UK vet schools
The best UK vet schools, ranked and compared
There are twelve veterinary schools in the UK, and each selects differently. This is the complete guide: the 2026 rankings, a side by side comparison of entry requirements, fees and selection, and how to choose the school where you have the best chance.
If you are applying to vet school, of course you want to go to the best one you can. The reassuring news is that every UK vet school is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and qualifies you to practise as a vet, so they are all of a very high standard. That means the best vet school is really the one that fits you, your grades and your circumstances, rather than a fixed name at the top of a table. Below is the latest league table, followed by how to read it sensibly and choose well.
UK vet school rankings 2026
The table below shows the most recent Complete University Guide ranking for veterinary medicine, scored out of 100 percent across entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects, which combine into the overall score. Cambridge tops the table, with Liverpool and Nottingham close behind, but the scores are tightly bunched at the top, so small differences mean very little in practice.
| Rank | University | Overall | Entry standards | Student satisfaction | Research quality | Graduate prospects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cambridge | 100% | 90% | 82% | 85% | 97% |
| 2 | University of Liverpool | 99% | 75% | 83% | 88% | 98% |
| 3 | University of Nottingham | 98% | 69% | 84% | 81% | 99% |
| 4 | Royal Veterinary College | 98% | 79% | 75% | 83% | 98% |
| 5 | University of Glasgow | 98% | 100% | 79% | 88% | 96% |
| 6 | University of Surrey | 97% | 71% | 81% | 84% | 97% |
| 7 | University of Edinburgh | 97% | 94% | 80% | 81% | 93% |
| 8 | University of Bristol | 97% | 75% | 76% | 86% | 96% |
| 9 | Harper and Keele Veterinary School | 95% | 63% | 86% | 76% | n/a |
| 10 | SRUC (Scotland's Rural College) | 93% | 81% | 70% | 81% | 95% |
| 11 | Middlesex University | 90% | 48% | 83% | n/a | 100% |
| 12 | Harper Adams University | 86% | 54% | 74% | n/a | 84% |
| 13 | Anglia Ruskin University | 85% | 55% | 79% | n/a | 80% |
Which of these actually make you a vet
One important caveat: the league table mixes degrees together. Only RCVS accredited veterinary medicine degrees let you register as a vet, and the established schools that have graduated vets are Cambridge, Liverpool, Nottingham, the Royal Veterinary College, Glasgow, Surrey, Edinburgh, Bristol and Harper and Keele. The newest schools, Aberystwyth, SRUC and UCLan, are working towards full accreditation and are too new to appear in this year's table, as their first cohorts are still completing the degree.
Middlesex, Harper Adams and Anglia Ruskin appear in the wider veterinary subject table for related degrees such as veterinary nursing and bioveterinary science, which are excellent courses but do not qualify you as a veterinary surgeon. If your goal is to become a vet, focus on the accredited schools, all of which you can compare in the table below.
Compare all twelve UK vet schools
A summary to compare at a glance. Open each school for the full entry requirements, and always confirm current details on the university's own pages.
| School | Location | A levels | Course | Int'l fee / yr | How they select |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth University in the heart of Wales for the first two years, then the RVC's Hawkshead Campus in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire for years three, four and five | AAA | 5 years | Set and published by the Royal Veterinary College, which delivers the clinical years of this joint degree. | Interview |
| Bristol | First three years at the main university campus in Clifton, Bristol, with the final two years at the Langford campus about 14 miles south of Bristol | AAA | 5 years | £41,900 | Written assessment (SAQ) |
| Cambridge | Cambridge, within a collegiate university of 31 Colleges | A*AA | 6 years | £70,554 University fee plus a College fee of approximately £11,500 to £14,950 per year (2026 entry). | Panel interview |
| Edinburgh | University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, a short journey from the city centre | AAA | 5 years | £41,700 | MMI interview |
| Glasgow | University of Glasgow, West End of Glasgow, Scotland | AAA | 5 years | £37,350 | Interview |
| Liverpool | Liverpool, England | AAA | 5 years | £44,850 | MMI interview |
| RVC | London. Camden Campus and Hawkshead Campus, Potters Bar. | AAA | 5 years | £50,360 | SAQ and MMI |
| Nottingham | Sutton Bonington campus, Nottingham. | AA | 5 years | £41,800 | SJT and interview |
| Surrey | Guildford, England | AAA | 5 years | £43,200 | MMI interview |
| Harper and Keele | Harper Adams and Keele University campuses. | AAA | 5 years | £33,000 | SAQ and MMI |
| SRUC | SRUC's Aberdeen campus, Scotland | A | 5 years | £17,000 | Interview |
| UCLan | University of Lancashire (UCLan) Preston Campus, Lancashire | AA | 5 years | £39,500 | MMI interview |
What the rankings do and do not tell you
Various league tables rank vet schools, and you will notice they disagree, because they use different criteria and weightings. There is no single definitive ranking. The entry standards column, for example, reflects the grades of students who got in rather than the quality of the teaching, and a high research score matters more for a future academic than for someone who wants to be a first opinion vet. Rankings are a useful starting point, but they say little about whether a school suits your learning style, your budget or where you want to live for five years.
How to choose the best school for you
Focus on where you comfortably meet the entry requirements, the teaching style that suits you, the location and cost, and how each school selects, so you apply where your strengths count for most. With only four veterinary choices on UCAS, a sensible spread matters more than chasing the top of a table. Our guide on how to choose the best vet school for you walks through this in detail, and our guides to GCSE and A level requirements show where you realistically meet the bar.
Common questions
What is the best veterinary university in the UK?+
In the most recent Complete University Guide league table, the University of Cambridge ranks top for veterinary medicine, followed by Liverpool and Nottingham. The scores are tightly bunched, though, and all RCVS accredited schools qualify you to practise, so the best university is really the one that matches your grades, budget, teaching style and location.
How many vet schools are there in the UK?+
There are twelve UK vet schools: Cambridge, Liverpool, Nottingham, the Royal Veterinary College, Glasgow, Surrey, Edinburgh, Bristol, Harper and Keele, Aberystwyth, SRUC and UCLan (University of Lancashire). The established schools are RCVS accredited and the newest are working towards accreditation. Each has its own entry requirements, course structure and selection process.
Which UK vet school has the best graduate prospects?+
Among accredited vet schools, Nottingham scores highest for graduate prospects in the latest table at 99 percent, with Liverpool and the Royal Veterinary College close behind at 98 percent. In practice, graduate employment is strong across all UK vet schools because demand for vets is high.
Are UK vet school rankings reliable?+
Treat them as a guide, not gospel. Different league tables rank schools differently because they weight measures such as entry standards, research and satisfaction in different ways, and the top schools are usually separated by a point or two. They are most useful for spotting strengths, such as research or student satisfaction, rather than picking a single best school.
Does it matter which UK vet school I attend?+
All the established, accredited degrees let you practise as a vet in the UK, and the newest schools are working towards accreditation, so ranking matters less than fit. The real differences are course style, clinical exposure, location, cost and atmosphere. Choose where you will thrive and where your application is most competitive, rather than chasing a name at the top of a table.
Not sure where you have the best chance?
Choosing the right schools is the first stage of our method. Arrange a consultation and we will help you decide.