Vet school
Veterinary Medicine and Clearing: Can You Get a Vet School Place?
Whether UK vet school places appear in clearing, what to do on results day if you miss your grades, and how to plan a stronger reapplication, from a qualified vet.
Every results day, students ask whether they can pick up a veterinary place through clearing. The honest answer is that it is very rare, because demand far exceeds the places available across the twelve UK vet schools, so spots almost never go unfilled. That does not mean a disappointing results day is the end of the road, though.
What to do on results day
If your results are not what you hoped, start by checking the UCAS website for any vacancies, and with only twelve vet schools it is quite feasible to contact them directly to ask. Occasionally an offer can be confirmed if you have only just missed the grades, so it is always worth a calm, polite conversation with the admissions team.
Reapplying stronger next time
In most cases the stronger path is a considered plan to reapply, better prepared than before. Use the time to deepen your work experience, rebuild your personal statement under the new format, and target the schools that best fit your profile, which our guide on how to choose the best vet school for you can help with. We support students who have had a disappointing cycle to regroup, learn from it, and put together a winning application next time through our programme.
Common questions
Can you get into vet school through clearing?+
It is very rare. Veterinary places almost never appear in clearing because demand far outstrips supply across the twelve UK schools. It is still worth checking UCAS and contacting schools directly on results day, but most applicants who miss out reapply the following cycle.
What should I do if I miss my vet school grades?+
Stay calm and contact the admissions team, as a near miss can sometimes still be accepted. Check UCAS for vacancies too. If a place is not possible this cycle, plan a stronger reapplication, using the extra time to deepen your work experience and improve your application.
Is it worth reapplying to vet school?+
Yes, for many students it is. A second application, informed by what went wrong the first time and strengthened with more work experience and a better personal statement and interview technique, often succeeds. Plenty of vets got in on their second attempt.
Do any UK vet schools offer places through clearing?+
Very rarely. With only twelve vet schools and around ten applicants per place, veterinary places almost never go unfilled, so they seldom enter clearing. It is still worth checking UCAS and phoning admissions teams on results day, but you should not count on a clearing place.
Should I take a gap year and reapply to vet school?+
For many applicants who narrowly miss out, a planned gap year is the strongest route. Use it to gain more varied work experience, retake any exams if needed, and rebuild your personal statement and interview technique, then reapply to schools that fit your profile. A focused gap year often turns a near miss into an offer.
Book a free call with a qualified vet
Talk through where you are with Dr Rebecca and leave with a strategic plan for your vet school application. Honest advice, with no pressure and no cost.