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vet med work experience

i was wondering how to go about getting non-clinical work experience for vet med. i have 3 weeks at three different practices for clinical but only a small amount of dairy and a day at an abattoir for non-clinical. i live in the countryside so there are lots of farms near me but I can't find any contact details online and I don't want to just walk on to a farm as I don't think that's the best thing to do. i want some lambing experience and I've already checked the NSA website and there are no placements that require no experience for me. does anyone have any tips and tricks of how to get farming placements? I want to apply to RVC and they have a requirement of 70 hours non-clinical, could someone give me some ideas of what else I could do to fulfil this time/ what work experience did people get offers with?

Reply 1

Original post
by Logic1
Usually application close in January for work experience in most health courses especially in my area. You could literally call vets and ask them or go in store as this shows more empathy.
They might also give you slight leeway if your academics are strong enough as people had this in the past.
What is ur GCSEs and a level grades? And any AS grades?


hi, i’m quite sure what you mean. my post was about work experience not about applying to university. i’m only in year 12 so won’t be applying until october

Reply 2

Original post
by Logic1
Yup and I am asking about your academic background as in your GCSEs grades.
What I meant is that work experience related to health care closes after January As that is the application deadline for more health related courses. This depends on area.


my gcses are 9,9,8,8,8,8,8,7,6,6,5 and i’m predicted A*AA at a level so far
i don’t think farm work experience on the time of year does it? i’m not looking for clinical work experience in a vets

Reply 3

Original post
by josierossiter
i was wondering how to go about getting non-clinical work experience for vet med. i have 3 weeks at three different practices for clinical but only a small amount of dairy and a day at an abattoir for non-clinical. i live in the countryside so there are lots of farms near me but I can't find any contact details online and I don't want to just walk on to a farm as I don't think that's the best thing to do. i want some lambing experience and I've already checked the NSA website and there are no placements that require no experience for me. does anyone have any tips and tricks of how to get farming placements? I want to apply to RVC and they have a requirement of 70 hours non-clinical, could someone give me some ideas of what else I could do to fulfil this time/ what work experience did people get offers with?

I found targeting farms that have their own websites (and readily available contact details) an alright way to get mine. Some will openly advertise that they offer work experience, but I found my lambing through a farm's online meat shop lol so its worth a punt even if they don't advertise it. Just emailing worked for me for me but I know some people swear by calling. An alternative to farming for non-clinical is kennels/catteries - they're always extremely busy in school holidays so are eager for a helping hand. For context I did 1 week dairy, 1 week lambing and 1 week kennels for my non clinical and got 3 offers (not for RVC tho). But ik finding wex is a struggle so good luck with it!

Reply 4

Original post
by josierossiter
i was wondering how to go about getting non-clinical work experience for vet med. i have 3 weeks at three different practices for clinical but only a small amount of dairy and a day at an abattoir for non-clinical. i live in the countryside so there are lots of farms near me but I can't find any contact details online and I don't want to just walk on to a farm as I don't think that's the best thing to do. i want some lambing experience and I've already checked the NSA website and there are no placements that require no experience for me. does anyone have any tips and tricks of how to get farming placements? I want to apply to RVC and they have a requirement of 70 hours non-clinical, could someone give me some ideas of what else I could do to fulfil this time/ what work experience did people get offers with?

Are you able to travel/ stay somewhere else?

If yes:

There are city farms in London , which do 1 week work experience ( think its 12 of them)

Some zoos will do 1 week work experience or vounteering position (6 months min)

RSPCA (6 months)

Wildlife hospital - 1 week work experience or volunteering (6 months)

Reply 5

Other options are canine hydrotherapy/physio
or dog grooming
If you know there is a sheep farm near you but can’t find their details online then write them a letter and put it through their door - most sheep farmers will take any willing volunteers for laming - or if there is a dairy farm again put a letter through their door offering to help with milking

Reply 6

Try stable work, even if it’s just mucking out or field picking, it counts and they are always looking for extra hands.

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