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Studying vet med abroad

I'm sure anyone who applied last year will have been sent the same email that I was from UCAS about foreign universities that have vet courses in English. Instead of waiting another year to reapply I decided to go for this and am now studing vet med on a fantastic course in Slovakia for no more money than it would cost me to study in England, and the rcvs recognises the degree. I was wondering why more people don't go for this option and whether anyone on here would consider it. I have found it (so far) to be a great option. The course is very hands on and you find yourself able to experience more things that you would in England due to slightly relaxed health and safety compared to home. If anyone wants to know more I'd be happy to chat about it.

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Reply 1

Phoebe_Vet

I would definately be interested if I didn't get a place over here after 2 years. The only thing is, I heard from a guy (who was excellent) who studied in Slovakia and although he was a great vet and fully qualified, he did have trouble getting interviews for jobs when he said he studied abroad. Seems to be a bit of a stigma attached to it over here but maybe thats more the reason to study there and prove it's a load of ****

Reply 2

HannahUVM

the more people that take the plunge and come over here to do it the more recognised it will be. the royal college certainly think it's good. at the moment the course is mostly irish, scandinavians and israelis but there's an amazing mixture of people.

Reply 3

samba

HannahUVM

full of hot girls then :biggrin:

Reply 4

HannahUVM

samba

full of hot girls then :biggrin:

millions of them but more of an even mixture of male:female than in England

Reply 5

bumbleboy

I have considered it, but have always been worried about the cost implications of foreign study.

Reply 6

HannahUVM

well to be honest there arent really any cost implications of studying abroad if you pick the right place. Budapest is very expensive but Kosice isn't. When you add up the slightly more expensive tuition with the much much cheaper cost of living it's actualy the same as studying in the UK.

Tuition = €6500 per year
Accomodation in dorms = £85 per MONTH
Other living costs like food are about 25% cheaper (at least) than England

Reply 7

bumbleboy

But I would be eligable for loans to support my study in the UK, whcih as far as im aware dont apply ot study abroad?

Reply 8

HannahUVM

I was told that you can get student loans even if you are studying abroad. I didn't look into that sort of thing though because I already had a loan for my first degree.

Reply 9

starry skies

I think your main difficulty would be getting work in the UK when competing with "home grown" graduates, because although your degree is as valid & rcvs-worthy as anyone elses, employers won't be likely to have direct experience with a grad of your uni and would probably prefer to hire someone "tried & tested" if at all possible. Once you've got your 1st job under your belt it shouldn't be so much of an issue, though.

Just for interests sake, when you say the rcvs recognises your degree, does that mean you don't have to sit further exams to work as a vet in the uk? (If Slovakia is part of the EU I guess it does mean that, but I cba checking a list of EU member states.) Outside the EU it might get more awkward. I know an English guy who qualified DVM from SGU in Grenada (Caribbean, as opposed to Grenada, Spain) and has had to sit an English profiency exam (in addition to the RCVS written & practical exams) to be allowed to register!

Reply 10

HannahUVM

No I don't have to do any additional exams. Slovakia is EU but that's not the reason it's accepted. There are various vet degrees that the RCVS doesn't automatically accept, Barcelona being one I think.
Various people on my course have spoken to vets about the whole employment issue (it was too much of a last minute decision for me to have had time to do this) and they all said they wouldn't look down on it at all. A lot of them seem to have heard of the overseas degrees and like them. I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it. First of all I need to pass my anatomy test on Monday!! Even if it takes a bit longer to secure my first job I am sure I will manage that and then as you said it wont be such a problem after that.

Reply 11

Phoebe_Vet

What's the social side like there? Is it a lot harder being so far away from home?

Reply 12

HannahUVM

The social side isn't too bad at all. It's not like England with large clubs but there's a lot of bars and a few smaller club like places. Pretty much every weekend someone has organised some sort of get together but although it is my first year here I am not technically a first year so we are already bogged down with work and not going out that much. The dorms, although not the prettiest things in the world, are very very social and great fun to be in.
I haven't found it at all harder being so far away from home. I think I was more homesick when I went to Cardiff and that was only 2 hours from home. You don't really get time to be that worried about it. Also once you have got into your rhythm you are pretty much only around English speaking people (except in shops) and it's quite a small little world so it feels very safe.

Reply 13

clair0511

Re. which courses are accepted by the RCVS:
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=90387&int1stParentNodeID=89638

I'm studying in Vienna and my tuition fees are only €800 a year, but given that my course is in German I don't think many of you will be rushing over here :biggrin:

According to the RCVS link, once I graduate I can register with the RCVS after 3mths, as long as I am an EU citizen

There does seem to be some stigma with studying abroad, I suppose some employers worry about the level of unknown courses etc. I've been living here for 10yrs, am settled here with job and family so it made sense for me to study here....so obviously if I ever do go back to the UK to work as a vet I will be able to explain all that in an application letter...

I can't comment on English courses in Europe, a few German students from Budapest vet school moved from there to Vienna after the first 2 years but that was more a language issue than anything else I think

Reply 14

HannahUVM

Quite a few students from Budapest transfer to Kosice (from the English course not the German one obviously). A few do it for financial reasons (tuition is half the price in Slovakia that it is in Hungary) and also because Budapest is very focused on dogs apparently.

Reply 15

tigercallie

Hey Hannah, i tried to message you but it doesnt seem to work, so i thought id try just posting here! Im going to apply to UVM this year, just waiting for applications to open now, and it would just be cool to talk to someone who's there already, learn a little bit about the place cos its difficult to find anything really. My emails [email protected] would be good to chat. Hope you're having loads of fun over there!

Elle

Reply 16

HannahUVM

hey elle i've just added you on msn so don't worry that some stranger is trying to add you. i'm supposed to be learning my histology right now not procrastinating on here so i'll email you later. :smile:

Reply 17

Vet wish

Hi could you please give me the contact information for the Uni I am trying to contact to see whether my entry requirements as a mature student would be accepted. Thanks

Reply 18

tigercallie

Original post by Vet wish

Hi could you please give me the contact information for the Uni I am trying to contact to see whether my entry requirements as a mature student would be accepted. Thanks

Hey, this is a really old thread. I did go to slovakia in the end and now actually live with Hannah! Its been really nice rereading this so thanks for bumping it up :-D haha. You should look at the "UVM Kosice" thread, which me and hannah still post on regularly. The entry requirements for the grad course at UVM is a degree in a biological science, doesn't matter what grade. So if you have that, then you meet the entry requirements. Their email address is [email protected] or [email protected] I always email both at the same time cos i never know which one they check. They are however notoriously slow at replying to emails, so it might be easier to just apply!