Veterinary Medicine (Graduate Entry Programme - 4-year programme) BVM&S

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Veterinary Medicine

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

D102

Award

BVM&S

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Easter Bush campus

Start date

August 2026

School

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

College

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Accreditation

Available

Placement

Available

Open days and events

About the degree programme

The Graduate Entry Programme (GEP) is a four-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) that will prepare you for many aspects of the veterinary profession.

Graduating from this programme will make you eligible for registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), as well as international accrediting bodies. Subject to successful registration, you will be able to practice veterinary medicine in the UK and many countries overseas.

The GEP offers a route to the veterinary profession for graduates with a first degree in a biological or animal science subject. You will study an accelerated Foundation phase curriculum over one year before joining the five-year BVM&S cohort for the Clinical phase of your degree.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

The degree is taught over four years.

Year 1: Foundation

You will learn about the normal function of the animal body from the cell level to the entire organism.

Clinical and professional skills are taught from the first year of the programme.

Extra Mural Studies (EMS) are a key component of the degree, and you will be required to complete 10 weeks of Animal Husbandry placements by the end of this year.

Years 2 to 4: Clinical

You will learn about disease and treatment, species-specific courses, pathology, pharmacology and veterinary public health.

You will also be required to complete 20 weeks of clinical EMS placements by the end of final year.

The final year comprises clinical rotations in our on-site hospital facilities, giving you real-life exposure to the work you will be undertaking following graduation.

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Degree (4 year) - The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Programme rankings

  • 1st in UK for agriculture, food and veterinary science research together with SRUC (REF 2021)
  • 1st in UK for veterinary science (Guardian League Tables 2025)
  • 1st in UK for veterinary science (Shanghai Rankings 2023)
  • 2nd in UK and 5th in the world for veterinary science (QS World Rankings 2025)

Programme benefits

  • Our purpose-built campus is home to one of the largest concentrations of animal science expertise in Europe, and students benefit from access to our three on-site veterinary hospitals.
  • Studying veterinary medicine at Edinburgh will give you transferable skills such as effective communication, team building and an understanding of business management.
  • Veterinary training also provides an outstanding background for those who wish to pursue a career in biomedical research, including both veterinary and human medicine.
  • Our long-standing combination of tradition and cutting-edge veterinary teaching benefits from a close-knit collegial community of students.
  • Our school prides itself on the excellent teaching and continuing support for students. This is reflected in our continued success in the National Student Survey (NSS) results, where our most recent teaching satisfaction score is 95% (2023/24).

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies made sure I felt at home, away from home, as the community within the school is unmatched. Professors provide us so much care and respect the work-life balance that has allowed me to be very active in extracurriculars making many friends in other years to keep me going.

Alexis Schlieper 3rd Year BVM&S Veterinary Medicine Graduate Entry

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or an international equivalent, in a biological or animal science subject.

Subjects studied must include the following at C or better:

  • Biology/Zoology
  • Physics
  • Biochemistry
  • Organic and Inorganic Chemistry
  • Mathematics/Statistics

Genetics, Microbiology and Cellular Biology, at C or better, are also strongly recommended.

Additional requirements

Interviews

You will need to attend an interview as part of the selection process for this programme.

Find out more in Applying (see Interviews)

Practical experience

You need to provide detailed information about relevant practical experience, and you must also submit a work experience summary form.

Find out more in Applying (see What you need to apply)

Fitness to practise

The University has a responsibility to ensure that students studying on a degree 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. You will be provided with further information on admission.

If we give you an unconditional firm offer, you will need to complete a health questionnaire before you start this programme.

Find out more in Applying (see After you apply)

Disability

Veterinary medicine is a practical subject and students must be able to handle and examine all animals safely and humanely.

If you have a disability, health condition or allergy that may impact your ability to perform practical procedures, then we recommend you discuss this with the Undergraduate Admissions Office before you apply.

Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office

English language requirements

You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test.

School qualifications we accept

We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher:

  • SQA National 5 English at C
  • GCSE English at C or 4
  • Level 2 Certificate English at C
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements.

Other qualifications we accept

We also accept other qualifications from around the world.

English language qualifications and tests we accept

English language tests we accept

If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: 

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 7.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 185 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 8 in each component.
Other English language tests we accept

We also accept other types of English language tests.  

English language qualifications and tests we accept 

How old your English language qualifications can be

Qualifications no more than two years old

Qualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of this programme, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS
  • TOEFL
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
Qualifications no more than three and a half years old

All other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of this programme.

If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.

Check the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries

Tuition fees for BVMS Veterinary Medicine (Graduate Entry)

View the tuition fees for one academic year of BVMS Veterinary Medicine (Graduate Entry).

Tuition fees for this programme

Additional costs

Additional costs include:

  • compulsory specialised equipment and protective clothing (approximately £150)
  • locker deposits (£15)
  • travel costs for getting to the Easter Bush Campus (around £560 a year on public transport from the city centre)
    • We subsidise these travel costs proportionally, in line with your year of study.
    • You will be eligible for free bus travel if you are aged under 22 and residing in Scotland.

While you are completing Extra Mural Study (EMS) placements totaling 30 weeks, you may incur additional accommodation and travel costs. You may be able to access the limited grant funding available from the University, but this is unlikely to cover the full costs of EMS.

International students may have to pay a healthcare surcharge of around £776 per person, per year of the visa as part of their immigration application. This fee may be subject to change.

Student Immigration Service - Immigration Health Surcharge

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

Featured funding

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies UK Graduate/International Scholarship

The School offers two scholarships for overseas students or UK graduates beginning their studies on the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S).

Value: £5,000 per year
School Prizes

During your studies, you will have the chance to be eligible for awards or prizes for academic excellence.

What you will study

Veterinary medicine is first and foremost a scientific discipline, but wherever possible the science will be presented in the context of its clinical relevance, so you have a clear understanding of where it all leads.

We offer an integrated programme of study where you will be taught about large animals, small companion animals, exotics and wildlife. This style of degree:

  • broadens your understanding of different species
  • diversifies your career prospects
  • provides you with a level of flexibility to specialise at a later stage if you wish

Our programme offers a wide range of stimulating teaching and learning methods designed to equip you with the confidence and skills for a fulfilling career in veterinary medicine. You will be taught by some of the UK’s most prominent veterinary scientists in an environment of cutting-edge veterinary research.

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Degree (4 year) - The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

  • Professional and Clinical Skills (GEP)
  • The Animal Body 1, 2 and the Animal Body Systems and Cases (GEP)
  • Animal Life and Food Safety (GEP)
Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

  • Professional and Clinical Skills 3
  • Clinical Foundation Course
  • Veterinary Pathology
  • Integrated Clinical Course: Cat and Dog
Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

  • Integrated Clinical Courses in Farm Animal; Equine and Exotics
  • Veterinary Public Health
  • Professional and Clinical Skills 4
Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

  • Final year rotations (selected and core)
  • Student research component
Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Placements

The Roslin Institute and the Moredun Institute offer placements to BVM&S students.

You will also have opportunities to complete short laboratory-based research placements, usually over the summer after Year 2.

Final year placements

Final year students complete a series of core and selected clinical rotations.

The school has a range of partners who offer clinical rotations to students that can be applied to as electives. These are available from within the Edinburgh area, across the UK and internationally and are taken during Semester 2 of final year. Each rotation has a set timescale of either two, three or four weeks and some have funding support available.

Close to campus, specific clinical rotations are available at:

  • St David Poultry Team in poultry health
  • the University’s Bioresearch and Veterinary Services exploring the health, welfare and treatment of animals within a research organisation

There are also opportunities available at Edinburgh Zoo.

Students can travel a little further afield with:

  • a clinical rotation in Wiltshire exploring pig health, welfare and management
  • a three-week rotation in Scotland with the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme

Internationally, there are clinical rotations available at:

  • Colorado State University
  • the American Fondouk Working Equid Clinic in Fes, Morocco
Extra Mural Studies (EMS)

In your Foundation and Clinical phases, you will gain practical experience by completing mandatory Extra Mural Studies (EMS). This is in addition to any placements you may take on.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of:

  • lectures
  • small-group teaching tutorials
  • practical work
  • case-based learning

Our virtual learning environments will support your studies. These include:

  • a virtual farm
  • a virtual post-mortem room
  • a virtual hospital
  • a virtual pharmacy

Assessment

You will be assessed by:

  • exams
  • coursework
  • practical and clinical work

An average day is a mix of lectures and practical classes.

  • Lectures cover all aspects of anatomy and often feature case examples to help understand how tissue and organ function is affected by disease or injury.
  • Practical classes follow on the same topic to put the learning into practice.

Live animals feature in classes from Year 1 with our teaching horses, cows, sheep and exotic animals living on-site and staff pets used in companion animal classes.

Support for your studies

As well as a strong commitment to teaching and learning, the school recognises the need to provide robust student support services.

We offer students:

  • student advisers – first point of contact for guidance, advice and support
  • professional mentors – an academic member of staff to follow you through the programme
  • student support advisory group – a group of academic staff with specific responsibilities relating to student support
  • academic skills development and support – support to adapt to university teaching methods

We also work closely with central support services to cater for lots of different support you may need.

Our academic staff

Our staff include some of the most distinguished veterinary professionals and academics in the world.

Clinical staff within our hospitals have a teaching responsibility so we can offer our students an exceptional learning experience that’s rooted in a real-world clinical context.

Where you will study

Study location

The Easter Bush Campus is a purpose-built home for veterinary teaching, research and practice. Set against the idyllic backdrop of the Pentland Hills Regional Park, the Campus lies seven miles south of the city centre. It is easily accessible by bus and has ample free car parking facilities.

The University of Edinburgh and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies are committed to sustainability, and we are proud to call Easter Bush a sustainable campus. We have:

  • electric car charging points
  • hedgehog tunnels
  • recycling initiatives
  • an apiary for bees
  • allotments
  • shower facilities for bike commuters and bike safety checks
  • a solar farm

Academic facilities

The Easter Bush Campus is home to:

  • state-of-the-art veterinary teaching facilities
  • Hospital for Small Animals, referral services and first opinion practice
  • equine hospital, referral services and ambulatory practice
  • farm animal hospital, referral services and ambulatory practice
  • Exotic Animals and Wildlife Service
  • sheep farm
  • The Roslin Institute
  • Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems
  • Jeanne Marchig International Centre of Animal Welfare Education

Nearby is Langhill, our school's 250-hectare livestock farm, where you will learn animal handling and farm animal medicine, and the campus is within easy reach of a pig unit.

We also have links with Edinburgh Zoo and African wildlife projects.

As a University of Edinburgh student, you will have access to facilities across all University sites, for example:

  • laboratories
  • libraries
  • study spaces (some study spaces are open 24 hours)
  • computing facilities

Virtual tour

Take a closer look at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and explore our facilities and campus.

Virtual Tours - The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by:

  • the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
  • the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
  • the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE)
  • the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc (AVBC)
  • the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)

Subject to local registration requirements, our graduates can practise veterinary medicine in:

  • the UK
  • Europe
  • North America
  • Australasia
  • South Africa

The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery is the equivalent of the North American Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), with the same standing worldwide.

Career paths

Clinical careers

This programme will train and prepare you for a career as a veterinary practitioner, either in general practice or a specialised field of practice, such as:

  • small animal practice
  • mixed practice
  • equine practice
  • farm/production animal practice
  • exotic animal practice
  • wildlife disease prevention
  • wildlife conservation
  • endangered species conservation
  • military support
  • livestock husbandry education in the developing world
  • industry
  • research
  • government service
  • academia

Research careers

You can pursue a research career.

Our school incorporates the Roslin Institute. This, along with the Moredun Research Institute and Scotland's Rural College, makes up the Easter Bush Research Consortium - one of the world's highest concentrations of animal scientists in one place.

While many of our graduates enter the veterinary profession for life, many others find that their training at Edinburgh enables them to pursue a career in:

  • research
  • government
  • private enterprise
  • academia

You can find more information on career prospects at the vet school website:

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery career prospects

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.

With the Careers Service, you can:

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

After you complete this degree programme, you may want to go on to further study at Edinburgh or a different university.

Graduate profiles

Dr Jennifer West

Jennifer graduated from the BVM&S Veterinary Medicine Graduate Entry Programme in 2020.
 
Jennifer grew up in Tampa, Florida, where her passion for animals began with caring for her family’s dogs. She pursued her interest at the University of Florida, earning a degree in Animal Science.
 
Seeking a world-class veterinary education with a strong international perspective, she chose to attend the prestigious University of Edinburgh. Drawn by its rich history in veterinary medicine, cutting-edge research, and diverse clinical experience, she embraced the opportunity to train in a globally recognised programme.
 
After earning her veterinary degree, Dr West joined Veterinary Emergency Group, where she completed a modified veterinary externship in emergency medicine. She has a special interest in emergency surgery and internal medicine.

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline, unless you are a North American graduate applicant.

Read our Admissions Policy

Read our 2026 Admissions Guide 

Guidance on applying through UCAS

North American graduate applicants

You are a graduate applicant if you already have a degree or you are about to graduate with one.

If you are a North American graduate applicant, you need to apply through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) on the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website.

Guidance about applying through VMCAS

If you are a North American high school student, or a graduate applicant from another country, you must apply through UCAS.

All candidates for this programme (international and UK graduates) are considered on a full fee basis only. 

Veterinary Medicine tuition fees 2025-2026  

Deferred entry

You cannot apply for deferred entry for this programme, unless you are doing National Service. In this case, we can consider a deferral of one year only. 

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need: 

  • your academic qualifications 
  • your predicted grades (if relevant)
  • a personal statement 
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications) 
  • evidence of practical work experience
  • an academic reference

Guidelines for referees

Academic transcripts

If you are applying with a first degree or international qualifications, you must submit a copy of your transcript showing subjects and grades achieved to date.

You should submit your transcript by 22 October 2025.

English language tests

We require all applicants to demonstrate the level of English language competency required to succeed in their studies. 

If you are using an English language test that is not part of your school studies to meet our English language requirements, you must provide these results by 30 June 2025, for the 4-year Graduate Entry BVM&S Programme (August start). 

Work Experience Summary form

You need to provide information about relevant practical experience in your UCAS application.

In our decision-making process, we can only consider practical experience you have completed. If you are due to do work experience, then we may give you a conditional offer.

You should submit a Work Experience Summary (WES) form to the Admissions Office by 22 October 2025. Applications without a WES will be considered incomplete and will not be considered further in the selection process.

Complete your Work Experience Summary form

How we select

There are usually 60 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. 

Interviews

If you meet our entry requirements and present a competitive application, you will be selected to attend an interview between December and early March. Interviews cover suitability for, and interest in, veterinary medicine and career exploration to date.  

We make offers on the basis of performance at interview. 

We interview around 250 applicants for this programme each year. 

BVM&S Interview information and dates

When to apply

UCAS deadline

  •  2026 entry UCAS deadline: 15 October 2025 (6:00pm GMT) 

VMCAS deadline

  • 2026 entry VMCAS deadline: 15 September 2025 (11:59pm EST)

This is the deadline for North American graduate applicants through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS).

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Learn about fitness to practise and complete a health questionnaire

You need to show evidence that you are fit enough to participate in the practical applications and physical activities of this programme. 

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, and enrolment is subject to Health Clearance.

No health condition automatically precludes a student from studying veterinary medicine, and we consider any disability or health condition on an individual basis.

You will be asked to complete a Confidential Health Questionnaire form, which will be assessed by the University’s Occupational Health Unit. Your form will not be seen by the vet school.

Find out more about the health questionnaire

Pay a deposit

All international and UK graduate students who have been offered a place on this programme and who have made us their Firm choice via UCAS are required to pay a fee deposit equal to approximately 10% of the first year’s fees. 

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS, unless you are a North American graduate applicant.

Find out more about applying through UCAS 

Visas and immigration

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme. 

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa 

Agents 

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact. 

Find contact details for an education agent 

What our students say

Hear what our students say about life at the University of Edinburgh.

Read our student blog

Hear more from our students by reading our blogs.

Stories from Vet School

Accommodation

University accommodation is guaranteed for all new Year 1 entry students who reside outside of Edinburgh. This applies to students on both the 5-year and Graduate Entry Programme (GEP) Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

Bespoke accommodation options for GEP students who have an earlier start date are available. Full details will be shared with offer holders.

Societies and clubs

Dick Vet Student Union (DVSU)

The vet school is host to a variety of clubs and societies, and has its own Students’ Union, the DVSU. The School hosts several events throughout the year where students and staff come together to celebrate.

These range from the annual Pre-Burns Night supper to the Halloween party. These events are just one example of the many ways the School includes all its students and makes them feel more like a family.

Dick Vet Student Union

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

Related degree programmes

Other degrees in Veterinary Medicine

Discover Uni data

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.