Liverpool work experience questions

hi I have quite a few questions about liverpools work experience requests,

1- Do they take weeks planned or must it all be upfront- they have a section to say stuff that will be done before interview what about if you have it after the interview for example lambing or a LA vets weeks planned AND in writing????

2- when they mean core work experience they talk about a week at a kennels/cattery would a rescue centre specialising in dogs and cats be a suitable replacement??

3-another "core" question, they talk about working with cows I have been unable to get cattle experience apart from 3 cows on a sheep dairy farm (which doubled up as a petting farm) would buffalo count as a core or an alternative? although immediately different they are extremely similar...

4- being in the agriculture area and my age (27th of august) means I have struggled for placements can I put this as a possible difficulty?

5- would care of a family friends horses count as stable experience??? if I spent the 40 hours there???

1. You get a work experience questionnaire to fill in, there's a section for planned work experience on this


2. Yes, anything with kennels in it would count as your dog and cat core husbandry experience whether it's a rescue kennels/cattery or boarding

3. Buffalo would be alternative, they are a specialist species. When they ask for cattle they want either dairy or beef

4. It's not an excuse unfortunately, I lived in an agricultural area and I managed to get all the required work experience before my application, I had to travel to placements. There's always a way.

5. No, it needs to be a riding establishment and a proper placement. Looking after a friends horse would not count as it would be like trying to count looking after your own pets as work experience which isn't allowed

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Thanks for taking the time to reply!

1 even after the interview???
2 so that's good!
3/4 yep well I am in THE agricultural area (east Anglia) the grain drain? so not many cattle around.
4/5 the main problem is that around me I have asked but they use the work that I would be doing, getting it done by the people that want lessons at a discount so instead of full price they get 25% off if they muck out.... and it means they are using their tried and tested Horsey people instead of an unknown guy who they have no idea what his interests are.

6 Do you know if this 10 weeks has to be all upfront?

Just curious on the work experience requirements for Liverpool. Their guidance notes recommend minimum one week in a stables. Is this to be read as if you don't have a week or over you would be rejected or it would weaken your application? I did a placement at a stables but then met a farrier at the placement only in the area for that day so went with him meaning I have 4 days in a stable and 1 with a farrier opposed to a week :/
Equine is by far my lowest amount of W/E and wondering if this will disadvantage me if I don't do another day.

I never had any equine experience when I applied however this is 3 years ago now.

It states in the guidance notes that you must have:

A minimum of one week in commercial or rescue stables - this means 5 days generally 9-5 so you'll need to get that extra day if you only have 4 - I can't say whether you would be rejected on the basis of this but it will definitely weaken your application against those who have a full week. I personally would get that extra day in somewhere if possible.

Minimum of 1 week in cattery or kennels

Abattoirs are a good one as an extra, as well as a zoo - it'll up your points

You need 2 different veterinary practices

I'd say guideline one week lambing, one week dairy to go with core husbandry placements

It won't disadvantage you not having the full week but you won't get the full points for not having a full week, and they add up all the weeks go get a total which they then use when deciding who to offer an interview to, therefore the more weeks you have and the more variety you have in your work experience placements the better your chances will be of gaining an interview. Applicants last year had generally in excess of 21 weeks work experience when they applied, although we have had students with the minimum requirement gain interviews. Liverpool is the one which is big on work experience compared to the other universities.

Thank you kindly for your response
I'll try and fit another few days in at a stables if possible