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.
Verified 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
RCVS accredited (periodic re-accreditation under review for 2026)
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 bases its academic assessment on A level (or equivalent) performance and the admissions assessment. |
| Work experience | At least two weeks of vocational experience is recommended (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 | Pre-interview Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment plus interview. Applicants also complete the university's online Supplementary Application Questionnaire (generic, not veterinary-specific). No veterinary SAQ required. |
| Interview format | Interviews are an important part of the applications process, so Cambridge call more than 70% of their applicants for interview (significantly higher than some other veterinary schools). They 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, keenness to discuss veterinary/scientific issues especially from wider reading or research, and evidence of an ability to balance work and leisure activities. The interviews are notoriously difficult and assess the way that you think; because applicants are often nervous, Cambridge try to make the interviews as informal as possible, so you do not have to dress smartly. |
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. |
|---|---|
| English language | IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each element (or equivalent, e.g. TOEFL iBT 110). |
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 approximately £11,500 to £14,950 per year (2026 entry). |
Cambridge charges overseas students a College fee in addition to the University tuition fee. The 2027-entry international figure is published by 1 October 2026; the figures shown are the most recent published (2026 entry).
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 bases its academic assessment on A level (or equivalent) performance and the admissions assessment. 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. English language requirement: IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each element (or equivalent, e.g. TOEFL iBT 110). 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 approximately £11,500 to £14,950 per year (2026 entry). Cambridge charges overseas students a College fee in addition to the University tuition fee. The 2027-entry international figure is published by 1 October 2026; the figures shown are the most recent published (2026 entry). See how much vet school costs for the full picture across the UK.
How does Cambridge select students?+
Cambridge Vet School selects through pre-interview natural sciences admissions assessment plus interview. applicants also complete the university's online supplementary application questionnaire (generic, not veterinary-specific). no veterinary saq required. Interviews are an important part of the applications process, so Cambridge call more than 70% of their applicants for interview (significantly higher than some other veterinary schools). They 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, keenness to discuss veterinary/scientific issues especially from wider reading or research, and evidence of an ability to balance work and leisure activities. The interviews are notoriously difficult and assess the way that you think; because applicants are often nervous, Cambridge try to make the interviews as informal as possible, so you do not have to dress smartly. 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/apply/before/entry-requirements
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