Again, veterinary science is definitely not an easier option than medicine. There are only 6 schools offering veterinary medicine and so the competition for entry is much keener than for medicine.

As with medicine, the opportunities for specialisation within the career are very wide. There are microbiologists, parasitologists, pathologists, surgeons and equine specialists, etc. Applicants will generally, however, have the opportunity to treat many more species than a medical doctor does and so the training is even more gruelling and rigorous. Applicants will need to decide whether they want to be employed by:

1. The Government – the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA – www.defra.gov.uk)
2. An animal charity such as the RSPCA (www.rspca.org.uk)
3. A pharmaceutical company
4. A private practice

Each is in itself varied and increasingly specialised.

Veterinary medicine is a physically tough and dangerous career as many animals are not keen on veterinary treatment! There is a huge demand for veterinary doctors willing to work in large-animal practice in agriculture. Many vet graduates choose careers in small animal practices in urban areas as these are less dangerous and physically hard and generally a more convenient lifestyle. This has led to a surplus of small animal vets in England.

Dealing with animals does not isolate a vet from the need to be able to communicate effectively with humans. Informing a person that his or her pet is too sick for economical treatment requires sensitivity and empathy as much as dealing with sick people. Equally difficult is telling a farmer that their livestock may need to be culled in order to contain the outbreak of a disease, hence seriously compromising their livelihood and only source of income.

Entry Requirements

Veterinary medicine has arguably the most demanding entry requirements of all courses. Students should aim to study Chemistry and Biology and another science. Most applicants to veterinary medicine will probably have taken 4 A-levels and secure A grades in each. If the applicant has taken or are considering retakes at A-level then they almost certainly will not be successful in getting into Vet School. They are also highly unlikely to find any Vet courses listed in clearing.