hear of candidates’ special interests, or hobbies, outside veterinary science. You should be aware of any current topical veterinary issues, so it is advisable to keep up to date with Media information.

Glasgow vet school is aware that given the intense competition for places that the interview can be extremely daunting, however they do try to keep the interview as friendly and informal as possible.

RCVS: Yes

AVMA: Yes