Choosing a Course

As with other medical courses, you should he so lucky as to be able to be picky. Ucas insists that prospective students include only four veterinary courses among the six choices on their form, so as to give a safety net if you fail to gain a place. Doing that does not make you any less committed to veterinary sciences in the eyes of the universities. They don't see your other applications, for a start.

Some institutions are recognised by foreign veterinary associations, in the US for example, which means that graduates from those schools can more easily practise abroad. If working overseas is part of your long-term life plan, then include this in your criteria for picking a school.

Many schools offer the option of intercalation - taking a year to study a separate but related subject for a year before returning to the veterinary studies. The options could include pathology, veterinary conservation medicine, bioethics, equine science, microbiology, virology, neuroscience, pathology, pharmacology or zoology.

All veterinary students spend 26 weeks away from the school learning practical and clinical skills, so find out what the options are at the prospective institution. For some, this can include time abroad, as well as in practice.

There have been spectacular investments in some veterinary schools recently; so check the facilities, and see if they tally with your own interests, whether it be a new equine centre, or new laboratory facilities.

And take care with staff-to-student figures. Veterinary faculties often draw staff from other departments to teach, particularly in pre-clinical subjects: this can account for apparent variations in staff: student ratios. Some research staff also contribute to undergraduate teaching, which can mean that you'll be up with the latest innovations.