Veterinary Medicine Applicant thread 2025 entry

I’m applying to Liverpool, UCLan, harper and Nottingham as a graduate. I had 10yrs experience working in a mixed practice but some time ago, week in zoo, had own horses, lambing, milking, abattoir. Struggling to fit anything new as I work full time but have managed to get 1 week in a surgery in August. Will try to get another week doing something else. I thought there was not such an emphasis though on work experience as not everyone can do it- is this not correct?

I’m applying to Liverpool, UCLan, harper and Nottingham as a graduate. I had 10yrs experience working in a mixed practice but some time ago, week in zoo, had own horses, lambing, milking, abattoir. Struggling to fit anything new as I work full time but have managed to get 1 week in a surgery in August. Will try to get another week doing something else. I thought there was not such an emphasis though on work experience as not everyone can do it- is this not correct?

Anyone applying this year needing any advice please feel free to dm me, I’m just finished my application cycle with 3/3 offers as a Scottish applicant and want to help any others needing help with applying or work experience as I know how hard it is having to figure it all out on your own.

Congratulations. My daughter is applying this year. Has to resit English Language as got a Grade 6 then she can decide. Can I ask what work experience you did please we just want to ensure we have the correct stuff lined up. Thank you 😊

Thanks, yes so I live on a farm so that was very helpful BUT not necessary at all, what I found was they cared more about the variety and quality rather than 100s of hrs,
I only had maybe 45hrs in a vet practice if that but I was able choose a couple of key experiences to explain in detail and show my understanding,
The thing that I found most useful was doing as much volunteering at a local kennels and cattery which had a rescue centre and I found that talking about experiences with difficult dogs etc and the rewarding side of getting to know shy dogs as well as the customer experience was a big help as I found that I had more freedom to do more like give medication and handle clients than possible in a vet practice.
I did decide not to do any equine experience as I felt I had enough but that could be useful too.
Trying to get a few days lambing of on a farm would be great too as they value lambing a lot.
Also visiting an abattoir is a good booster one but not necessary, I didn’t do it.
The thing is that in an interview she won’t have time to talk about everything so as long as she can show understanding and that she’s gained insight into not just the fluffy puppy side but the challenges and still remains committed to this career that’s a great deal better that doing an extreme amount of hours.
Remind her not to compare hers to others posting with every possible experience because in the end of the day it comes down to the interview and herself.
And that it is soo possible to get in first time.

Thanks, yes so I live on a farm so that was very helpful BUT not necessary at all, what I found was they cared more about the variety and quality rather than 100s of hrs,
I only had maybe 45hrs in a vet practice if that but I was able choose a couple of key experiences to explain in detail and show my understanding,
The thing that I found most useful was doing as much volunteering at a local kennels and cattery which had a rescue centre and I found that talking about experiences with difficult dogs etc and the rewarding side of getting to know shy dogs as well as the customer experience was a big help as I found that I had more freedom to do more like give medication and handle clients than possible in a vet practice.
I did decide not to do any equine experience as I felt I had enough but that could be useful too.
Trying to get a few days lambing of on a farm would be great too as they value lambing a lot.
Also visiting an abattoir is a good booster one but not necessary, I didn’t do it.
The thing is that in an interview she won’t have time to talk about everything so as long as she can show understanding and that she’s gained insight into not just the fluffy puppy side but the challenges and still remains committed to this career that’s a great deal better that doing an extreme amount of hours.
Remind her not to compare hers to others posting with every possible experience because in the end of the day it comes down to the interview and herself.
And that it is soo possible to get in first time.

My biggest worry with the work experience that I have so far is that I didn't get enough out of it. I feel like I don't have a moving story to tell or a very difficult experience where I learned a lot about the profession or insight that could help me in interviews or personal statements. I do still have more experience to go as I am going lambing soon and hoping to go regularly at my second small animal clinic so I really hope I do get more out of those experiences that I can use in my application.

Also if she’s seen anything she’s found interesting in her experience's, research it too as that can be mentioned in the personal statement opening up questions for her to show her knowledge on that in interviews Also if she’s seen anything she’s found interesting in her experience's, research it too as that can be mentioned in the personal statement opening up questions for her to show her knowledge on that in interviews

My biggest worry with the work experience that I have so far is that I didn't get enough out of it. I feel like I don't have a moving story to tell or a very difficult experience where I learned a lot about the profession or insight that could help me in interviews or personal statements. I do still have more experience to go as I am going lambing soon and hoping to go regularly at my second small animal clinic so I really hope I do get more out of those experiences that I can use in my application.

Thank you so much for the advice very helpful. She has got quite a variety lambing and working on a dairy farm, volunteering at an animal rescue centre. Vet practices including a specialist referral centre. A farm park alpaca experience and not actually going to an abbatoir but shadowing RVC students at a animal health day at an abbatoir.

That’s a great amount of experience I’m sure she’s do great

Hope so. Such a stressful process. Good luck with your choice x

Use this as an opportunity to chat with your fellow veterinary medicine applicants!

Hello! I had a quick questionn - do you need to do the ucat or anything like that to study vet med in the uk

Anyone applying this year needing any advice please feel free to dm me, I’m just finished my application cycle with 3/3 offers as a Scottish applicant and want to help any others needing help with applying or work experience as I know how hard it is having to figure it all out on your own.