Picking the right college is of huge importance, especially when looking for employment after you graduate. There are seven vet schools in the U.K. and they all offer pre-vet years as part of the degree.
You should always look around and find the course that's best for you in a city you're going to love and can afford to live in.
Liverpool is considered to be the best veterinary college in the country. It’s in the North West of England and the course is a five-year program full time with two years pre-vet studies. You apply through UCAS, but competition is fierce with 1,500 applicants for 115 places. Tuition fees are around $26,648 per year. Liverpool boasts a thriving music scene with bands like The Beatles, The Coral and The Zutons all hailing from the city. It also has a cultural wealth with more museums, theater and galleries in any place outside London. More importantly however, it has a great nightlife with its club Chibuku being labeled one of the best in the U.K. Also, being in the North, living expenses aren't as extreme.
University of Liverpool
Admissions Sub-Dean?
School of Veterinary Science?
Liverpool? L69 7ZJ
011-44-151-794-4797
liv.ac.uk
Edinburgh is a beautiful city, and the capital of Scotland, linked with colleges in North America, applications to Edinburgh differ slightly: if you are applying straight from high school, or you don’t live in North America, then you apply through UCAS; North America applicants should apply through VMCAS. Competition again is really high with 732 applicants for 124 spots, but on the plus side, Edinburgh does accept a lot of international students onto its courses. The course again is five years full time with two years pre-vet and tuition fees are $29,460 per year, or you can pay one lump sum of $151,746 for the whole course–they are one of the only Universities offering this method of payment.
Edinburgh itself is a hub of cultural experiences, hosting the Fringe Festival every year (a must do) and the home of real whiskey, a trip round the whiskey museums are essential. There is also a wealth of bars and restaurants tucked down small alleys and bystreets, so you will need to spend a few weeks exploring. Living expenses are also fairly reasonable.
University of Edinburgh
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Easter Bush
Midlothian EH25 9RG
011-44-131-651-7305
ed.ac.uk
In terms of prestige Cambridge is one of the most well recognized colleges in the U.K., and is located in South East England. The course is six years full time with three years pre-vet studies. You apply through UCAS again, but unlike other colleges you then apply to a University College. There are 31 colleges at Cambridge and you can apply to three via their websites. Entry to Cambridge is very competitive with 414 applicants for 75 places. Tuition fees are around $20,834 for three years pre-clinical training and $38,633 for three years clinical training. You then have college fees of around $5,946 to $7,433 per year.
Unlike most other college cities, the nightlife suffers when the students are there, but a favorite haunt for locals is The Regal or Fez. The city itself is beautiful though, and there’s lots to do, with a particular favorite when the weather’s nice being punting. Living in Cambridge can be very expensive though, and it's worth investing in a bicycle--the only way to get around the city.
University of Cambridge?
Department of Veterinary Medicine?
Madingley Road?
Cambridge? CB3 0ES?
United Kingdom
011-44-12-2333-0811
vet.cam.ac.uk
Located in London, this is the only solely veterinary focused college in the U.K. You can choose from many courses with five- or six-year full time courses with two years pre-vet training available as well as separate one-year courses. Again, all high school students apply through UCAS with Northern American applicants applying through VMCAS. As it is such a popular school there are 2,035 applicants for 885 places and tuition fees are $13,072 to $30,038 per year depending on which course you take.
London is the country’s capital and culturally you will never be short of thing’s to do, places to see and restaurants to eat in. There is, of course, the West End for theater lovers, but living in London however is very expensive and whilst the college is based in Camden, the alternative culture, market center of London, food, taxi’s, going out and rent are going to be very costly, similar to living in New York or L.A.
The Royal Veterinary College
Royal College Street
London NW1 0TU
United Kingdom
011-44-20-7468-5000
rvc.ac.uk