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Posted June 8, 2015

Spotlight on: Postgrad Study in Veterinary Sciences

A career as a veterinarian doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be working day-to-day with animals or even be confined to the clinic as a consultant. In fact, there are a multitude of specialist areas within the profession and ones that can be explored through a variety of postgraduate courses available across the UK.

For prospective students hoping to embark on their postgrad journey in Veterinary Sciences, there are lots of programmes which pave the way to a number of exciting careers. Vocations can range from working alongside government bodies protecting public health, working on behalf of charitable organisations like the RSPCA, working within pharmaceutical companies and even establishing a career tackling global issues relating to wildlife and environmental conservation.

A handful of universities across the country provide excellent courses covering these areas and more with options to study at different levels. Generally speaking, there are three postgrad level: a taught Masters, a research Masters and a lengthier research based PhD programme. If you’re unsure about which level of study is best for you then we've got some great advice here.

Taught Masters

If you do decide to undertake a taught Masters then there are a number of options available. The MSc in Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, for example, primarily focusses on infectious diseases, conservation and veterinary public health. You can expect to gain expertise in areas like food security with career progression in policy development, research, industry and the government. On the other hand, the University of Bristol offers an MSc in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation which aims to give students the practical training and knowledge they need to succeed in a role where they’ll be working with wildlife on a global scale. Other specialist programmes include the MSc in Equine Science at Hartpury College for those with an exclusive interest in Equine welfare while the University of Lincoln’s MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour chiefly concentrates on the management of problem behaviour in companion animals.

Research Masters

As well as taught Masters, there are several choices for applicants attracted to the idea of independent study with a research Masters or MRes. These type of courses help prepare students for a career within the medical field or as a stepping stone to PhD study.

The University of Nottingham’s MRes allows students to engage with three key areas: veterinary science, veterinary business and management and veterinary education. For students requiring flexibility, the innovative MVetSci programme at the University of Edinburgh might be the perfect match. The course is part-time with a 3-6 year completion period and predominately involves online distance learning . The choice of projects can range from bench research to clinical research with subjects including epidemiology, neuroscience, welfare and zoo animals to name but a few.

PhD Study

For postgrads eager to pursue research on a longer term basis with a PhD, the top-ranking Royal Veterinary College offers some of the best options in the UK. Research spans from cell and molecular science to whole animal physiology and population medicine. Moreover, their facilities are some of the most modern in the country with an up-and-coming School of Veterinary Medicine opening at the end of this year.

Choosing the right course can be an exciting prospect and the next major step in achieving your career goals but it’s vitally important to factor in the costs. There are funding options that enable students to partially or fully fund their studies - see here for more.

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Postgrad courses in Veterinary Medicine
UK fees and funding
The application process
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