Official Veterinary Medicine Applicant Thread - 2026 entry

Hiya, this is to and for anyone worrying about work experience
I'm in Y13 and applied for vet med last month with the work experience I got in year 12. I had a total of 47 days which works out to be 9.4 weeks. I had 4.4 weeks of lambing (2 different placements), 1 week at a dairy farm, 1 week at a charity shop (customer facing), 2 weeks clinical, 1 week at kennels and 1 day at an alpaca farm. I would say I definitely went overboard so you definitely don't have to do as much as I have. I was in the same boat last year and I hadn't started getting my work experience until February.
I would say clinic, lambing and dairy proved to be the most useful in terms of personal statement and confirming my passion for vet med (its also the ones universities want the most) though if you can get equine definitely do so (I couldn't). If you have a gap in work experience when it comes to the core species (farm, small animal and equine) do some research; ted talks, articles, books, podcasts etc. universities like to see commitment and proactive-ness, just because you didn't get work experience in one of those species doesn't mean you don't or shouldn't have to learn more about them.
In terms of getting work experience, you will get rejected. I think I sent around 50 emails and made 20+ calls and I still only got 6 placements; my biggest tip is send as many emails as possible (write a generic email that you can copy and paste to everyone in your area) and DO NOT BE AFRAID TO CALL. I know its daunting but 5/7 of my placements I got were from calling, if it helps write a script to read off of.
I enjoyed farm work experience most because they pretty much let you have full rein and do whatever you want. In lambing I injected, I fed, I lambed (stuck my hand up a sheep's nether region (don't want this to get flagged) to take out her stuck lamb), took out stitches, everything. `There's a website called the national sheep association that shows you which farms near you (only in uk) are looking for volunteers for lambing work experience, thats how I got both of my lambing placements. If you need accommodation the farm will often provide for you and if you're lucky they may even pay for your food or even pay you but don't count on it. The earlier you book work experience the better, especially for clinical and equine; farms typically require assistance year round but do note that lambing season takes places between February and May so try to book before then because everyone is always looking for lambing experience.
Thats it, any more questions and ill be happy to answer!

Hi I’m currently in year 12 looking to apply for vetmed in October. I currently only have 11 days of work experience (6 days lambing and 5 at a clinic). What would you recommend I try and prioritise to try and get experience with and how much more do I realistically need? Thank you

Hi everyone, this is a thread for anyone with tips or questions. I'm a 2025 vet med applicant so any questions you have ill probably be able to answer!

Does anyone know if we can apply to both Nottingham gateway and prelim? Or is it one or the other?

not nottingham but i applied to gateway and standard entry to rvc but im sure its worth emailing about

Hi, applying to vet med this October as a mature student. I have a good variety of experience, but one of my longest running is my voluntary work every year at an estate when they have the poults delivered (welfare and QOL checks, delivering and disturbing wheat, ensuring fresh water and shelter are available, disease prevention). I do wonder if this is relevant at all (it’s more of a hobby) as it’s not working for anyone clinical but it’s very hands on and is technically welfare based. I work in a referral hospital and have done for 2 years but have less experience in pcp. Do you think this is a problem? I have some days at different practices who see exotics/wildlife/zoo patients but nothing extended. I have did volunteer for 9 months at a small and large animal rescue farm.
Thanks so much if you have time to read/respond 🙂

Hi, applying to vet med this October as a mature student. I have a good variety of experience, but one of my longest running is my voluntary work every year at an estate when they have the poults delivered (welfare and QOL checks, delivering and disturbing wheat, ensuring fresh water and shelter are available, disease prevention). I do wonder if this is relevant at all (it’s more of a hobby) as it’s not working for anyone clinical but it’s very hands on and is technically welfare based. I work in a referral hospital and have done for 2 years but have less experience in pcp. Do you think this is a problem? I have some days at different practices who see exotics/wildlife/zoo patients but nothing extended. I have did volunteer for 9 months at a small and large animal rescue farm.
Thanks so much if you have time to read/respond 🙂

For clarification, is your work in a referral hospital a human hospital or a veterinary one?

Also applying this October as a mature student! Very scary but exciting. Which unis are you looking at applying to?

Hi everyone, this is a thread for anyone with tips or questions. I'm a 2025 vet med applicant so any questions you have ill probably be able to answer!

Hi there! 👋
I’m applying to Edinburgh and Glasgow (still debating SRUC) as i’m a scottish fees student. What about yourself?
It’s so daunting!! But hopefully it will all be worth it 🤞

For those who feel they don’t meet work experience requirements, the RVC have started a WEX Programme, which is really cool! You should check it out if you’re eligible. Bear in mind you do need 35 hours minimum to qualify (I believe)

I’m looking at Bristol and Nottingham at the moment. Entering via the access to HE route.
Went to bristols open day this week. Was very interesting to see the uni. Heading to Nottingham’s in just under a month.