Vet Uni 2022

As a Liverpool student I'm going to say Liverpool - in reality either Liverpool or RVC are equal in terms of reputation. Cambridge has a pretty negative reputation with general practice employers, that isn't to say you wouldn't get a job we are in the midst of a vet shortage at the moment but I would steer clear unless you are aiming for a career in research.

You say RVC you wouldn't require accommodation but are you aware it is not all taught on the same campus? Whilst you certainly could travel to both I can imagine this being a bit of a pain compared to living local to each with student accommodation.

Liverpool is a very good vet school, We have the Phillip Leverhulme Equine Hospital (one of the best in Europe) and you will as an equine vet come out with a better experience regarding colics due to the caseload but that isn't to say other departments are lacking. We have super farm teaching/staff and facilities having uni farms on site. Similarly small animal we have both the smallies hospital but also a first opinion practice so you aren't only seeing referral level cases. The accommodation is also very cheap both in city centre and over at Leahurst

I can't speak of Cambridges subtle differences as I don't know them, the reputation of the university was enough to put me off researching much further. I am aware you typically live in college accommodation for all 6 years (as they are forced to intercalate) and unless it has been recently overturned aren't allowed to have a job alongside studying. We'll not mention Saturday lectures either

As far as RVC vs Liverpool

RVC you move out of central London after 2nd year to the Hawkshead campus
Liverpool you move to Leahurst after 3 years in Liverpool

RVC accommodation would be far more costly than Liverpool both central and hawkshead (I know you said you don't need any but I would look into if you actually do)

I have no idea what stage you are at as to whether it is too early but planning a future career is no bad thing regardless!

Thank you so much that has definitively helped me rank liverpool quite high, especially because of its equine facilities! I was aware that for RVC i would have to move campus but i thought it would've been towards the third year. Funnily enough i thought that since Cambridge is quite a prestigious university it would have a better reputation! Since you study at liverpool I'm not sure if you know much about Nottingham, but do you reckon it is a good university as well?

I know people who study at Nottingham and I would argue Nottingham is just as good a university (it was my 2nd choice afterall) and @animalmagic will tell you it is a better course - Try and speak to as many students there but also vets/employers like the one tagged to make your decision.

I know people who study at Nottingham and I would argue Nottingham is just as good a university (it was my 2nd choice afterall) and @animalmagic will tell you it is a better course - Try and speak to as many students there but also vets/employers like the one tagged to make your decision.

Thanks for the tag @TheWannabeFarmer I'm very busy at the moment and might well have missed this. @macy_m don't worry too much about which university is best for equine, they will all cover it and get you the qualification you need. It will be your ems and then employment opportunities/choices that matter far more. Apply to the universities you think you'll be happiest at and have the best chance of getting an offer from. Everyone obviously has their own opinions but mine (as a vet who qualified in the 80s and a previous employer of a lot of vets) is that Cambridge is my least favourite. I like the Nottingham course best, they have a real reputation for producing good graduates. For the best campus/location I vote Edinburgh. Whatever you do don't apply to Cambridge thinking because it is Cambridge then it must be the best. Having said all that I know at least one TSR applicant who I agreed with that Cambridge was best for them even though they wanted to do clinical practice and not go into research, and I would go there if it was my only offer so if you have excellent academic grades and knowledge, and very little work experience then that would be a reason to apply there as one of your four choices.

thank you so much! what do you think about rvc if you dont mind me asking?

It’s where I went, it was my only offer, and I’m really grateful that I went there. If I was choosing where to go now, it would be well down on my list though. I don’t like being in central London, the Camden campus isn’t great (though I love Hawkshead). It also takes far too many students now for me, there was only 70 ish in my year when I was there. My personal order would be Nottingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Surrey, RVC, HK, then Cambridge. That’s just my opinion though, it doesn’t make it right. If I only had one offer I’d take it, no matter which university it was from.