Career Prospects

Our Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) has a very high employment rate post qualification.

Accreditation

You will be entitled to practise as a veterinarian as soon as you have earned your BVM&S degree and registered as a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

The reciprocal arrangement between the RCVS and the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc (AVBC) allows BVM&S graduates to register to practice in Australia and New Zealand without requiring any further qualifications. We are also accredited by The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC).

In addition, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will recognise your degree as equivalent to those awarded by veterinary colleges in the United States following a successful pass in the NAVLE.

NAVLE

Brexit and European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE)

The R(D)SVS is a member of, and approved by, EAEVE - but since the UK left the European Union in January 2021, UK veterinary degrees are no longer automatically recognised by EU member states. 

Each county in the EU/EEA will therefore recognise your UK degree based on their own rules and regulations, and some countries may require you to take further exams before you can work in their country. You should check the local rules and regulations in the country you are planning to work in after your graduation. A list of competent authorities within the EU is listed on the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe (FVE) website:

 FVE list of veterinary authorities by country

Employment

Our graduates go on to enjoy a wide range of careers in veterinary medicine, including positions in:

• Small animal practices
• Mixed practices
• Equine practices
• Farm/livestock environments
• Wild animal environments
• Wildlife conservation
• Military support
• Industry
• Research
• Government
• Academia

For further details on careers within Veterinary Medicine, refer to the Prospects website.

Prospects.ac.uk

International Students - Skilled Worker visa

International students will be able to work in the UK for two years after completing their programme of studies.

• The new immigration route will be open to international students who have completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education Institution with a track record of compliance
• Successful applicants on this route will be able to stay and work (in any sector or at any level), or look for work, in the UK for a maximum period of two years. The visa is not extendable but graduates will be able to switch into skilled work once they have found a suitable job
• It is expected that students entering the UK in the 2020-21 academic year intake will be eligible for this route. Students with a Tier 4 visa (now known as Student Route visa) may also be able to benefit from the Skilled Worker visa. Students whose Tier 4 visa expired before the the Skilled Worker visa was introduced are not eligible for this.

Student visas