UK vet school
Cambridge Vet School
Cambridge's collegiate system and the smallest year group of all the vet schools (about 70 students) give continual individualised support, including weekly small-group teaching of two to four students.
Entry requirements and fees checked against Cambridge Vet School's own pages for 2027 entry. Always confirm the current requirements on the university's own pages, as they change each cycle.
About Cambridge Vet School
Cambridge's Veterinary Medicine course is a six-year programme taught within the collegiate university and admitting one of the smallest cohorts of any UK vet school. It combines a science-intensive pre-clinical phase with clinical training based at the Department of Veterinary Medicine and the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital.
In the pre-clinical years (1 to 3) students study the science underlying veterinary medicine, with year 3 spent specialising for an intercalated BA built into the course. Teaching combines lectures, practical classes and dissection with small-group college supervisions. The clinical years (4 to 6) cover surgery, anaesthesia and farm, equine and small-animal work, with an entirely lecture-free final year of clinical rotations. Applicants sit the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT).
Accreditation
Conditional RCVS accreditation; full accreditation decision expected after an RCVS visit in October 2026 (EAEVE pending)
Degree awarded
BA (after year 3) and VetMB (after year 6)
Typical intake
Approx. 57 places, one of the smallest UK cohorts
Admissions test
ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test)
UCAS deadline
15 October (6pm)
Cambridge entry requirements
| Location | Cambridge, within a collegiate university of 31 Colleges |
|---|---|
| Course length | 6 years |
| Typical A level offer | A*AA including Chemistry plus at least one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics; most applicants offer three science or maths subjects. All applicants must sit the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT). |
| GCSEs | No specific GCSE requirement is published; Cambridge says GCSEs matter less than A levels, though strong results relative to your school's usual attainment, especially in science and maths, are encouraging. |
| Work experience | At least two weeks of vocational experience is recommended, if possible (not required). This can be clinical work shadowing vets, or experience in any commercial or charity animal setting such as farms, pet shops or rescue shelters. |
| How they select | All applicants sit the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT; registration closed 28 September 2026, test 12 to 16 October 2026) and complete the Cambridge application through UCAS. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by a College. |
| Interview format | College interviews, commonly two interviews of about 25 minutes, each with two interviewers, held online or in person depending on the College. The main interview period is 7 to 18 December 2026. Note: the VetMB currently holds conditional RCVS accreditation, with a decision expected after an RCVS visit in October 2026, and Cambridge states it will not enrol new entrants in October 2027 if accreditation is made terminal or revoked, so check the course page before you apply. |
Cambridge international entry requirements
International applicants to Cambridge Vet School must meet equivalent academic grades and an English language requirement.
| International qualifications | IB Diploma 41 to 42 points overall with 776 at Higher Level, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics at HL. Scottish Advanced Highers: typically A1, A, A. |
|---|---|
| English language | IELTS Academic 7.5 overall, usually with at least 7.0 in each element (or equivalent, e.g. Cambridge C2 Proficiency 200 with no element below 185). |
Cambridge veterinary medicine tuition fees
| UK / home fee | £10,050 per year (2027 entry) |
|---|---|
| International fee | £70,554 University fee per year plus a College fee of £12,885 to £15,950 per year, depending on College (2027 entry). |
Cambridge charges overseas students a College fee in addition to the University tuition fee. The University fee is fixed for the length of the course and many Colleges also fix their fee; the year 3 University fee follows the course taken that year.
Common questions
What A levels do you need for Cambridge?+
Cambridge Vet School typically asks for A*AA including Chemistry plus at least one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics; most applicants offer three science or maths subjects. All applicants must sit the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT). At GCSE: No specific GCSE requirement is published; Cambridge says GCSEs matter less than A levels, though strong results relative to your school's usual attainment, especially in science and maths, are encouraging. Requirements are confirmed each cycle on the university's own pages (verified for 2027 entry).
What are the international entry requirements for Cambridge?+
Cambridge Vet School accepts IB Diploma 41 to 42 points overall with 776 at Higher Level, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics at HL. Scottish Advanced Highers: typically A1, A, A. English language requirement: IELTS Academic 7.5 overall, usually with at least 7.0 in each element (or equivalent, e.g. Cambridge C2 Proficiency 200 with no element below 185). Read our guide for international applicants to UK vet school.
How much does it cost to study veterinary medicine at Cambridge?+
UK/home tuition is £10,050 per year (2027 entry). International tuition is £70,554 University fee per year plus a College fee of £12,885 to £15,950 per year, depending on College (2027 entry). Cambridge charges overseas students a College fee in addition to the University tuition fee. The University fee is fixed for the length of the course and many Colleges also fix their fee; the year 3 University fee follows the course taken that year. See how much vet school costs for the full picture across the UK.
How does Cambridge select students?+
Cambridge Vet School selects through all applicants sit the engineering and science admissions test (esat; registration closed 28 september 2026, test 12 to 16 october 2026) and complete the cambridge application through ucas. shortlisted applicants are interviewed by a college. College interviews, commonly two interviews of about 25 minutes, each with two interviewers, held online or in person depending on the College. The main interview period is 7 to 18 December 2026. Note: the VetMB currently holds conditional RCVS accreditation, with a decision expected after an RCVS visit in October 2026, and Cambridge states it will not enrol new entrants in October 2027 if accreditation is made terminal or revoked, so check the course page before you apply. We prepare you for exactly this format in our vet school interview guide.
Official Cambridge resources
Go straight to Cambridge Vet School's own pages for the current requirements, fees and application details.
Related reading
Weigh Cambridge against the alternatives and plan the rest of your application.
Sources (2027 entry)
- https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/veterinary-medicine-vetmb
- https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/fees-funding/tuition-fees
- https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international-students/international-fees-and-costs
- https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2026-09/undergraduate_tuition_fees_2027-28.pdf
- https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/entry-requirements
- https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/how/science-engineering-admission-test
- https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/study/vet/howtoapply
Applying to Cambridge?
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