Vet school
How Many Years Is A Veterinary Degree?
How long a UK veterinary degree takes, by route: the standard five year course, six year routes at Cambridge or with a foundation year, and four year graduate entry.
A UK veterinary degree takes five years as standard. It runs to six years at Cambridge, with intercalation, or through a gateway or foundation year, and can be as short as four years through accelerated graduate entry. Veterinary medicine is known for being a long course, but exactly how long it takes depends on the route you take. The table below summarises the main routes, and the sections beneath explain each one.
| Route | Length | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard undergraduate | 5 years | Most students, straight from school |
| Cambridge | 6 years | Includes an integrated BA; standard at Cambridge |
| With intercalation | 6 years | Adding a research or honours year |
| Gateway or foundation year | 6 years | Widening-participation applicants |
| Graduate accelerated entry | 4 years | Graduates with a relevant degree |
The standard five year route
Five years is the standard length of a UK veterinary degree, taken straight from school. For a sense of what those years actually involve, read our honest account of life at vet school.
Six years with intercalation or a foundation year
Some students extend the course to six years, either by intercalating an additional degree to deepen their research and academic profile, or by entering through a foundation or gateway year. Cambridge also runs a six year course as standard.
Four years through graduate entry
If you already hold a relevant degree, some schools offer accelerated graduate entry, compressing the first two years into one and making the course four years in total. This is a common route for career changers and mature students.
Common questions
How many years does it take to become a vet in the UK?+
Five years is standard for the undergraduate degree, plus the time spent on qualifications beforehand. The course can be six years with intercalation, a foundation year or at Cambridge, or four years through accelerated graduate entry if you already hold a relevant degree.
Is veterinary medicine a five year course?+
Yes, the standard UK veterinary degree is five years. It becomes six with an intercalated or foundation year, and Cambridge runs a six year course. Graduate entry routes can shorten it to four years.
Can you study veterinary medicine in four years?+
Yes, through accelerated graduate entry at some schools, where the first two years are combined into one. This is open to applicants who already hold a relevant, usually science based, degree.
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