Veterinary medicine at Edinburgh mixes the best traditions with award-winning, progressive teaching. Our outstanding hospitals and teaching facilities provide an excellent environment to develop your practical and clinical skills.
We offer many opportunities to take part in biological research as part of our vibrant research community. You will learn valuable communication, team-building and management skills and keep a personal and professional development portfolio throughout the BVM&S programme to record elements of study in the professional and clinical skills course. In addition to clinical training, the programme provides an excellent foundation for a career in fields such as academia, research or industry. |
These courses are intended as guidelines. Speak to your guidance counsellor to see what courses are offered at your school.
A 2:1 honours degree in a biological or animal science subject. Subjects studied and gained to a high standard MUST include Biology/Zoology, Physics, Biochemistry, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry and Mathematics/Statistics. Genetics, Microbiology and Cellular Biology are also strongly recommended. Graduates with a science degree but with not enough key core science subjects covered and achieved at a high enough standard for the 4-year Graduate Entry Programme, will be considered for the 5-year only.
Tuition fees
Graduate applicants accepted on to the course will have to pay fees on a full-cost basis.
Practical experience
Applicants should provide detailed information on their practical experience (number of days/week spent and species worked with) in the appropriate section of their UCAS form. Candidates should be aware that the selectors can only take into account work already undertaken and not work planned. Applicants may receive an offer conditional on gaining further specified work experience.
All UCAS candidates are required to complete and return a Work Experience Summary form (WES) to the Admissions Office prior to the deadline of 22 October. Please note that applications submitted without a WES will be considered incomplete.
See the Vet School website to download the form and for further guidance on work experience.
Academic transcripts
All candidates applying for the Graduate Entry Programme must submit a copy of their degree transcript showing subjects and grades achieved to date. The transcript should be submitted by 22 October.
Other entry qualifications
All International and EU applicants, whose first language is not English, must sit an English proficiency test prior to application.
North American applicants
Candidates from North America who are set to complete an appropriate biological or animal science degree will be considered for the four-year programme.
Canadian applicants should have gained high grades in the science subjects throughout their first degree. US applicants should have an overall minimum grade point average of 3.4 (4-point scale), with greater than 3.0 in completed science courses. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test are required (use institution code 0917 and department code 0617). The deadline for GRE scores to be submitted is 1 October.
Fitness to practice
The University has a responsibility to ensure that students studying on a programme that involves practical training in a clinical environment, and that leads to a professional registerable qualification, are fit to practise. This is assessed according to the requirements and standards of the profession the student wishes to enter. Students will be provided with further information on admission.
Health questionnaire
All holders of unconditional firm offers are required to complete a health questionnaire prior to entry to the programme, regardless of whether a disability or health condition was declared on application or not. |
| Application Notes : | Selection
There are usually 45 places for graduate applicants each year. Competition for places is therefore intense. The majority of applications are from candidates of high academic calibre. Unfortunately, meeting the minimum academic entry requirements does not guarantee an offer.
Each application is considered individually. Academic qualifications play an important part in the selection process but close attention is also given to non-academic factors, including work experience, motivation, interests and attainments. An interview forms part of the selection procedure for all offered places.
To be shortlisted for interview, applicants must normally score highly in all of these aspects. Interviews normally take place between December and early March each year, exploring the information in the UCAS application and WES form, covering suitability for, and interest in, veterinary medicine and career exploration to date.
North American applicants
The School has a substantial number of North American candidates applying for both the four- and five-year BVM&S programmes.
All North American graduate applications should be made through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) on the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website.
All North American high school graduate applicants should apply via UCAS.
Late applications
We will consider late applications from graduate and international applicants for both the five-year and four-year programme normally up until December each year. However, before making a formal application, you should contact the Admissions Team.
Application guide
You can find out more about the application process and requirements for veterinary medicine in the BVM&S applications guide booklet. |
| Additional Admission Requirements: | You must provide evidence that your written and spoken English is at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.
If English is not your first language, you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your spoken and written English:
• IELTS Academic module overall 7.0 with 7.0 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT 100 or above with 23 in each section
• IGCSE English (First language) Grade B
• Cambridge English: Advanced & Proficiency overall 185 with 185 in each component
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): Total 61 with at least 51 in each "Communicative Skills" section
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
SQA and GCSE
For SQA and GCSE students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:
• SQA National 5 Grade C
• SQA Standard Grade 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 Grade A
• SQA Intermediate 2 Grade C
• GCSE Grade B
• IB Standard Level Grade 4 |
* We make every attempt to provide accurate information on prerequisites, programs, and tuition. However, this information is subject to change without notice and we highly recommend that you contact the school to confirm important information before applying.