What is veterinary science?
Veterinary science as a subject concerns the treatment of a range of different animals – from domestic pets to farmyard animals – and combines an array of subjects like anatomy and animal behaviour, as well as niche subjects like parasitology (the study of parasites) and gastroenterology (the study of the stomach and intestines).
Many of the subject areas covered during a veterinary science degree crossover with medical degrees, such as preventative care, psychological analysis and neurology. However, as the patient is very different, courses have to offer animal-specific modules, like breeding, for instance.
If you’re passionate about ensuring animal well-being, have a strong aptitude for scientific study and feel up to the challenge of dealing with all kinds of creatures – in both happy and sad circumstances – a veterinary science degree could be for you.
So how long does it take to qualify as a vet? Studying a veterinary science degree is challenging but rewarding and usually takes five or six years to complete. Students must be prepared to study for a relatively long period as, essentially, they are responsible for the health and safety of animals.
Explore the best universities for veterinary science degrees
What do you learn in a veterinary science degree?
The approach differs between universities and you should fully research the various modules, and the possibility of industry placements, which are a great way of getting experience within the industry prior to graduation. Other factors to consider is the amount of time you will get having hands on experience with animals.
Budding vets should expect to study modules such as animal health science, cell biology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics, animal behaviour, epidemiology, pharmacology, infectious diseases, pathology, parasitology and animal disease. Students usually also have a choice of elective subjects which are studied at greater depth and give the student time to specialise in their given interests.
Most universities also offer the opportunity to complete a research project. Importantly, a huge range of vocational skills are learnt during university – such as how to keep a level head in a crisis – which can be applied to multiple professional disciplines.
Veterinary science degrees can be hard work, time consuming and require dedication. The average teaching hours on a course at university is 14 hours, however veterinary science usually has 26 hours a week on average of teaching hours – sometimes rising to 32 hours. The time spent in lectures and seminars each week, however, varies between universities.
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What should I study at high school if I want to study to be a vet?
Veterinary science degrees are a highly popular and competitive choice, and studying it at university requires a particular set of skills. With such tough competition, good grades are vital as well as an impressive personal statement and previous relevant work experience.
You’ll need to have previously studied chemistry and biology and some universities prefer it if aspiring vets study physics and mathematics too. Modules, just like you’d find on a medicine degree, are scientific and it’s imperative that students have a strong scientific background to facilitate further study.
There is a good chance you’ll have to go through a fairly competitive interview process as well. This is more common than ever now as your future lecturers will want to find out more about what you’ve done previously as well as your passion and commitment for veterinary science.
Student experience of studying veterinary science
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What do people who study veterinary science do after graduation?
Most graduates get jobs as veterinary surgeons upon graduation and starting salaries can be quite high. The majority of work is in rural areas, although most towns and cities have many veterinary practices.
General practice vets are largely responsible for the prevention of disease and for the medical and surgical treatment of animals including household pets, zoo animals, farm animals and horses. Once working, many veterinary surgeons choose to further specialise their knowledge by studying for additional qualifications.
With the skills you develop, trained vets can move into other industries, such as within veterinary teaching and research – which is vital in the advancement of understanding the field – government service, working within pharmaceutical companies, the armed forces, in international and overseas organisations and animal charities.
Famous people who studied veterinary science
Many famous names previously trained as veterinary surgeons prior to changing their career paths. William Hall Macy Jr – the American actor, screenwriter, teacher, and director in theatre, film and television – studied veterinary medicine at Bethany College in West Virginia. Moreover Astrid Radjenovic, an Olympic bobsleigher, studied veterinary science at Wahroonga and Sydney University.
Read more: Best universities for life sciences degrees
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