Girton has one of the largest cohorts of veterinary students ensuring a varied and mutually supportive community

Why choose Veterinary Medicine at Girton?

Girton has always taken a large cohort of veterinary students with, on average, eight to nine students embarking on the Veterinary Medicine course at Girton each year. This ensures an enthusiastic, varied and mutually supportive veterinary community within College. Informal veterinary “get-togethers” occur throughout the year and include the popular Michaelmas Term Vets’ Supper Party. Girton is also conveniently placed for easy access to the Veterinary School.

The teaching Fellowship contains fully qualified veterinary surgeons with clinical experience and specialist skills in equine medicine, small animal surgery, anatomic pathology, farm animal medicine and in Diagnostic Imaging. Students also benefit from interaction with the medical students and those studying natural sciences and frequently work together, and engage in activities such as the Science Communication Prize.

Undergraduate Veterinary Medicine

• No. of students admitted per year: 8-10
• Entry requirements: All entry requirements are A-Level standard or equivalent, unless otherwise stated. Chemistry and one from Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
• Typical offer: A*AA
• Assessment arrangements: All Cambridge applicants are required to take a written assessment prior to interview. Applicants must register in advance and further information about the written assessment can be found here 
• Interview arrangements: Usually two interviews. In one interview, the applicant’s suitability for the profession is assessed; the other interview concentrates on testing the applicant’s ability in and enthusiasm for science.

Veterinary Medicine undergraduate information

The six year Veterinary Medicine course at Cambridge provides a unique training in basic medical sciences followed by a clinical course which applies students’ scientific knowledge practically as they study and work in the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital. The small group sizes provide unparalleled opportunities for direct contact with clinical teachers and opportunities to develop personal interests in any aspect of clinical veterinary science or research.

The views of current Girton veterinary students:

‘Very friendly, great facilities. An all round great College!’ – Girton Third Year Vet

‘It is a real privilege to have supervisions on a weekly basis with qualified vets, who can exemplify the clinical relevance of preclinical studies.’ – Girton Second Year Vet

Veterinary Medicine postgraduate information

The Department of Veterinary Medicine runs the clinical part of the course and has a substantial number of PhD students undertaking research within world-renowned research groups, carrying out cutting-edge biomedical research.

Potential applicants for PhD or MPhil programmes in the Department of Veterinary Medicine should contact postgraduates@vet.cam.ac.uk.

Research and postgraduate students are admitted to the University by the Board of Graduate Studies. You must therefore apply centrally and not to the College, however you must be admitted to a College to be able to study at the University. To ensure that this is Girton you need to indicate this on your application form.

Career destinations

Due to the nature of the Veterinary course at Cambridge with its excellent science base, opportunities following graduation are many and varied. Most graduates enter clinical practice initially. Many progress to pursue diverse and rewarding careers within the clinical sector, with some individuals choosing to move into other areas of veterinary work including industry, journalism, basic and applied research, veterinary pathology and policy making.